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By Talie Tebbi
Posted: 8/28/08, 12:52 AM EST Section: Feature
Though Fei Ye had to leave her internship with CNN early, she wasn't too upset about it. After all, the toss up between the Olympics and an internship seemed an easy choice. The Olympics only come around every four years, and it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the event in her birthplace and meet athletes like NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
Fei, a senior broadcast journalism and marketing major, has an international history. She was born in Beijing, lived in Hungary and moved to the United States when she was 13 years old. Her experience at the Beijing Olympics found her volunteering for the U.S. Olympic team in her old stomping grounds.
The Daily Orange had the chance to talk to Fei about her experiences in Beijing and what it was like to work with some of the country's best athletes.
How did you get involved in the group?
I applied online through the Beijing Olympic committee Web site, so basically I worked for the International Olympic Committee. This summer, I was assigned to the U.S. Olympic team.
How did you assist the U.S. team?
My tasks included language services, any guidance in cultural shock for the athletes - from going to the competitions with them to make sure they can compete throughout Olympics with a positive spirit and nothing should affect them. My job was also to be with important VIPs. For them, I was mainly translating between the Beijing Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee. So I was running back and forth so I could make communication easier.
What was your reaction when you found out you would actually get to work with the athletes?
I was very excited, as everyone is. But I looked at it and took it as a job more and not like "Oh I'm a fan, and I just want to hang out with you." It was definitely fun, but it was also hard to manage them.
Was Kobe a quick learner?
The first day I met him was during the Opening Ceremony. I didn't know the Dream Team was actually participating in the parade of athletes so I was basically body guard for that day. He was very open about Chinese culture and tried to learn a few words. He actually made a lot of effort to be able to say something in Chinese, or know the name foods or say basic Chinese terms.
Fei, a senior broadcast journalism and marketing major, has an international history. She was born in Beijing, lived in Hungary and moved to the United States when she was 13 years old. Her experience at the Beijing Olympics found her volunteering for the U.S. Olympic team in her old stomping grounds.
The Daily Orange had the chance to talk to Fei about her experiences in Beijing and what it was like to work with some of the country's best athletes.
I applied online through the Beijing Olympic committee Web site, so basically I worked for the International Olympic Committee. This summer, I was assigned to the U.S. Olympic team.
My tasks included language services, any guidance in cultural shock for the athletes - from going to the competitions with them to make sure they can compete throughout Olympics with a positive spirit and nothing should affect them. My job was also to be with important VIPs. For them, I was mainly translating between the Beijing Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee. So I was running back and forth so I could make communication easier.
I was very excited, as everyone is. But I looked at it and took it as a job more and not like "Oh I'm a fan, and I just want to hang out with you." It was definitely fun, but it was also hard to manage them.
The first day I met him was during the Opening Ceremony. I didn't know the Dream Team was actually participating in the parade of athletes so I was basically body guard for that day. He was very open about Chinese culture and tried to learn a few words. He actually made a lot of effort to be able to say something in Chinese, or know the name foods or say basic Chinese terms.
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