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Published: February 12th 2018
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Saturday, February 10 Sabria & I decided to go to Gangneung Olympic Park (GOP) today. We took the TC5 bus from CKU campus, did the security check, and we were on our way to explore. The Olympic Park has lots of interesting things to check out, and if you don't mind standing in line like at Disneyland, then you can do some fun stuff & get cool stuff. Unfortunately we were there on Saturday & many families were there and the lines were long. We did a few things like the Coca Cola photo, then you # it on social media & get a pin. They have a McDonalds here (also with a long line), Korea & Japan hospitality houses, Samsung, North Face, & the Super Store where you can spend a Super amount of money!
From here we caught the #220 bus to Gyeongpo Beach because we heard there were special events there. The beach was amazing. There is a Fire Art Festa: artists have built artwork on the beach that will be burned with all of them eventually burned by the end of the Olympics. There were games, kite flying, drumming, contests. We met a news team
from WRAL (North Carolina) when we lined up to watch the lighting of artist structure. They interviewed me and aired it on their station the next day. They sent me the link but it's blocked here by the server. Once I'm able to watch it I'll add the link to a future blog.
Before the fire started, Russian flame dancers gave a performance. Then the fire started. They had a difficult time getting it started and we made jokes that they needed "boy scout water", i.e. liquid fuel. Once it got going it was beautiful to see. The flames got so hot that we all had to back up. For once I was warm while being outside!!!!! There's something about a fire that is fascinating to watch. The photos of the fire dancers & burning the artist structure will be in another blog entry.
Sabria & I found a wonderful burger place for dinner. Sorry everyone, I'm not enjoying Korean food so I search out Western food when I can. Yummy burgers! We met the Zamboni drivers at the restaurant: 3 Americans & a French guy. I actually saw them in action when I went to a skating
event.
We checked our navigation apps & found out it would take 1 1/2 hours to get home by bus - so we hailed a taxi. 25 minutes later we approached the 2nd hockey rink (there are 2) with traffic jam & lots of people: almost time for a women's Switzerland vs.Korea hockey game.
Sunday, Feb. 11 Today was my day to go back to work after missing 9 days with this lung irritation I have. Megan, a New Zealand volunteer, is a doctor & explained why I got sick: extremely cold air irritated my lungs & caused an inflammation & broncho spasms. Anyway, I was excited to get back to work BUT - WHOA - wait a minute - anyone living at CKU campus is in quarantine because norovirus was reported from one of the dorms (not ours but they quarantined all of us). No one was allowed to go to the villages & be around the athletes. At first they told us a decision would happen by 10:00. Then they said "later". So we stayed near the campus just in case they cleared us to go to work. Stephanie & I went out for pizza
(yeah - more western food). Sunday afternoon they announced that all of us would get tested. Oh the joy of doing 2 swabs anally - yup, that's what I said. (Tristan, your homework assignment is to look up Norovirus and see why it is so contagious & why they don't want any sick people near the athletes.) Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be part of a quarantine due to Norovirus. The results from the test takes 2 days so none of us are working for the next 2 days. I lucked out & got a ticket for a team figure skating event for Monday. The next blog will have those highllights.
Till next time,
Sue
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Pamela Bryant
non-member comment
Glad to hear you are feeling better to be out and about enjoying the sights!