Vantastic Voyage

There’s nothing like traveling internationally with people to get to know them very well. You end up seeing them in their pajamas. You learn their food preferences, music preferences, liquor tolerances and even what kinds of people they are attracted to. I didn’t come here thinking Vancouver was going to do any of that because it’s so much like being back in the States.

But, by taking this crash course with my buddies, I got to know much more about the city of Vancouver and the Olympic Games than I ever would have, had I come here alone. For example, watching Ian spark up conversations with everyone we came across showed me the wide variety of countries that are represented in the spectators here.

Grant (the eater) and Lauren (the aspiring food critic) kept me informed about the best and worst places to grab snacks throughout the day. Morgan added humor to the inevitable tense situations. Stephen was the king of nightlife. Alex discovered the different kinds of bar permits and how to get around the eat-and-drink rules. Editra’s handy maps showed me how to make my way around the city. It’s true that not everyone rolls with a team as awesome as mine, but the key takeaway is that the best way to make the most of the Olympic Games is to do it with friends.

-- JULIA BENNETT