BRITISH COLUMBIA -
"It's like living the rich and famous life."
The excitement in Lewisporte McDonald's manager Wavie Pittman's voice is evident as she talks about her adventures in Whistler, British Columbia as part of the McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
"It's fabulous and it's more then expected," she said in a phone interview last Thursday. "You expected certain things, but it's that and more. It's overwhelming."
Ms. Pittman left for Whistler on Feb. 9 to join 300 other McDonald's employees at one of the specialty restaurants built to accommodate elite athletes, media and coaches in Whistler during the Winter Games.
"We work about six hours a day, but there is no daily routine because we have not stopped since we got here," she said. "At work you are serving the best-of-the-best athletes in the world and you look at them with their medals and you are proud to be a part of it all.
"We also go and we see the events and partake in everything that is going on in Whistler during the games. We are even up in the mountains hiking, snowshoeing, dog sledding - there were so many events planned for us, along with other things that we can do on our own."
Ms. Pittman is staying in a condo with five other Atlantic Canadian McDonald's employees, all expenses paid, and said she couldn't ask for a better opportunity to experience Whistler for the first time.
"It's a lifetime dream," she said. "We are staying in a condo up on Eagle Ridge Crescent and it's gorgeous. There is always things going on in the village all day and all night too, so there is always something to take in and experience."
The crew has attended two Olympic events including ski jumping and bobsledding.
"When my daughter calls and tells me what events they have been watching, well I can say that I have been to those events up close," she said. "We've had pictures taken with several different athletes and all the medals are given to the athletes in the village here and every night there is a big concert and celebration for the victory ceremony."
According to Ms. Pittman, attending the medal ceremonies was an emotional and wonderful thing to witness.
"It's a gala evening, starting at six in the evening and ending shortly after midnight," she said. "All different bands have been here like Our Lady Peace, Hedley, Usher and Nickelback. It's absolutely wonderful."
Ms. Pittman will be returning home to Lewisporte on Feb. 26, but she said until the crew departs they still have plenty on their agenda left to do.
"We still have some time left, so we are taking in as much as we can," she said. "We are having the time of our lives and we are enjoying every minute of it. It's beyond words."
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