PEI bobsledders and Swiss Flags

When did ski cross become an Olympic event? I wonder who thought it up – ski down a steep mountainous slope as fast as you can only to encounter massive hills along the way. Don’t even get me going on the skeleton – or luge. I sit here in awe at these athlete’s talent and gumption as most days I am just happy to get to work in the morning without falling down.

This evening Canadians watched our men’s hockey team lose to the Americans. The comments on twitter and face book were amusing. Commentary ranged from “Oh no” to Uh Oh” to people completely winging out. Dare I say “It’s only a game people?” It brought me back to the 1998 Olympics in Nagano where I watched all the events from my apartment in Tottori City. I recall that Canada bet the Americans for Olympic Gold (I think). I also recall having an argument about the outcome of the game with my American friend Brian. From that point onward, I decided the only mantra I could follow so as to not loose friends was “It’s only a game.” I know – it’s very un-Canadian of me eh.

The 1998 Nagano Olympics are the one Olympics that stand out for me because I happened to have been been living in Japan at that time. It was the Japanese athletes who were featured on all the television footage, and I only understood a fraction of the commentary, but it was exciting nonetheless. This was of course the Olympics that witnessed the first athlete from PEI to win an Olympic Gold medal. I was unaware of it at that time and while watching the bobsled events on TV, I saw a flash of a sign in the crowd that I was sure said something about PEI. A phone call to my parents confirmed I was not cracking up and they were in disbelief that I hadn’t heard about David Eli MacEachen. This week Heather Moyse did PEI proud again with her Gold Medal performance in the bobsled. I guess PEIers are good bobsledders.

I didn’t go to Nagano to experience the Olympics but my friend (and American pal) Michele did. I also recall that she brought me back a souvenir. At times I took some flack for being the only Canuck in our group of friends but I always wore my Canadian flag and identy proudly. More as a joke than anything, Michele brought me back a Canadian flag from Nagano. Upon opening the small flag, however, I quickly discovered she had brought me back a flag of Switzerland by mistake. We all had a good laugh and I believe her comment went something like “I just saw all that red and assumed it had to be your flag.”

I still have my little Swiss flag somewhere back on PEI. It has been ten years since I have returned from Japan and unfortunately I have never unpacked my trunk of treasurers from those years. It will be a delightful tickle trunk of delights when I get into one day.

Hisashiburi

On a few occasions last week, I have found myself reminiscing about my travels – mostly about my time in Japan. I’ve lead a pretty blessed life as in addition to traveling, I have been able to study, live and work abroad in a variety of places, all of which have been for the most part incredibly positive experiences for which I am very grateful.

Almost three years into my 9-5 government job, these experiences at times seem a lifetime away now. Recalling my travels and life abroad, and seeing how much the audience (mostly Dee at our tea breaks) enjoyed my tales, I decided that it might be time to re-live some of these stories. My blog has been so neglected lately; I thought it would be as good a platform as any to present them.

I can’t guarantee these stories will appear in any sort of chronological order – they will appear as they come to me. But I do hope they make you smile – and perhaps produce a chuckle or two.