Hey to you all...
Whew its been a crazy time, I havnt had 2 minutes free to come to mail you all. But i have a quick break now and im keen to let you know how its going.
Shoei wee!!!! so you all saw the opening ceremony and the part i saw was increadible. I would not want to be London trying to beat that! We went from the village in a million busses, they lined the road outside for miles! We were taken to the gymnastics hall and all the countries had a specific section to sit in. It was crazy to look down on the gymnastics floor as iv seen it for the last 4 olympics on tv! made it very real. the strength of those people is increadible. Iv seen a few of the tiny little girls walking around here and they are supposed to be 16 but look more like 8. they come up to my elbow! SO we sat in this huge hall and team SA did a few wave initiations and had a lot of spirit! We looked awesome in our white pyjamas/kung fu suits! I think it was very effective from the outside. and the best part was we got to wear bright green crocs with it! They saved our feet, making the evening a lot easier. Some countries as you would have seen were kitted out in heavy suits and ties and tiny shoes for the girls, shame lesotho was there in their blankets! it was at least 30 degrees at that time of night and the sweat just poured down us the entire time. We didnt get to watch anything, there were big screens but they just put up the name of the next country that must leave to line up. They showed about 5 minutes of what was going on twice and the whole hall booed when they stopped it, we were disapponted not to see it. All we could hear was the thunder from the fireworks overhead. Im sure it was spectacular from outside, but no worries its been taped for us by various parents and we'll all get togehter and watch when we get home!
They finally annonced team SA to a roar of delight, and out we went to stand in the longest bank queue in the world! the countries lined the way stretching out forever in front of us. The stadium looked increadible from the outside, all red and yellow, and the swimming venue was also mind blowing, each bubble thing changes colour, its awesome. We slowly got closer and closer and the adrenalin was pumping! The administraters were having a jol initiating a very loud shoshaloza and we sang it all the way into the staduim.... well whew... mind blowing. I dont remember the first 50 meters, its just a crazy overwhelming feeling. After a while i realised hey wait take this in its happening now!!! the stadium looked huge from where we were. The people just never ended, they were so high up they looked like cardboard cut outs! The most increadible part was seeing the SA flags in the audience, that made it very real as to what was going on and the fact that we were representing Soth Africa. made me very proud. But still it was so bizzarre, like a dream world. Roly (carol) put it so well when she said it was a dream waiting to happen and now its like a dream thats its over! The heat was unbearable and our legs and backs were soon aching! so much for fancy athletes, too much time sitting on our bums in a boat or lying flat on our backs chillin out! But it was very festive. there must have been 100 million photos taken that night! looking at them now is awesome as it makes you remember it was real! Then they started with the flags and the flame and the lighting ceremony. When the guy was lifted up we were all like NO WAYS! then he turned and started running and it was just phenominal! what an increadible sight. And then a huge roar as the flame shot up. Increadible. ANd then it was all over and we all started leading out to the million busses that were waiting for us! It was chaos as people tried getting to the water stands and fighting to get onto busses. I got lucky and got to sit, whew i was tired!
Ja what an increadible experince. but funny at the same time as I was still just Jen walking around this huge stadium with my mates, it was hard to realise we werent the spectators this time!
The next day exhaustion set in in a big way. I still havnt recovered. Im so so tired. After the ambassadors dinner then the ceremony we hadnt got to bed before 2 since landing, jet lag hadnt even had a chance to keep us awake! The next night it set in and I lay there till 2 in the morning to exhausted and fraustrated. Wev been getting up at 7:45 to get breakfast in time for the 8am bus to the course. the ride is a 50 minute one in a generally freezing bus with full aircon. SO its tracksuits for the bus ride and sweat like a swim as soon as you step out. Yesterday was a HUGE storm and its cooled things down to a great 24/25 degrees. we are very thankful. still the air is like soup and paddling with the wind is like being in a vacuum.
So what about canoeing! well i think today im finally starting to pick up a bit after getting used to the time difference, but iv felt like iv been paddling though glue. its a terrible feeling and im not feeling very happy on the water at all. nandor has given me some coaching for the 3rd time this year so its helped a bit but im still in the habits of a whole season of not dropping my elbows and losing power out the side. Its fraustrating, i dont feel as good as this time last year, but it all comes down to the day and what your mind can do. Im haunted by my bad racing in Poland I just have to believe it wont happen again. But if you spoke to roly youl hear that i mainly paddle really badly all the way up to a race... normally a good sign! I hope it works just this once more!
We watched some slalom today, it was great we negotiated our way into the stands pat the poor confused looking little blue volunteers, they werent expecting south aftrican rule breaking barginers! to see Master doing his C1 run. What an increadibly hard sport. Until youv watched it live youl never realise how diffecult it is. 3/4s of the way through is the hugest hole and the top guys make it look like nothing. There are only 16 guys in the race thats how diffecult it is to qualify, at worlds last year there were over 60 boats just in C1. The thing is one small surge of water as you dont expect it and even the world champions mess up there runs. Master was doing so well, his split half way through was in the mix and then came the huge hole, he dropped in and he says his paddle hit the ground and his hand came off and he went over, he rolled twice and unfortunalty got swept under the next gate, it doesnt count if you go under upside down, so he eddyed out to try again but it was too strong. so he finished with a 50 second penalty throwing him out. But his skills are increadible. measured against the top 16 he may not look up to it but he really is very good and he can go a long way. a lot of the guys were a lot older at their 2nd or 3rd olympics. The slalom course is increadible with HUGE stands almost all the way around. We were very lucky to get to watch it!
Back here in the village its just busy busy busy all the time, it never stops all day and all night. Our rooms are increadible, really modern and always cleaned and fresh. We live in a dream world totally dissociated from reality. We can get free drinks from vending machines or the eating hall anytime, the food choice is endless, the choice so vast it takes 20 minutes just to try decide what to eat! The food hall it the hugest place with thousands of athletes eating. The laundry is a 12 hour process, you hand in a bar coded bag with your stuff and they wash the stuff in the net bag and then dry it in the tumble dryer and it comes back the most crumpled pieces of clothing youv ever seen! But its clean with NO effort! the main thing! When we get home we are going to have to remember to pay for things and not just walk up to the fridge and take a drink!! Whew everything here is like clockwork! Its so impressive. I almost feel sorry for the helpers, they have a thankless job day after day but they seem so stoked if you say thank you or ask how they are, like youv made their whole year, I hope its not such a highlight to them, but it seems a great honour to each of them. They are so cool, always smiling and helping. they dont make barriers out of beacons they just put people there. its crazy, guess theres a supply!
Had to laugh overhearing one of the administrators at the opening ceremony.... aish he said, but i dont think we can do this... this is too much work!!! Whew 2010 is going to be interesting! the chinese have just raised the bar a thousand notches!
Anyway off to rest for me, I cant wait to start racing, waiting like this is so hard. So hard to maintain a routine and to regain energy. I know its going to be a very nervous day, I thought i had that part under control these days but when i looked over at the stands filled to the max for the rowers I realsise this is going to be different!
Ok its a very long mail but threres a million things to tell you all... it never stops this side!
And 5 days till Jacques Mum Dad Linda Sosh and all the team number 1 supporters get here, i cant WAIT to see you. Miss you all so much. Ill need all your energy!
So till the next time i get a moment bye
Jen