These are pictures from May when I participated in the Empire State Games in Long Island, New York! I played archery and got two bull eye's, as well as shotput, which was awesome!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Archery and Shotput are Awesome =)
These are pictures from May when I participated in the Empire State Games in Long Island, New York! I played archery and got two bull eye's, as well as shotput, which was awesome!
Friday, September 26, 2008
I Love Rock Climbing!
Hey everyone!
I thought I would share with you a video of me rock climbing! Last year I discovered a new passion for rock climbing and I encourage everyone to try it! It is really fun! This is me rock climbing with an athletic group that I am part of =)
I thought I would share with you a video of me rock climbing! Last year I discovered a new passion for rock climbing and I encourage everyone to try it! It is really fun! This is me rock climbing with an athletic group that I am part of =)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
China Pictures!!! Yeah!!!
These are pictures are more from the Trakc & Field events (Alexandra and Stephanie), the Birds Nest during the day, the Academy at the Opening Ceremonies, the Academy at the Olympic Green outside the Bird's Nest and a Chinese food vendor station.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Olympic Green: Birds Nest and Tennis Stadium!
September 8th, 2008
Today was another awesome day! This morning, our group walked from the hotel to the Birds Nest for some track & field events! This was the first time we had been in the Birds Nest since the Opening Ceremonies and it was beautfiul during the day! The torch was lit up and the stadium was packed with people. In track, we got to watch the 100 meter races, including the handcyclists and blind runners. The blind runner got to run with someone next to them. The two would each hold the ends of a shoelace so that the blind runner would know to run straight! How amazing is that? We also saw shotput and discus races, but they were not in visibility because we were on the other side of the stadium.
The Academy and I saw various countries compete including the Czech Republic, China, Great Britain. We saw the Czech Republic take home a Gold in the Shotput and China took home a Gold in the Javelin Throw, breaking a World Record! Go China! Go Czech Republic! Afterwards, everyone had time to walk around the Olympic Green. We decided to go the Chinese shops, known as the "Chinese Supermarket" and buy some more pins. However, these shops are all the way at the other end of the Olympic Green. We walked some of the way with our friends Sarah and Darius. We all stopped at the Olympic Green to try to figure out where we could catch a ride down to the shops. Bad idea! With two days of experience, Sarah and I knew that it wouldn't be long before someone came for pictures. We were right, a little too right! It started with one person asking for a picture with us, and they brought friends, who brought friends...and we ended up with 50 random people smiling with us taking pictures! The Chinese are also very big on peace signs and every picture had a Chinese people holding up two fingers! This chaos came to the point where Chinese grandmas were putting their babies on the laps of kids in the wheelchairs. The babires started crying, the grandmas started luaghing,our mouths became sore from smiling and our eyes were blinded not only by the sun but by so many camera flashes! Don't get me wrong, though. It was fun being treated like a celebrity! I'm not complaining, though. It's all the experience, right?
As I was saying, we were trying to catch a ride on a, if you will, "Chinese wheelchair accesible golf cart." I was very impressed with these Chinese carts. Basically, these moving golf carts could hold up to 5 wheelchairs and transport people and passengers around the Green. It's very fun to ride them! We all had lunch at McDonalds, and surprisingly, the place was packed! I can't believe how popular McDonalds is in China! Afterwards, we all started heading back towards the hotel. We barely made it back in time to catch the shuttle to the Tennis Stadium! Mom and I discovered on the ride that Beijing is huge! It took us an hour to reach the Tennis Stadium! Along the ride I took picture from outside and of the sleeping counselors!
Once we reached the Tennis Stadium, we were walking to the entrance and there was a sworm of Chinese spectators behind us! It was overwelming but I thought it was pretty cool! The Tennis Stadium was a huge stadium, also used for Archery and then there were smaller tennis courts devoted to seperate and smaller one-on-one tennis matches. We attended a small tennis match and saw Turkey vs. Finland play! What a great game! Finland won. There were such few seats in this court that the Academy took up half of them! It worked in our favor, though, because fewer seats meant that we had up close seats to the court. Next, we saw the Men's SIngles Open of United States vs. Chile. This American tennis player was ranked #1 in the world and he was so close I got to have conversations with him! The man from Chile was also an incredible tennis player! During the games, we met a young girl from California who was a member of the U.S Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Team! We also met another man who played tennis on this year's Paralympic Team as well as an Australian player who gave me a pet kangaroo keychain. Thanks you so much! I really enjoyed watching wheelchair tennis! I have always loved tennis and wheelchair tennis looked very exciting so I really want to try it now!
