February 22, 2002
Hi,
"Welcoming the world." Day after day it is being brought home to me just how true that is. I had the same German media man on my bus again today. When he tried to tell me in sign language and German where he needed to go, I was able to tell him in German that I understood. He looked at me with a look of surprise on his face which then broke into a big smile. He then asked me if I spoke German. I put my fingers together in a sign to show 'a little'. It was amazing how just two little words in his own language changed his attitude and made him a friend instead of a foreigner in a stranger country.
We also had our cookout lunch today after the event was over. It was a big success. We originally set it up for the drivers, but the idea became so popular that staff, mechanics and yes, even the CIA wanted in on it. So the little cookout that my roommate and I had planned for our drivers turned into a social gathering for all. I have to say I never expected I would be sitting down and breaking bread with CIA agents!
The goal of Team 2002 was to make this the best Olympics ever. I haven't quite heard that term used yet, but the talk out here is that these Olympics have been a 'smashing success'. Yes, there have been a few grumbles, mostly right now from the Russians. But overall, most agree that things have run very smoothly and that the U.S. has shown we can host the world in peace.
Len
A couple final shots of the Heber Valley Railroad
