An early start was needed on Monday as I was on the shift that starts at 8am. I was about to leave the house to catch the 7am bus when my host, who was also just leaving the house, said he'd give me a lift as the Village is on his journey to work. This was really kind and meant that I got to the Village much earlier and with a smoother, quicker journey.
The first hour or so was spent manning the Multi-Faith Centre, and doing some final preparations for the morning Bible-study and prayer time. This takes place at 9am each day and is the responsibility of the chaplain on the first shift. It was great when someone turned up, and I enjoyed sharing this time with her - although the way our discussion went meant that I used hardly any of what I'd prepared!
Then I manned the Centre until the second chaplain came in at 11am. Soon afterwards, I went visiting in the Village, during which I called in at the office of Paralympic GB to introduce both myself and the Multi-Faith Centre and what it offers. It was good to meet some of the people there, not just team members but also the team assistants. Each team has one or more team assistants allocated to it to be their first point of contact for questions etc. This is just one of the many jobs done by volunteers. After lunch, and the chaplains' prayer and sharing session, I made my daily visit to the Polyclinic. I also visited the adjacent fitness centre and mobility aid repair centre.
Due to conversations I had, I didn't manage to finish my shift until 4pm; but then walked into downtown Vancouver for a few hours off before returning to the Village around 6:30pm ready for the Village Inauguration Ceremony. Usually each team is welcomed into both an Olympic and a Paralympic Village with a short ceremony ending with their National Anthem being played. In this dual site Paralympics, these ceremonies are happening at Whistler, so the Inauguration Ceremony was designed to take the place of these by welcoming all the athletes together. There were speeches, the introduction of the 2 honorary co-mayors of the Village, and some music from representatives of the Four Host First Nations. (There will be more about these peoples in another day's entry). Another chaplain and I went on to the athletes' lounge for the post inauguration 'party' for a short while, before heading home at the end of a long but worthwhile day.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
First full shift
Sunday saw another bright day dawn but the weather was much cooler - and later on in the day there was a lot of rain. Locals said this would probably fall as snow in the mountains, which would no doubt be appreciated by local skiers and snow-boarders alike. Thinking of the Paralympics, there are no snow-boarding events in the programme (as yet), but there are a variety of alpine and nordic skiing events.
Although my shift wasn't due to start until 11am, I left my hosts relatively early so that I could be sure of the transport getting me there on time. I have to get a bus, then the subway (underground train), followed by a 10-15 minute walk in order to get to the Village. It was about an hour's journey altogether, as the public transport worked well together.
This shift began with me spending some time chatting and getting to know the American chaplain who'd been on duty since 8am. I then manned the Multi-Faith Centre whilst he went out visiting in the Village and had lunch - we had no administrator on duty until early afternoon and it's important that there's someone in the Centre at all times it's open, so that they're there to respond if anyone calls in or telephones. The third chaplain came on duty at 2pm, and the 3 of us spent time sharing updates about the concerns and happenings of the day so far, and praying together.
Afterwards, I visited the Polyclinic within the Village. This is a small and compact 'hospital' but one with full facilities including emergency room, MRI and CAT scanner, X-ray and ultrasound imaging, pharmacy, physical therapy department, and various specialities including ENT, dentistry, ophthalmology and orthopaedics to name but a few. The Polyclinic is also host to the anti-doping facilities. One thing it doesn't have is beds - if athletes need overnight care they are transferred to a local hospital. I was told that the Polyclinic in Whistler also has a fully-equipped operating theatre as local hospitals are further away from there. (Apparently this is in a tent-like building similar to those used by the military in places such as Afghanistan.) I was given a guided tour of the Polyclinic, and will visit it once a day whilst on shift, and have a similar role there to a hospital chaplain at home.
Towards the end of my shift, it began to feel strange to have had a Sunday without either going to church, or leading/attending a service in the Village. An internet search revealed one Anglican church with an evening service at 6:30. So, at the end of my shift at 6pm, the Roman Catholic priest who'd come into the Village to lead Mass was kind enough to give me a lift to the church, which thankfully wasn't too far from a bus route to get me back to my hosts afterwards.
Although my shift wasn't due to start until 11am, I left my hosts relatively early so that I could be sure of the transport getting me there on time. I have to get a bus, then the subway (underground train), followed by a 10-15 minute walk in order to get to the Village. It was about an hour's journey altogether, as the public transport worked well together.
This shift began with me spending some time chatting and getting to know the American chaplain who'd been on duty since 8am. I then manned the Multi-Faith Centre whilst he went out visiting in the Village and had lunch - we had no administrator on duty until early afternoon and it's important that there's someone in the Centre at all times it's open, so that they're there to respond if anyone calls in or telephones. The third chaplain came on duty at 2pm, and the 3 of us spent time sharing updates about the concerns and happenings of the day so far, and praying together.
