The Olympics are about a month away, and I’m so anxious for it all to start I can hardly stand it.

A little over two years ago I was studying abroad in Europe for the semester and had the chance to watch an Olympic event over one of my long weekends. I traveled from London to Paris and to Milan in one day to get to Torino to see the women’s half pipe snowboarding contest. It was amazing, and a trip highlight for sure.

  Keighla in Torino

I remember that day vividly. My travel buddy for the weekend and I had booked our hotel room relatively late and the closest available room was in Milan, which was about a two hour train ride to Torino, but we didn’t care. Then it was another 45 minutes or so up into the Swiss Alps to get to the half-pipe where the event was. It was worth it!

We layered on clothes and charged all our batteries. The two of us had bought our event tickets at separate times so we weren’t able to sit by each other, but we both had seats we wouldn’t want to trade. Jenny was standing in the snow right along the half pipe, getting close action shots. I was in the stands literally sandwiched between two families of American competitors, who ended up being the gold and silver medalists families. Hannah and Gretchen’s families kept getting phone calls from the girls after their jumps asking for critiques and making sure they caught the cool trick on camera. I was caught on camera too. When the networks covering the event would cut to the families cheering after the event, there I was. My little brother was excited to have seen me.

It was awesome!! I spent a lot of money getting official Olympic goodies. I still daily carry one with me. I got a lanyard for my keys that I carry my house, car and work keys on. I wish I was able to get a seat between families of a swimmer or a gymnast, this year, but I won’t be. I’ll be here, like the majority of viewers, watching it from my couch.

Are you getting a chance to go? Are you watching an event or two from Beijing this year? Or do you have a story similar to mine? Share, please!