I am enjoying my first week in Paris so far! Being in the city during the Opening Ceremony was amazing. Although I was not physically at the event, the excitement the whole city had felt like you had a front row seat no matter where you were. I joined a couple friends at a local restaurant to celebrate the Opening Ceremony where watched it on TV and celebrated with some locals! It was great getting to meet and hear from people who live in Paris about their excitement. The next day we were able to visit the Seine River, where the Opening Ceremony took place. Luckily a lot of the bleachers and decorations from the event were still there so we got to see it in person. Although the first official day of events was rainy, that did now slow down the spirit of the city. We visited La Terrasse Des Jeux, a celebration spot put on by Paris 2024 situated next to Hôtel de Ville, where fans gathered to watch the day’s events. The entire area was packed with a line waiting to get into the outdoor space. Equestrian was on the giant TV screen which was something I have not watched before but was very cool to see! After that we visited a merchandise store to find some Paris 2024 shirts and other souvenirs. Outside of the store we were able to “meet” the Olympic mascot, the Phryge!
Yesterday, I worked my very first shift at the Team USA House. Here, I had the opportunity to stand outside of the house and help direct guests inside. I also helped answer guests’ questions. The morning started off by helping with a private event being held at the House. In the afternoon, the house opened to the general public who purchased tickets to get inside. I had the opportunity to work at the front gate again and loved seeing the excitement of both American guests and French guests excited to visit inside. Below is a picture of me during my first shift at the USA House. I’m looking forward to the other shifts I have and excited to see what roles I am assigned to.
