Picking up credentials

Today I woke up late. It was already late in the afternoon when I finally got out of bed.

I was tired from all the travelling and the jet lag. But I had to pick up my credentials and my uniforms today, which was scheduled at 6 p.m.

I took a quick shower and hailed a cab outside of my hotel. Rio de Janeiro had several modes of transportation like the bus, the surface and the underground train as well as the BRT, but I decided to take the taxi instead so as to be in the right place and at the appointed time.

Upon arriving at the downtown center, which looked like a big warehouse from the outside, I saw a lot of people lining up in front of a line marked volunteers.

There were a mix of people there. You can see different skin and hair colors, hear different languages, but everybody seems to be upbeat and excited.

When it was my turn I was directed to one of the counters where the lady asked for my passport. She checked the computer and had my photo taken. I was then directed to another area where I waited for my name to be called and my ID was then handed to me. I was now officially checked in as an Olympic Volunteer.

The next step was now to get my uniforms in another building. The line was longer and the wait seemed forever. It was then that people now started talking to each other, asking for nationalities, area of assignment and just about anything.

I got to talk to volunteers from Estonia, Spain, Germany, China, Ghana, USA , France and many more. Chatting made the waiting time shorter.

Surprisingly, when one lady volunteer from Brazil knew I was from the Philippines, she replied and shouted, “Ahhh Philippines has the most beautiful women in the world. Always Miss Universe.” Somehow, this made me proud to be a Filipino.

Once my credentials were checked, I then had to get a number and waited for it to be called so I can do my fitting. Shirts, pants, belt. Then came the shoes, socks and cap. And lastly, bags, water container, key chain and a handbook. It was like shopping for a sports outfit, but only this time it was for free and an Olympic Outfit. I was then checked out in the last station and was ready to go back to the hotel.

All in all, it took me around three hours to complete all those things. But the waiting time seemed short. People were disciplined, the process systematic and the volunteers manning the stations very polite.

While I was there, it made me realize the world can be so small when people from different races are in one place.

How beautiful it can be if there will be no borders, and we can all share this beautiful world.

I then went back to my hotel tired and hungry but light hearted and in high spirits.