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ATHLETE REPORTER: Christine Victory of Humble
10/2/07 - Late
Today was a great day. Today was a farewell for us for the host program. They entertained us with tap dancing and much more, which was so awesome. When we all heard the music was going and I saw the host family I visited with, it brought a big smile to my face and I gave her a hug. Then we went to eat for the last lunch at the Crown Plaza and when we left to get on the bus, me and Suzanne got off to give the volunteer pins and I got teary-eyed. I almost started to cry; I tried not to cry.
We went back to the hotel to get ready for Opening Ceremonies. What an awesome night it was. Arnold Schwarzenegger walked in with Team USA; that was cool. I wanted to take a picture with him so I could tease my sister about it but didn’t get to. The torch was so neat on how it was lit. When it was over, we left to go back to the hotel. We got out what we are wearing for the next day for our cycling events.
10/3/07
Today, I got up, dressed, went down to eat breakfast at the Yaling International Hotel for the last time and then we headed back upstairs to bring our luggage and stuff, ready to go. We left and met up with Chinese volunteers, who were partnered up with each of us. I like mine. She seems nice. We got on board the ferry with the other teams who are here for cycling. At the dock we waited awhile and then got on the bus and came to the hotel where we are staying. We ate lunch, then got to change into our biking uniforms and headed over to where it was going to be held, but not all the bikes were together. Mine wasn’t one of them ready yet, but when I went to do something, I saw my bike was beginning put together. It was great seeing it once it was done. Then I rode it some, but didn’t get too long with it because we had to be back before six. Rushed to change, I then went down to dinner. Instead of a buffet, it was at the table. It was very good food. Tomorrow starts a busy week.
10/4/07 - 7:40 p.m.
Today, I got up and put on my biking uniform. I looked so good in mine. We ate breakfast, then went to the venue for Opening Ceremonies for cycling. When we got there, we wanted to look for our Team USA tent. I heard my name called. I looked over and it was my sister, Elaine. They had made it. I was so happy to see her that I almost cried. Then when we came back up there for the ceremony to begin, I saw my sister Jill. She took some pictures of me and then one with my friend, Brandon. After Opening Ceremonies was over, they came down to see me. I gave each one of them a hug and a kiss. I told Elaine, Jill and Gail how much I missed them and that I almost cried. Then they left to go back to Shanghai.
Today, I didn’t have to do any races. I got to cheer on some of my friends today. At lunch time, we came back to the hotel to eat. Then went up to the room to get a few things, went back down and then came back, lay down, and took a nap. Then woke up and went back to the venue. While there, I started my postcards that I got to send to family and friends. I got them all done. Tomorrow, I do prelims for two races. I have one more race but don’t know which day yet.
10/5/07 - 7:50 p.m.
Today I had to wake up early at 5:30 a.m. and had to be in our bike uniforms by six to go eat breakfast. Then we headed out to the cycling venue for the day. I did my 5K time trial this morning. I think I did really well on it. I can’t wait to see or hear what my time was for it. The 5K was the prelims so they can place me in the right group. Then came back to hotel for lunch, came up stairs after lunch for a little bit before heading back. When I got back, got my bike and rode it down to the tent.
I bought some postcard stamps today for my postcards that I have that I’m sending family and friends. I got them all, put on each one, and two of the volunteers helped me with them. I will send them off tomorrow. Then I bought some more postcards.
I had the last prelim race of the day, my 1K time trial. I think I did well on that one also. I did have a great day. Got back, ate supper, came upstairs to shower, clean up and then we went walking some and went to go get ice cream. It was very good.
Have a busy day tomorrow also.
10/6/07 - 8:10 p.m.
Today was a wonderful and tiring day. I did my 5K time trial finals this morning. Miss Suzanne was a big help to me. She talked to me, helped me keep going and I finished strong. Then I got my award, I had no idea what place I got - whatever place I got I would be happy with. At first, I got second place, but then Coach Cindi called me over and told them that I tied for first place with the other athlete. I do have to admit this, I broke down and cried. I did this race in memory of my brother, who passed away last year. Then I had the rest of the day off, no races. I am really enjoying my time here.
