Tricia Bickley

The Return.

I returned home on September 17, 2004. It was a nice homecoming - few people, little drama. After an influential 2 years in the Peace Corps in Bulgaria, several whirlwind trips throughout eastern Europe, a chaotic but advertureous trek through China, an action-packed experience working at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and a spledid visit to London, my trip has come to an end. I am happy to be here and preparing myself for the next big endeavor- finding a job.

My first week in DC was not relaxing, to say the least. I worked downtown selling beverages for a friend of my dads during the week-long celebration in honor of the new Native American Museum in DC. It was great to be down there and partake in the festivities, however, I would have liked at least one day to unpack my bags. It didn't happen. After my last day of work I attended my grandmothers funeral in Saxton, Pennsylvania. Saxton is the old coal mining town where Dee lived immediately after her family immigrated from Italy. She was the eldest of 11 children and we got to see the tiny home they all lived in for over 30 years. It was quite an experience.

The day after that (yesterday) I flew to Denver to see my mom, brothers and sisters and my good friends. I love being here and I am slightly hesitant about my decision to move to Washington. But that's where the jobs are so I'm giving the east coast a second chance.

I've really had a nice time getting reaquainted with my family and friends this last week. Especially my little neices and nephews that were virtually unrecognizable at first. Friday, as tradition holds, I'm going to attend the great American beer festival in Denver with my friend Adam. That should symbolize my full-fledged return to the states.

Last night in Athens

still bumming around...(3:OOam)

Photo team reception after closing ceremonies

Me and the boss man, Austrailian Paul Mathews

Closing ceremonies

After this picture I ran down to the field and exchanged the shirt I'm wearing for an official TeamUSA shirt from one of the American athletes

Photo team reception after closing ceremonies

Us with Mike, Nathan and Constantinos of photo department

Last night in Athens

Raquel, Anna and I (5:00 am) after the closing ceremonies. Raquel, from Lisbon and Anna, from Sweden, and I became friends while working together as photographer's assistants at the stadium. We have made a pact to meet up again to volunteer in Helsinki in 2005 at the world athletic championships, or in Torino, Italy at the 2006 winter games.

Justin Gatlin

Otis Harris

Pole vaulters Timothy Mack (gold) and Tony Stevenson (silver)

Shawn Crawford

8/28/04 in OAKA after final night of athletics

Raquel and I

Raquel and I.

Opening Ceremony shot

Maurice Green

Me on the job

Justin Gatlin and Shawn Crawford preparing for 100 m final

My view f 100 m final startline between a judges legs

Beginning of shift 8/26/04

The Opening Ceremonies

Last night I worked my first shift, the opening ceremonies, at the Olympics. As a photographer's assistant in the Press Operations department, I was assigned to 'Platform G', meaning the prime time post for photographers and Olympic cameramen who no doubt dropped large sums to be able to shoot from there. I think I had one of the best spots in the house. I had to check each crew's ID and their tickets, including Katie Couric and Bob Costas, who were among those passing though to Platform G. Katie later remarked later on television how scrupulous security had been that night - how her ID had been checked several times just within the stadium. ha ha.

Photographers aren't the most gracious of crowds, most of the time they are all fighting for the exact spot to get the perfect shot. They are tenacious and resolute, and there is little patience for a petty volunteer trying to do her job. I handled it as well as can be expected, naturally resulting in the two groups of photographers - half friends, half foes. Those foes were scary sometimes.
Later that night I was rewarded for managing to control Platform G. My boss asked me to join him in escorting 5 photographers down on the track where the torch would be lit. As we got down there a series of runners were sprinting around the track passing off the flame in the final moments of the world-wide torch relay. The final runner, a former Greek Olympic champion, accepted the flame and proceeded to sprint down the middle of the stadium in the direction of the steps he would ascend to light the Olympic torch, symbolizing the start of the 2004 games. He was heading right at us...

The show itself was beautifully done. Probably the most impressive thing I'll ever witness first hand. By the time it started all the cameramen were in their positions and aside from a few stragglers that bullied me for not speaking French (they thought that would be grounds for me to let them through) I stood and watched everything from 15 yards back with an unimpeded view.

So far, everywhere I've been, the Greeks have been overly generous and helpful. I've been stranded at a bus stop at 2 am and was given a ride home, I've asked for directions and been walked to my destination, I've said I'm American and they talk to me anyway. It's been great! In addition, the family Brian and I are staying with are very kind and they have a beautiful home. Eric and Lacy are the most gracious hosts and have been a God send for us.

Brian, another Peace Corps volunteer that came down here to work, and I rarely see each other. In fact, since I've been in Athens the only time I've spent with him is when he picked me up from the airport. Hopefully we'll have the chance to go out on the town once or twice in the next couple of weeks. I am off now until the track and field events start (Aug 20), which is precisely when Brian's swimming job ends. In a way it works out because there is always one of us here to help baby-sit Ember, Eric and Lacy's 20-month old daughter. It doesn't come close to compensating them for all they've given us, but at least its something we can do to help.