Afterwards, the Academy went back to the hotel and we all had a nice dinner. The adults had a seperate dinner in the Hotel Restaurant, while us kids ordered Pizza Hut and and played games while eating in our lounge. It was a fun night for all of us kids to get to know each other more, eat Pizza Hut (it was delicious by the way, and my first time trying Pizza Hut), listen and dance to music, use the computers and play games. I had a great time hanging out with kids similar to me and I really appreciated this great night set up for us. Thank you KASSY, JOHN, DEAN, KRISTA and all the interns!
By the end of the night, I was so tired! I fell asleep taking a bath!
Today was another awesome day! This morning, our group walked from the hotel to the Birds Nest for some track & field events! This was the first time we had been in the Birds Nest since the Opening Ceremonies and it was beautfiul during the day! The torch was lit up and the stadium was packed with people. In track, we got to watch the 100 meter races, including the handcyclists and blind runners. The blind runner got to run with someone next to them. The two would each hold the ends of a shoelace so that the blind runner would know to run straight! How amazing is that? We also saw shotput and discus races, but they were not in visibility because we were on the other side of the stadium.
The Academy and I saw various countries compete including the Czech Republic, China, Great Britain. We saw the Czech Republic take home a Gold in the Shotput and China took home a Gold in the Javelin Throw, breaking a World Record! Go China! Go Czech Republic! Afterwards, everyone had time to walk around the Olympic Green. We decided to go the Chinese shops, known as the "Chinese Supermarket" and buy some more pins. However, these shops are all the way at the other end of the Olympic Green. We walked some of the way with our friends Sarah and Darius. We all stopped at the Olympic Green to try to figure out where we could catch a ride down to the shops. Bad idea! With two days of experience, Sarah and I knew that it wouldn't be long before someone came for pictures. We were right, a little too right! It started with one person asking for a picture with us, and they brought friends, who brought friends...and we ended up with 50 random people smiling with us taking pictures! The Chinese are also very big on peace signs and every picture had a Chinese people holding up two fingers! This chaos came to the point where Chinese grandmas were putting their babies on the laps of kids in the wheelchairs. The babires started crying, the grandmas started luaghing,our mouths became sore from smiling and our eyes were blinded not only by the sun but by so many camera flashes! Don't get me wrong, though. It was fun being treated like a celebrity! I'm not complaining, though. It's all the experience, right?
As I was saying, we were trying to catch a ride on a, if you will, "Chinese wheelchair accesible golf cart." I was very impressed with these Chinese carts. Basically, these moving golf carts could hold up to 5 wheelchairs and transport people and passengers around the Green. It's very fun to ride them! We all had lunch at McDonalds, and surprisingly, the place was packed! I can't believe how popular McDonalds is in China! Afterwards, we all started heading back towards the hotel. We barely made it back in time to catch the shuttle to the Tennis Stadium! Mom and I discovered on the ride that Beijing is huge! It took us an hour to reach the Tennis Stadium! Along the ride I took picture from outside and of the sleeping counselors!
Once we reached the Tennis Stadium, we were walking to the entrance and there was a sworm of Chinese spectators behind us! It was overwelming but I thought it was pretty cool! The Tennis Stadium was a huge stadium, also used for Archery and then there were smaller tennis courts devoted to seperate and smaller one-on-one tennis matches. We attended a small tennis match and saw Turkey vs. Finland play! What a great game! Finland won. There were such few seats in this court that the Academy took up half of them! It worked in our favor, though, because fewer seats meant that we had up close seats to the court. Next, we saw the Men's SIngles Open of United States vs. Chile. This American tennis player was ranked #1 in the world and he was so close I got to have conversations with him! The man from Chile was also an incredible tennis player! During the games, we met a young girl from California who was a member of the U.S Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Team! We also met another man who played tennis on this year's Paralympic Team as well as an Australian player who gave me a pet kangaroo keychain. Thanks you so much! I really enjoyed watching wheelchair tennis! I have always loved tennis and wheelchair tennis looked very exciting so I really want to try it now!
Afterwards, the Academy went back to the hotel and we all had a nice dinner. The adults had a seperate dinner in the Hotel Restaurant, while us kids ordered Pizza Hut and and played games while eating in our lounge. It was a fun night for all of us kids to get to know each other more, eat Pizza Hut (it was delicious by the way, and my first time trying Pizza Hut), listen and dance to music, use the computers and play games. I had a great time hanging out with kids similar to me and I really appreciated this great night set up for us. Thank you KASSY, JOHN, DEAN, KRISTA and all the interns!
By the end of the night, I was so tired! I fell asleep taking a bath!
Friday, September 12, 2008
An Experience at the Olympic Green
September 7th, 2008
Today was the first day we got to see some Paralympians compete!!! Whoo hoo!!!
In the morning everyone took a nice walk from our hotel to the Olympic Green. The Olympic Green is basically a tourist area for the Paralympic Games. The Green consists of the Birds Nest, the Water Cube and many shops, eateries, beautiful water fountains, and a big courtyard for great pictures in front of the Birds Nest and Water Cube!
