Volunteer
Cheryl Talbot,
Corporate Technology Office, Information Technology Systems

"One of our first challenges was to become a team."

Early last year I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the 26 John Hancock Volunteers to the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. It seems like years ago. I can't believe it's really here!

When we were first chosen, I knew very little about most of the other volunteers. We 're a pretty diverse group - different backgrounds, age groups, job responsibilities and experiences. We represent many different departments in John Hancock.

One of our first challenges was to become a team. We met several times (including some Saturdays!) for all sorts of training; team building, presentations by volunteers who had been in Atlanta, information about logistics arranged by John Touchette and his staff, language, customs, expectations and goals. We also attended CPR classes and lunchtime seminars on language, living in Japan and getting around Tokyo. We even had a Japanese lunch at the Kyoto Restaurant in Boston where, I must admit, we were not ALL very adventuresome!

We had many chances to participate in other volunteer opportunities like the Bay State Games and packing JH materials for Nagano. These activities gave us additional opportunities to get to know each other as team members.

As a result of the training I feel we're ready to go! We know we'll experience VERY long days and be faced with many interesting challenges, but we also know we work well as a team.

Why would I want to do this? My husband and I purchased one of the employee packages offered at the Atlanta Games, and both of us feel it was the competence and enthusiasm of the volunteers that made it a truly memorable experience. They made it SO easy to sit back and enjoy the whole experience without worrying about the little details. I hope, now that I'll be seeing things from the other side, that our Nagano guests will return home with the same feelings!