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Here is the last day of my memorable time at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. If you missed any of my first four days, you can find them here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading these Olympics missives as much as I enjoyed skating down memory ice. (Sorry, had to get one bad joke in. ?)

Monday, February 15, 2010

Cubs Cheng here for the last installment of my Olympic Experience. Yesterday, February 14, 2010 was Day 5 for me.

It was Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, and The Olympics all at once. Whoa, how much more activity can you have in one day?

My throat has been giving me hell so I had a very late start yesterday. Stayed in bed and listened to CBC, Canadian public radio. I have been listening to it every morning. Man, it is a great radio station! I like it better than NPR. The reporters listen more and the guests get to talk more. They have fascinating interviews and news reporting. I’ve learned so much just listening to that station for the past five days.

Yesterday was a good send off for me because everywhere I went, it was so crowded that I was forced to just wander and not worry about getting in to see anything.

Lines stretched all the way around the block to get into the Yaletown Live! Venue which had a huge screen showing different competitions, a concert stage, and a bunch of other free stuff. It would have taken me probably two hours to get in so I passed.

I wandered Yaletown and watched some amazingly agile young men do acrobatic jumps and kicks and flips. They teach classes on how to do this stuff. It looked like fun.

Then I took the SkyTrain back to Richmond to visit the Aberdeen Centre. Aberdeen is the most Asian mall I’ve ever been to. I haven’t been to a mall in China, Taiwan, or Japan, but I can imagine they are something like the Aberdeen Centre. There was a huge dance production of various dances going on and the crowds rivaled those of the Olympic events.

That night, I cooked a big Chinese New Year’s dinner for Marcus and his roommate Erik. Marcus surprised me with a stuffed Muk Muk doll (Olympic mascot that is a roly-poly marmot wearing red mittens and a hat) for Valentine’s Day. Loved it. We ate a lot, toasted the lunar new year and watched some more Olympics on TV. It was perfect.

Well, almost perfect. Erik broke his toe on the shelving unit in the kitchen right before dinner. He had to set it back in place himself. Painful. Woo, I couldn’t have done it. Good thing he used to be an EMT.

I head back to Seattle today on Amtrak’s bus service. I’ve got my water, throat lozenges, a magazine, and a chicken shawarma sandwich in my purse. I will have 3 1/2 hours to reflect on all the things I’ve seen and experienced during these memorable five days.

Things I’ve learned:

• It’s true that people are nicer and in a much better mood during the Olympics. Must be the Olympic spirit.
• If you want to go to the Olympics, you should. Even if you can’t afford to see any sports events, you should still go. It is an experience within itself.
• I can have a good time on vacation by myself.
• Perseverance, faith, and hope can get you where you want to go, even if you think it’s impossible.

Thanks for reading, folks. Thanks for all your great comments too. It’s been an amazing experience.

Until the Olympics 2012 (fingers crossed that Marcus and I will make it to London), this is Cubs Cheng, signing off.

February 18, 2022 Update: Alas, we did not make it to the 2012 London Olympics or any Olympics since 2010. 12 years later, Marcus and I look back at the Vancouver Olympics and cherish all the memories of our time there. Will we get the chance to attend another Olympics? Only time will tell.

 What’s one of your most memorable vacations or life experiences?

Peg Cheng is the author of Rebel Millionaire, a guide for how to retire as a millionaire even if you make a modest income, and The Contenders, a novel that asks, can enemies become friends? She is also the proud owner of Plaid Frog Press with her husband Marcus Donner. Born in Southern California to Taiwanese parents, Peg currently lives in Seattle, Washington.

Photo of 2010 Olympics mascot Quatchi by Marcus Donner. Photo of tiger dancers at Vancouver Aberdeen Centre by Peg Cheng. Photo of plushie Quatchi and Muk Muk by unknown.