The whole group participated in a Scavenger Hunt. This was the perfect way to get to explore, enjoy and "take it all in" of the Olympic Green. Each group had to get a picture with a foreigner, get an exotic Paralympic pin and a picture in front of McDonalds! Who knew there would be a McDonalds in China! After the scavenger hunt, we all had lunch at McDonalds.
Next, we went to a Wheelchair Basketball game. I had never seen a Wheelchair Basketball before and I loved every second of it. USA beat ISREAL badly but the court was packed with people and so I enjoyed the game very much!
Afterwards, everyone had more dinner at McDonalds and then we all headed over to the Water Cube to see some swimming!!! The Water Cube was breathtaking from the inside, the diving area, too! I stood in the Water Cube thinking, I watched events here on TV, Michael Phelps broke history records here! After each swimming event and during them, I got to see the athletes up close! During the medal ceremonies, I almost cried at how beautiful they were!
In swimming, I saw Jessica Long (I am one of her biggest fans) win Gold in a close call with Australia in the Women's 100m Butterfly. Go Jessica! I also saw Rudy Garcia Tolsons swipe another world record breaking Gold in the 200m IM. Go Rudy! (Did I mention that before breakfast, the group got to personally meet Rudy at the hotel, hear his story and take pictures with him!) I also saw Erin Popvich swim and win Gold. Go Erin! I also saw Miranda perform and win Gold. Go Miranda! I saw very taken aback by a particular swimmer from Mexico who was missing both arms up to his shoulders and his leg! He had the lead for most of the race that he swam!
The day ended great and what an amazing day at the Water Cube! The view at night was incredible! Can't wait to see what is planned for us all tomorrow! It's sure to be something great, but I don't now how it can top this!
Today was the first day we got to see some Paralympians compete!!! Whoo hoo!!!
In the morning everyone took a nice walk from our hotel to the Olympic Green. The Olympic Green is basically a tourist area for the Paralympic Games. The Green consists of the Birds Nest, the Water Cube and many shops, eateries, beautiful water fountains, and a big courtyard for great pictures in front of the Birds Nest and Water Cube!
The whole group participated in a Scavenger Hunt. This was the perfect way to get to explore, enjoy and "take it all in" of the Olympic Green. Each group had to get a picture with a foreigner, get an exotic Paralympic pin and a picture in front of McDonalds! Who knew there would be a McDonalds in China! After the scavenger hunt, we all had lunch at McDonalds.
Next, we went to a Wheelchair Basketball game. I had never seen a Wheelchair Basketball before and I loved every second of it. USA beat ISREAL badly but the court was packed with people and so I enjoyed the game very much!
Afterwards, everyone had more dinner at McDonalds and then we all headed over to the Water Cube to see some swimming!!! The Water Cube was breathtaking from the inside, the diving area, too! I stood in the Water Cube thinking, I watched events here on TV, Michael Phelps broke history records here! After each swimming event and during them, I got to see the athletes up close! During the medal ceremonies, I almost cried at how beautiful they were!
In swimming, I saw Jessica Long (I am one of her biggest fans) win Gold in a close call with Australia in the Women's 100m Butterfly. Go Jessica! I also saw Rudy Garcia Tolsons swipe another world record breaking Gold in the 200m IM. Go Rudy! (Did I mention that before breakfast, the group got to personally meet Rudy at the hotel, hear his story and take pictures with him!) I also saw Erin Popvich swim and win Gold. Go Erin! I also saw Miranda perform and win Gold. Go Miranda! I saw very taken aback by a particular swimmer from Mexico who was missing both arms up to his shoulders and his leg! He had the lead for most of the race that he swam!
The day ended great and what an amazing day at the Water Cube! The view at night was incredible! Can't wait to see what is planned for us all tomorrow! It's sure to be something great, but I don't now how it can top this!
Summer Palace & Opening Ceremonies
Septmber 6th, 2008
Today was our first official day in Beijing. The whole group took a shuttle to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace, you could say, is Beijing's Central Park. The Palace was incredibly beautiful. We passed these orchards of flowers, Chinese souvenir shops and there was a beautful view of a lake where people could go paddle boating.
The Chinese, I believe, are not used to seeing many people with disabilities, in wheelchairs, those who are blind, and those who have prosthetic limbs. The whole group, including me were crowded by about 50 people who would grab us and take pictures with us. There were always many cameras taking pictures of my leg, the wheelchairs, and with us. The Chinese even put their baby children on the laps of the kids in wheelchairs. We passed some gorgeous bridges and lily pad lakes. We were given boxed lunches and the poor Chinese ladies took what we didn't finish to eat. Afterwards, we all took paddle boat rides on the lake for half an hour. What an amazing view! At that time, I was starting to realize just how lucky I was to be in China and how awesome the week was going to be!
