An opportunity of a lifetime

An opportunity of a lifetime

海外奥运志愿者抵京接受培训

作者：XU WEIWEI, 21ST CENTURY STAFF 时间：2008-07-08 来源：21世纪英文报第761期

calligraphy 书法

catering 给养

passion 激情

persestent 持久的

BONUS

Expressions

海外志愿者

overseas volunteer

城市志愿者

city volunteer

大会志愿者

Games-time volunteer

残奥会志愿者

Paralympics Games-time Volunteers

奥组委前期志愿者

BOCOG pre-Games volunteer

迎奥运志愿者

Towards-Games volunteer

DURING his 2-month stay in Beijing as an Olympic media volunteer, Matt de la Pena will learn more than how to deal with journalists. He has already learned about painting calligraphy and using chopsticks. And that was just during his first week of orientation at Tsinghua University.

"I've always been fascinated by the country and the Olympic Games," he said. "In the classes, I've learned about how China is growing and its global role. But I'd like to see everything for myself during the stay. "

Matt, 23, a senior journalism major from Iowa University in the US was chosen after rounds of tests given by BOCOG in the US. Before he came, he had already studied China and its culture for nearly a year. However, he said that visiting the country in person has created a different picture and has surprised him.

"I actually saw more similarities than differences between my country and China, which is very modern and developing at a fast pace," said the New Yorker. "I've got a sense of home. And I found the Chinese act openly and friendly whenever I try to approach them."

Besides the lectures in the first week, Matthew and his peers have had the chance to tour the city on their own.

"Knowing the country and its people can help us serve better during the games," he said.

His job at the Main Press Center includes guiding the reporters to the conference rooms or handing out microphones to them during the Q&A section. He has to respond quickly to all the needs of the reporters or athletes there. "We'll have to work long hours, perhaps from eight to twelve hours a day for a shift," he said.

Matt has to meet athletes from all over the world and get familiar with their jargons and idioms. "There might be difficulty, but what we can do is to get highly persistent with our jobs and do the best."

Matt has donated not just his labor, in fact, overseas volunteers have also contributed to expenses. Tsinghua will provide lodgings for the volunteers, and BOCOG will provide free meals during the games. But they need to cover the rest of the expenses themselves including traveling and catering, the total of which it is estimated will be between 2,000 to 3,000 dollars. Matt paid for the round-trip plane tickets for his Games

opportunity.

Matthew said that he was chosen because of his passion to work for the grand event, and for his willingness and ability to talk and socialize.

He's also a huge fan of sports such as basketball, baseball and soccer. He believes his Olympic experience will enrich his life and help him grow as a person.

"It's a rare chance for me to volunteer on my own across the ocean," he said. "I've already met tons of people here and have learned to get along well with them. It will help me no matter what career I embrace after my graduation."

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