Blogs from Pyeong-Chang, Gangwon-do, South Korea, Asia

Dear All Wow! Greetings from Pyeongchang, South Korea! Six months ago, when I visited Northern Ireland for a few days, I remember watching the Winter Olympics on TV while I was having breakfast in my lovely BnB there in Belfast, and thinking that in a few months, I’ll be there myself. In fact, here it is, I am here myself! It seems so strange to be here, having seen this place on TV on the other side of the world so many times, and it’s actually really amazing. I have had a thoroughly enjoyable couple of days here, and just when I thought travel fatigue might be around the corner, starting to get the better of me, up popped Pyeongchang, and I am renewed once more with travel energy again! And I don’t think it will ... read more

Sunday, Feb. 18th The days are just flying by now that I'm working and seeing events. My assignment at work recently has been to watch the housekeeping staff to be sure they are doing everything they are supposed to do (because there have been complaints from the athletes). I go with them to the rooms and make sure the trash is emptied, sheets & towels are changed, floors and countertops are wiped down, etc. It's not a bad assignment - I've been able to talk to the athletes. At first I was hesitant to strike up a conversation with them, but I got over that! One coach (I think he was the bobsled coach) called me the Quality Control Inspector - so I started using that as a job title!!!! We are so lucky with TeamUSA. ... read more

WLS-Ch.7 blames graphics 'mix-up' for confusion between P.F. Chang's and Pyeongchang WLS-Ch. 7 confuses Pyeongchang with P.F. Chang's on a Saturday morning broadcast. A spokesperson said the graphic was created for a different "satirical piece." (HANDOUT) Kim JanssenContact ReporterChicago Tribune Pyeongchang is a mountainous county 110 miles southeast of Seoul in South Korea, and the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. P.F. Chang’s is an Asian-inspired chain restaurant with 210 U.S. locations, including ones in Chicago, Lombard, Northbrook, Orland Park and Schaumburg. PyeongChang and P.F. Chang’s are not the same thi... read more

In 2 days I will be on a flight to South Korea to volunteer for the Winter Olympics. My role is a National Olympic Committee Assistant to Team USA. My duties are (this is an excerpt from my acceptance letter): - assisting their assigned NOC/NPC delegation with translation, driving, office work and other related duties from the day of their arrival to departure; this could be from as early as the Pre-Opening of Olympic/Paralympic Village(s) to no later than the Closing of Olympic/Paralympic Village(s). - assisting the NOC/NPC Service Team to help the operation of the NOC/NPC Services Centre(s) in Olympic/Paralympic Village(s). - assisting NOC/NPC Assistant Team with the management of the NOC/NPC Assistant Programme. They refer to teams as "delegations". Basically I'm a Personal Assistant to Team USA. Many people have asked me how I ... read more

Well, with us having been working and travelling around South Korea for 4 months now, and my birthday looming in the upcomming week, we decided to do something a bit more extreme. This meant setting our alarms for 5am (Yes, 5AM!) on a Monday morning and catching a train into Seoul in time to meet a bunch of friends and pile into a van by 8am. With stomachs slowly waking up to the taste of Kimbap (Korean sushi roll) and coffee, our non-English speaking driver started the 4 hour trip out to the little town of Pyeong-Chang in the middle of the mountainous Gangwon-do province. Upon arrival we were greeted by perfectly trimmed parks and banners proclaiming Yes Pyeong-Chang! . A sad legacy of the recent loss of the town's winter olympic bid to the Russian ... read more