Well, here we are on Day 4 of my once-in-a lifetime experience at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Unlike Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3, on this pivotal day, I try to see an Olympics sporting event and learn a valuable life lesson to boot.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Hello Friends & Family,

Cubs Cheng here, reporting from Day 4 of my Olympic Experience and sharing what happened during the FIRST day of competition at the Winter 2010 Olympics on February 13, 2010.

Sorry for not sending this out yesterday–I was too tired from cooking a Chinese New Year’s dinner.

Today’s lesson is: faith rules over reason.

I started the day determined to get into the Men’s 5000 m Long-track Speed Skating match. I wanted to see where Marcus has been working for the past six weeks. And I wanted to see the U.S. favorite, Shani Davis, go against the Netherlands favorite Sven Kramer. I heard it was the match to see.

On my way to the Richmond Oval, a 15 minute walk from the condo, I encountered many scalpers along the way. The first one offered me a single ticket for $400. You heard that right. $400. I knew tickets on the official web site had sold at $195 and $95. I kept walking.

I overheard other scalpers negotiating with other people along the path. The prices were high. I could tell from the way the customers were shaking their heads.

I got to the venue. There were about 15 people in line at the box office. I thought I’d try my luck. I stood in line next to a couple from Philadelphia and a lady from Boston. Even though we knew we had almost no chance of getting tickets, we wanted to try.

The husband from Philly would make the rounds with the scalpers while his wife stood in line. Every time he came back, me and the Boston lady would ask, “How much?”

The answer was always, “$400.”

I realized that people who come to the Olympics have a lot more money than me.

Are the Olympics becoming elitist? Can only the rich make it into the games? Something to chew on.

Then the rain began. The games began. All the ticketholders rushed in. The line moved a few inches.

A ticket officer kept making the rounds saying, “We are sold out! We have no tickets to any games today!”

The Philly couple gave up and left after 45 minutes in the rain. Even though the ticket officer came around again and told me to my face, “We have no tickets for today,” I stood fast and said, “I’m looking for tickets for tomorrow.” She shrugged and moved on.

After 1 hour in the rain, cold and shivering (I only had my hat, no umbrella) and losing my voice, I started to run out of hope.

Suddenly, the line moved and I was near the front. The gal in front of me let out a yell. They had just released a bunch of tickets! I asked her how much she was paying. She said, “$195.”

My heart dropped. I could not afford $195.

I got up there and asked for any tickets that had a partial view. Marcus told me they might have some of these seats for cheaper. The ticket officer said, “I can get you a single ticket with a full view for $95.”

My heart leapt!

“I’ll take it!” I said.

I had hoped to pay less than the web site rate before I came to the Olympics. But after getting here I realized I had to see at least ONE game before I went home.

I got my ticket and rushed into the Richmond Oval. I found my seat. It was only 30 minutes into the 2 1/2 hour competition so I hadn’t missed much. I was in row 13, on the aisle (love the aisle) and was also in the last turn before the finish line.

It was like getting “front of the mezz” seats at a Broadway show!

Shani Davis did not do well at all. Sven Kramer got the gold (there were so many Dutch fans in the audience that I almost went blind from all the day-glo orange outfits and hats ?‍?) AND he broke a world record. I saw it all.

And as luck would have it, I could see Marcus working with photographers from where I was sitting.

Reason would say that I should never have gotten that seat. But reason has no place at the Olympics.

Keep the faith!

Until next time, this is Cubs Cheng, signing off.

When was the last time you chose faith over reason?

Peg Cheng is the author of Rebel Millionaire, a guide for how to retire as a millionaire even if you make a modest income, and The Contenders, a novel that asks, can enemies become friends? She is also the proud owner of Plaid Frog Press with her husband Marcus Donner. Born in Southern California to Taiwanese parents, Peg currently lives in Seattle, Washington.

Photo of 2010 Vancouver Olympics Canadian Men’s Long Track Speed Skating Team by Marcus Donner. Photos inside the Richmond Oval during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics by Peg Cheng.