Uniforms

I mentioned in my last post that we were to be distributed out uniforms yesterday.  And that did happen. However, we found one slight problem.  The company only ordered enough for everyone to have one pair pants and one of each type of shirt.  Now you may say "what's significant about that?"  Well, my friends, when you have to wear this uniform everyday, having one makes it very difficult to keep it clean.  With two, one is washing, while the other is being worn.  Not this time.  So this could go on record as being the dirtiest crew to ever work a games.  Beijing and its smog really didn't need any help in this area, but now on top of natural pollutant oders, there will be an additional scent of old sweaty men.  Nice. 

The uniforms themselves are okay.  Khaki pants, pleated, not thrilled about that.  Polo shirt that is a nice blue, with an eye grabbing orange trim.  The long sleeve shirt is just your typical blue button down.  The hat is a little better, though a little flimsy, sort of a beige, mesh material, and then we got a fanny pack, a backpack, and a rolling bag, which we all would have traded a bag for another set of clothes!  It also comes with a poncho and a belt.  When the competition begins, we really have to start wearing the uniforms.  

As for actual work yesterday, it was a pretty light day.  A little bit of testing here, and little bit of trouble shooting there.  Maybe our biggest task right now, or at least one of my biggest tasks, is nicknaming everyone and developing the schedule of events for the switching center olympic games.  We attempt to come up with different activities to compete in to help keep it light, encourage socializing, and pass the time.  One of the best ways to encourage everyone to mingle and get to know each other is through the shenanigans we come up with.  "We" being Lincoln, myself, George, Joseph, and whoever we drag down with us.  Lincoln is an Australian chap who became a great friend in Athens.  In fact anyone who has seen my Athens pictures or been to our house and seen the Phil and Lincoln overlooking the volcano at Santorini Island.  He is actually the head of operations for Telestra in Australia which is like ATT without Verizon for competition.  Monopoly telecom in Australia.  So he takes unpaid leave to soak up the Games and have some fun.  So all that to say, we like to have fun whenever possible.  Yesterday, we discovered the students have severe superstitions that include not walking under ladders.  So we took our two ladders and placed them outside each doorway of the office and watched as about 5 walked through, then panicked to inform their colleagues to keep safe distance.  Hard work, entertaining over twenty people consistently.