10/7/07 - 6:11 p.m.
What a great day it has been today. I was off this morning and didn’t have a race until after lunch. I did my 10K time trial finals today; I did really well in it. I got third place; I was so excited about it. It did start raining, but it held off long enough for me to do my race and get it in. Then it rained but it stopped long enough for me to get my medal. After it was over, Coach Ken was so nice to take my bike back and put it up for me, so I didn’t have to worry about it
Tomorrow is another busy day. I am off tomorrow.
10/8/07 - 7:43 p.m.
Well, today’s cycling event was canceled because of the storm, so we stayed here all day at the hotel resting. I took two naps today and it felt nice. We did at one point, go down to the fourth floor and play a game of tag. It was fun; it helped the day go by faster.
The events are going on tomorrow. My last event was on Wednesday, but now it was moved to Tuesday because of weather. So that means I will have Wednesday off instead. I hope I do well tomorrow and don’t DQ because of going over my time. I get to see my sisters again and I will be giving them two things to put in their carry on bag or suitcase to bring home for me.
10/9/07
Today was a great day. I was off this morning and I had my last race after lunch. I did my 1K time trial finals. I got first place for it. I was so excited about it. I was in shock also. I couldn’t believe it. So I have two gold medals and a bronze medal. Then I watched my best friends Syd and Matt race, cheering them on. Then they got their awards, we came back to hotel, got cleaned up, got to eat pizza for supper.
It was a great day. I was going to give one thing to my sister Elaine but I forgot it.
10/10/07 9:39 p.m.
Today, I got to sleep in a little until six something. There was knock on our door waking us up. So I got up to see who it was and it was Miss Suzanne saying it was time to get up and go eat breakfast. Then we went to a very neat temple for a tour. It was awesome.
We headed to the cycling venue to watch Chris Hines riding and getting his award. Then we came back to the hotel for lunch and a nap. We headed back to the cycling venue, so my two best friends Syd, who is from Maryland, and Matt, who is from Ohio, to race in the 40K road race, which is eight times around. All of the cycling athletes, including me, cheered them on.
We came back to the hotel and got changed into khakis shorts and blue tee for the farewell banquet. It was very nice. My volunteer gave me a present. It was so sweet of her. She gave me a piggy bank. I gave her a shirt to remember me by. Then we had three volunteers who were interpreters for us. I really got to like them. After it was over with, each one of them gave me a hug and told me that they were going to miss me and my smile. I nearly cried. They each took pictures with me. Then we had a group picture with them.
We came up and got busy packing our big suitcase, which we won’t see until we get home. Then we packed our carry on bag. This has gone by too fast.
10/11/07 - 10:00 p.m.
We woke up and got dressed in our closing ceremonies outfit for the evening. We ate breakfast, told our volunteers goodbye, got on the bus to head back to Shanghai to the hotel. I didn’t know where we were going to stay again, but found out when we drove up to it. It was the same hotel - the Yalong International Hotel. Me and my friend Desi were on the ninth floor. It was a pretty view. You should have seen our shower. Instead of being a regular shower stall, it was a wooden one. I did take pictures of it.
Then it was time for evening ceremonies, so Miss Suzanne came and got us and we headed back to meet up with everyone, had to get on the bus to get to the closing ceremonies. It was a fun night.
10/12/07 - 8:00 p.m.
I had to get up very early to go to the airport; we woke up at four. We went to the airport, went through customs and machine to go to our gate for take off. I bought some Chinese playing cards but I won’t play with them. They are special to me. Then it was time to get on the plane. They loaded by sport; we were the third to get on. We got to sit in our region going to L.A., which I was happy about. On the airplane, I did fall asleep. It was a long flight. We landed at 6:55 a.m. in L.A.
We went to our hotel and then we, Texans, went to Knotts Berry Farm, an amusement park. It was so much fun. I really enjoyed it | 