Afterwards, I visited the Polyclinic within the Village. This is a small and compact 'hospital' but one with full facilities including emergency room, MRI and CAT scanner, X-ray and ultrasound imaging, pharmacy, physical therapy department, and various specialities including ENT, dentistry, ophthalmology and orthopaedics to name but a few. The Polyclinic is also host to the anti-doping facilities. One thing it doesn't have is beds - if athletes need overnight care they are transferred to a local hospital. I was told that the Polyclinic in Whistler also has a fully-equipped operating theatre as local hospitals are further away from there. (Apparently this is in a tent-like building similar to those used by the military in places such as Afghanistan.) I was given a guided tour of the Polyclinic, and will visit it once a day whilst on shift, and have a similar role there to a hospital chaplain at home.
Towards the end of my shift, it began to feel strange to have had a Sunday without either going to church, or leading/attending a service in the Village. An internet search revealed one Anglican church with an evening service at 6:30. So, at the end of my shift at 6pm, the Roman Catholic priest who'd come into the Village to lead Mass was kind enough to give me a lift to the church, which thankfully wasn't too far from a bus route to get me back to my hosts afterwards.
Monday, 8 March 2010
Accreditation and all that
Saturday dawned, another bright, warm and sunny day. After packing our suitcases again, mid-morning saw us being driven into Vancouver to the Accreditation Centre. Very small queues meant the process was quick and we emerged fairly speedily with our accreditations hung around our necks - but without uniforms. In these Games, although technically all chaplains are volunteers in that we're both unpaid and self-funded, we've been classed by the organisers as 'specialists' and therefore volunteer uniforms aren't deemed appropriate. This provokes an interesting debate between those chaplains who want to look like they belong by wearing the same uniform as everyone else, and those chaplains who feel our dress needs to be distinctive so that people know we're different and have a very different role to everyone else. Clergy have faced this debate in various ways over the years, with different denominations and ministers taking different approaches......
After accreditation, we were taken into the Vancouver Athletes' Village for the first time. It is certainly very different from the one in Athens in 2004, my only other experience so far. Whereas that was almost an 'out-of-town' venue, this one is very much in the centre of it all. Situated on the edge of False Creek, downtown Vancouver can be seen all around, with the mountains visible beyond to the north. The athletes are staying in what will become desirable (and no doubt expensive!) condominiums, whilst some other buildings will become community centres, restaurants or offices. The Village is much smaller now than it was a week ago - as there are fewer athletes in the Paralympics than the Olympics some of the residential blocks are now 'hidden' behind a fence. The Multi-Faith Centre, where chaplains are based, had a central location during the Olympics but because of the division of the Village now finds itself almost on the edge.
Mid-afternoon we had our orientation. As well as a walk around the Village, this included a meeting with the other Vancouver-based chaplains to begin to get to know each other and also discuss how we would work, as well as a time of prayer. Early evening saw me being taken to my second and 'permanent' hosts to settle in there prior to doing my first shift in the Village the next day; whilst Carolyn was driven to Whistler as she will be based in the Village there.
After accreditation, we were taken into the Vancouver Athletes' Village for the first time. It is certainly very different from the one in Athens in 2004, my only other experience so far. Whereas that was almost an 'out-of-town' venue, this one is very much in the centre of it all. Situated on the edge of False Creek, downtown Vancouver can be seen all around, with the mountains visible beyond to the north. The athletes are staying in what will become desirable (and no doubt expensive!) condominiums, whilst some other buildings will become community centres, restaurants or offices. The Village is much smaller now than it was a week ago - as there are fewer athletes in the Paralympics than the Olympics some of the residential blocks are now 'hidden' behind a fence. The Multi-Faith Centre, where chaplains are based, had a central location during the Olympics but because of the division of the Village now finds itself almost on the edge.
Mid-afternoon we had our orientation. As well as a walk around the Village, this included a meeting with the other Vancouver-based chaplains to begin to get to know each other and also discuss how we would work, as well as a time of prayer. Early evening saw me being taken to my second and 'permanent' hosts to settle in there prior to doing my first shift in the Village the next day; whilst Carolyn was driven to Whistler as she will be based in the Village there.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Smooth travel & safe arrival
Well, all the transport connections worked - the first Wilts & Dorset bus of the day passed our house according to schedule, and got me in good time to the bus-stop for the National Express coach, which in turn got me to Heathrow early for check-in and to meet Carolyn, a friend and colleague from London who is the only other UK chaplain at the Paralympics. The flight was smooth and the 10 hours passed amazingly quickly, partly because I slept for quite a bit of it. Although sad not to read a word of the book especially bought for the flight, I'm thankful for the sleep as I guess that's partly what has helped me avoid jet-lag almost entirely.