Later on, were the...OPENING CERMONIES!!! The whole group started walking towards the Bird's Nest. What a view! After going through security and holding our tickets in my hands, my Mom and I started to get very emotional. This couldn't be happening to us! The Birds Nest was lit up so beautifully that I can't even start to explain what I was going through. The Opening Cermonies, the thrill of it and the excitement all made me feel like everything was going to be okay, and that it was going to be a great week...one I would never forget.
At the Opening Ceremonies, the stadium was packed with sold out tickets. My Mom and I were so shocked but more so grateful at how big of a deal the Chinese made of the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games deserved this coverage and honor. Hundreds of people in the stadium started waving colorful flags. Then, the countries started filiing into the Birds Nest. Every now and then there were fireworks, flag waving and light shows! Next, a girl who had her left leg AK amputated did ballet in her wheelchair. People used their hands to perform ballet as her feet. This made my Mom and I choke up.
Later on, the Chinese President announced the official opening of the Paralympic Games. The head of the International Paralympic Commitee also spoke and gave a priceless and very memorable speech. About six Paralympians then, made the rounds around the stadium passing the torch. One person was in a wheelchair, and another was a blind woman who used a service dog to help her walk. After the torch made a full circle, a Chinese man in a wheelchair took the torch in his lap and his wheelchair was attaced to two ropes. Getting a good grip, the man started pulling on the rope, lifting his chair and the torch the reach the Big Torch at the top of the Birds Nest. The man had to take breaks and I imagine his arms got tired! This was one of the highlights of the Opening Cermonies. My mom and I started crying! We all watched in anticipation as the man continued up the rope...and finally reached the top...as we waited in such anxiousness...and he lit the torch! Immediately, fireworks errupted!
There could not have been a better ending to the day! Thank you USOC for giving my Mom and I this amazing, beyond expectations experience to see the Paralympic Opening Cermonies 2008! You may even see me in 2012 or 2016!
Today was our first official day in Beijing. The whole group took a shuttle to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace, you could say, is Beijing's Central Park. The Palace was incredibly beautiful. We passed these orchards of flowers, Chinese souvenir shops and there was a beautful view of a lake where people could go paddle boating.
The Chinese, I believe, are not used to seeing many people with disabilities, in wheelchairs, those who are blind, and those who have prosthetic limbs. The whole group, including me were crowded by about 50 people who would grab us and take pictures with us. There were always many cameras taking pictures of my leg, the wheelchairs, and with us. The Chinese even put their baby children on the laps of the kids in wheelchairs. We passed some gorgeous bridges and lily pad lakes. We were given boxed lunches and the poor Chinese ladies took what we didn't finish to eat. Afterwards, we all took paddle boat rides on the lake for half an hour. What an amazing view! At that time, I was starting to realize just how lucky I was to be in China and how awesome the week was going to be!
Later on, were the...OPENING CERMONIES!!! The whole group started walking towards the Bird's Nest. What a view! After going through security and holding our tickets in my hands, my Mom and I started to get very emotional. This couldn't be happening to us! The Birds Nest was lit up so beautifully that I can't even start to explain what I was going through. The Opening Cermonies, the thrill of it and the excitement all made me feel like everything was going to be okay, and that it was going to be a great week...one I would never forget.
At the Opening Ceremonies, the stadium was packed with sold out tickets. My Mom and I were so shocked but more so grateful at how big of a deal the Chinese made of the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games deserved this coverage and honor. Hundreds of people in the stadium started waving colorful flags. Then, the countries started filiing into the Birds Nest. Every now and then there were fireworks, flag waving and light shows! Next, a girl who had her left leg AK amputated did ballet in her wheelchair. People used their hands to perform ballet as her feet. This made my Mom and I choke up.
Later on, the Chinese President announced the official opening of the Paralympic Games. The head of the International Paralympic Commitee also spoke and gave a priceless and very memorable speech. About six Paralympians then, made the rounds around the stadium passing the torch. One person was in a wheelchair, and another was a blind woman who used a service dog to help her walk. After the torch made a full circle, a Chinese man in a wheelchair took the torch in his lap and his wheelchair was attaced to two ropes. Getting a good grip, the man started pulling on the rope, lifting his chair and the torch the reach the Big Torch at the top of the Birds Nest. The man had to take breaks and I imagine his arms got tired! This was one of the highlights of the Opening Cermonies. My mom and I started crying! We all watched in anticipation as the man continued up the rope...and finally reached the top...as we waited in such anxiousness...and he lit the torch! Immediately, fireworks errupted!
There could not have been a better ending to the day! Thank you USOC for giving my Mom and I this amazing, beyond expectations experience to see the Paralympic Opening Cermonies 2008! You may even see me in 2012 or 2016!
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