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Volunteer
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Dateline: Nagano, Japan Yesterday while waiting for some guests to arrive at the Nagano train station, I was approached by a young couple who were working for a local news agency. They asked if I wouldn't mind filling out a brief survey they were taking. After checking their credentials, I agreed to fill one out. There were four brief questions. The first asked what had been the highlight of my visit to Nagano thus far. With little thought needed, I answered that I found my interactions with the children in Nagano to be my most memorable experiences. They are incredibly friendly, charming, trusting, and so, so cute! Their next question asked what my biggest surprise has been here. Again, without much thought required, I answered that the traffic nightmares I envisioned never truly materialized. Yes, there were occasional jams, but for the most part, traffic has not been a problem. Their third question asked of any problems I've encountered since my arrival. I can honestly say that I haven't had major problems during my stay. Besides the minor traffic jams, and perhaps my roommate's occasional snoring, the worst problem I've had is not being able to find good postcards. Says a lot, huh? Finally they asked if I had any of the local cuisine. What truly impresses you in Nagano, (and Japan as a whole), is the quality and size of their fruit. The apples are larger than grapefruits and the grapes are the size of small plums! All the fruit is delicious. I also sampled some of the local pastry - cookies are quite popular and quite good as well. After taking the survey, I realized that I am doing okay so far. I'm working very hard, (as are all the John Hancock folks!) while still getting a good feel for being at an Olympics and in a new environment.
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