On arrival, our first host was there to meet us. Instead of taking us directly to her home, she drove us to White Rock, a lovely seaside town, where we enjoyed ice-cream and a walk along the prom and the pier in glorious albeit unseasonal sunshine. It certainly helped our bodies not to realise that according to them it was past 1am in the morning! After some grocery shopping, we arrived at her home in Surrey - a part of Greater Vancouver. I think if we had gone straight there, it would have been a struggle to stay awake, so it was a brilliant idea on her part.
Friday had been built in as a day to combat jet-lag before beginning work, and Carolyn and I were able to enjoy an almost 3 hour walk in a local nature reserve, again in glorious sunshine. It seemed strange to be here for the Winter Paralympics but to see several people strolling around in shorts! Apparently this is Vancouver's warmest winter since records began..... Accompanying our host on another brief shopping trip, plus watching a DVD in the evening, completed a relaxing day, which ended with Carolyn and I both feeling keen to begin the work which we have travelled here to do.
On arrival, our first host was there to meet us. Instead of taking us directly to her home, she drove us to White Rock, a lovely seaside town, where we enjoyed ice-cream and a walk along the prom and the pier in glorious albeit unseasonal sunshine. It certainly helped our bodies not to realise that according to them it was past 1am in the morning! After some grocery shopping, we arrived at her home in Surrey - a part of Greater Vancouver. I think if we had gone straight there, it would have been a struggle to stay awake, so it was a brilliant idea on her part.
Friday had been built in as a day to combat jet-lag before beginning work, and Carolyn and I were able to enjoy an almost 3 hour walk in a local nature reserve, again in glorious sunshine. It seemed strange to be here for the Winter Paralympics but to see several people strolling around in shorts! Apparently this is Vancouver's warmest winter since records began..... Accompanying our host on another brief shopping trip, plus watching a DVD in the evening, completed a relaxing day, which ended with Carolyn and I both feeling keen to begin the work which we have travelled here to do.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Ready to Journey?
Well, that's it, the packing's done and the travelling is about to begin. It was quite hard to know what to take - so tempting to take lots of heavy winter clothes, but having seen from the coverage of the Olympics that both Vancouver and Whistler are experiencing milder conditions than usual that may not be the most helpful approach. Not knowing the set-up that we'll be working in also adds to the uncertainty - how much will chaplains be outside? how much at indoor venues? how much in the faith centres? - although having been told that I'll be based in Vancouver rather than Whistler did help a bit with some of the decisions about what to take and what to leave behind.
It was great this morning, at our Ministry Team Cell Group, to be prayed for and commissioned by my parish and team colleagues for the work I'm going to do at the Paralympics, and to be sent out with their, as well as God's, blessing. There was also another glimpse of the worldwide nature of the church, as we also prayed for someone else soon to fly to India to do some Christian work there.
Later in the morning, I did a radio interview at Andover Sound, our local radio station, for broadcasting tomorrow as I begin my travels. Strange to think that almost as soon as I return from Canada, I have to go back there to record the 'Sunday Thought' for Easter Day as my turn on the rota will have come round again. The Christian story carries us with it throughout the year, and invites us to journey in a different kind of way.....
It was great this morning, at our Ministry Team Cell Group, to be prayed for and commissioned by my parish and team colleagues for the work I'm going to do at the Paralympics, and to be sent out with their, as well as God's, blessing. There was also another glimpse of the worldwide nature of the church, as we also prayed for someone else soon to fly to India to do some Christian work there.
Later in the morning, I did a radio interview at Andover Sound, our local radio station, for broadcasting tomorrow as I begin my travels. Strange to think that almost as soon as I return from Canada, I have to go back there to record the 'Sunday Thought' for Easter Day as my turn on the rota will have come round again. The Christian story carries us with it throughout the year, and invites us to journey in a different kind of way.....
Monday, 1 March 2010
The Countdown Begins.....
The Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games has now taken place in Vancouver - but as one set of athletes and support staff begin their journey home, another set will be preparing to arrive for the Paralympics which begin on 12 March. Although many people's eyes will now turn away from Vancouver, it is important to remember this fresh body of athletes and their final preparations. People in and around Vancouver will also be experiencing changes as Olympic 'decorations' come down to be replaced by Paralympic ones.
