We did it!  We have won the gold medal! Many thanks to all of you for your support.  It was an incredible experience and I feel truly blessed.  

Life here has alternated between an agonizing period of waiting, and now bouts of Olympic frenzy.  I only have time to write this quick note and hope to post more later.  We were on the Today Show last night (8:30 in the morning in NYC) and I am finally able to see the Olympic Village, events, the Forbidden City, and spend time with my husband, Bob. 

I have been unable to access my website here in China, so if you get a chance, check out www.natrowing.org. I put in a few diary entries and posted some pictures.  The NRF is instrumental in funding our team and a great organization to check out!

Also, these two recent photos are from www.row2k.com, check there for the real photos and awesome Olympic coverage.  Ed Hewitt from Princeton runs the site and has been covering our team rain and shine.

Thank you to all who have written in the guest book.  I'll get back to you soon!  I was inspired by all of your comments and support.  We'll be back in the great USA after the closing ceremonies and I look forward to catching up and seeing everyone soon! 

Lots of love to you all from China!

Anna

We are now one week into our stay here in Beijing.  It was a relatively easy 12-hour plane flight and I was only detained for an hour and a half.  I’m such a rebel.  Technically, my passport number on my Visa didn’t match up and I should have been there for ten days.  Good thing that didn’t happen.  I did have to swing by the Athlete Village to become “eligible”.  That only meant I needed to sign some paperwork again and was a quick fix. 

Finally, the dysfunctional athletes and coaches joined up with the team and checked into a fancy hotel. A woman in a long red traditional Chinese gown led us from the main lobby under a large chandelier, up the sweeping marble staircase to our banquet room for dinner where there was an arrangement of Gerber daisies on each table. 

Not knowing what cuisine to expect, I brought a lot of food with me from home.  I am happy to report that much of this wasn’t necessary, but I am glad that Portia and I both brought a French press for our coffee!  The daily spread always leaves me full and happy.  At breakfast, there is a chef to personally fry up your eggs any way you like (I get a little omelet and an egg over easy to put on toast).  For lunch and dinner, there is always an arrangement of salad and a full Chinese buffet.  For those who can’t eat anymore Chinese food, the usual pasta with marinara, bread and butter, and apples and watermelon are always on hand.

The rowing venue is only about a five-minute bus ride away and this is the closest I have ever been to a course.  I love how quick and easy it is to get to practice and really appreciate the National Rowing Foundation for providing our team with this great location.  Many other teams and athletes have to take an almost hour long bus ride from the Athlete Village.  In our hotel is also Canada and Italy.  We are focused here and ready to race.

July 25th, 2008

One of the most looked forward to events for many Olympians is processing. The team meetings and travel are tough, but filling a shopping cart full of Olympic garb is thrilling.  From shoes to hats, outfits for opening to closing ceremonies, loungewear for the village to the racecourse, and the simple fun of a cart full of “free” gear reminds one of the Supermarket Sweep. 

After leaving the Princeton boathouse at 4am, we flew from Newark to San Jose.  San Jose State University was home to our processing and even though we were exhausted from travel and packing, we all found a bit more energy when a VIP was scheduled to attend.  What a rush when California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, entered the building. 

I was the first in line in the hallway and reached out eagerly to shake his hand.  With a firm grip and a smile, the Governor met each athlete. He gave a short inspiring speech and humored us with many more photos.  My favorite part was when Paul Teti captivated him with details of their training regimen.

We filled our shopping carts full with gear, tried on leather jackets, golden rings, took a head shot and some lucky rowers even had an interview with the media frenzy.  At our team meeting, Donna de Verona, an Olympic swimmer and the first female television sportscaster, inspired us with her words of experience.  The grand finale was a stunning video by one of the great voices of contemporary literature, Maya Angelou, reciting a poem inspired by the team USA phrase, “amazing awaits.”  We were outfitted inside and out and ready for our Olympic experience.