My final preparations are also under way, although there seems to be a lot of work to do here still before I leave, in connection both with my work in the parish and at Loughborough University. I must admit to it feeling slightly strange at St Michael's West Andover yesterday when I was finishing leading the service, to think that the next time I do something similar will be in a very different context and with an international group of people - a glimpse perhaps of the reality of belonging to a worldwide church.....
As part of my preparations, it's been good to watch some of the TV coverage of the Olympics to begin to familiarise myself with locations and venues, as well as to become more acquainted with various winter sports disciplines - although, of course, Paralympians do not participate in all the Olympic disciplines. It was also good to spend a week's holiday in February cross-country skiing in Finland - where it was colder and we had more snow than there was at the Olympic venues.
My final preparations are also under way, although there seems to be a lot of work to do here still before I leave, in connection both with my work in the parish and at Loughborough University. I must admit to it feeling slightly strange at St Michael's West Andover yesterday when I was finishing leading the service, to think that the next time I do something similar will be in a very different context and with an international group of people - a glimpse perhaps of the reality of belonging to a worldwide church.....
As part of my preparations, it's been good to watch some of the TV coverage of the Olympics to begin to familiarise myself with locations and venues, as well as to become more acquainted with various winter sports disciplines - although, of course, Paralympians do not participate in all the Olympic disciplines. It was also good to spend a week's holiday in February cross-country skiing in Finland - where it was colder and we had more snow than there was at the Olympic venues.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Loughborough Lines...
It was good to get up to Loughborough last week - the first time in 2010. I'd missed my contacts and work there, especially as my previous planned visit 2 weeks beforehand was cancelled at the last minute due to the heavy snow between both here and there as well as 'en route'. I had a busy, enjoyable and varied 3 days, only some of which I mention here.
One major part of my work there was spending time with the university's cricket centre of excellence squad during their main Wednesday training session. This is almost a chaplaincy within a chaplaincy in that I've been invited to be chaplain specifically to this squad as part of my overall work at the University. As well as meeting various players and getting to know the coaches better, and so help relationships to develops, I found it a fascinating afternoon seeing how specific drills and activities help develop certain cricket skills.
On Thursday I had an introductory visit to the new SportPark. Part of the the University, over the next few months this will become home to a number of national and regional sports governing bodies. As my role is not just to offer sports specific chaplaincy for University staff and students, but to do so for all on campus connected with sport, this new facility will be somewhere to add to my visits in future.
Thursday also saw me spend time in the University library researching resources for a discussion evening I'm due to lead in April for the chaplaincy under the heading "Winning at all costs....?"
A fourth major aspect of my visit to Loughborough this time was to join in with Wednesday's Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations. A group from the University, and also from Loughborough College, walked in procession to a park in the centre of town where we joined in a act of commemoration. This was very moving. One of the main speakers was a Jewish lady many of whose family perished in the Warsaw ghetto, and in an amazing turn of fate she is now married to the son of a former SS officer. What a powerful story she has to tell........ As well as taking part in this for its own sake, it was also good whilst walking to see several sports-connected staff and students, and for them to realise that although sports chaplaincy is important to me it is not the only thing I am concerned about.
The work of a sports chaplain is certainly a mixture of the specific and the more general, wider picture, just as life is for all of us.
One major part of my work there was spending time with the university's cricket centre of excellence squad during their main Wednesday training session. This is almost a chaplaincy within a chaplaincy in that I've been invited to be chaplain specifically to this squad as part of my overall work at the University. As well as meeting various players and getting to know the coaches better, and so help relationships to develops, I found it a fascinating afternoon seeing how specific drills and activities help develop certain cricket skills.
On Thursday I had an introductory visit to the new SportPark. Part of the the University, over the next few months this will become home to a number of national and regional sports governing bodies. As my role is not just to offer sports specific chaplaincy for University staff and students, but to do so for all on campus connected with sport, this new facility will be somewhere to add to my visits in future.
Thursday also saw me spend time in the University library researching resources for a discussion evening I'm due to lead in April for the chaplaincy under the heading "Winning at all costs....?"
A fourth major aspect of my visit to Loughborough this time was to join in with Wednesday's Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations. A group from the University, and also from Loughborough College, walked in procession to a park in the centre of town where we joined in a act of commemoration. This was very moving. One of the main speakers was a Jewish lady many of whose family perished in the Warsaw ghetto, and in an amazing turn of fate she is now married to the son of a former SS officer. What a powerful story she has to tell........ As well as taking part in this for its own sake, it was also good whilst walking to see several sports-connected staff and students, and for them to realise that although sports chaplaincy is important to me it is not the only thing I am concerned about.
The work of a sports chaplain is certainly a mixture of the specific and the more general, wider picture, just as life is for all of us.
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