hello world...literally

I always thought I would have to go out into the world to meet people from over 100 hundred countries. Or at least leave the United States on some grand adventure planned to the hour in one of my currently blank travel notebooks. I always pictured being a junior in college, dancing in the streets of Paris or Amsterdam or wherever I study abroad, when that “this is pretty special” feeling would bubble up in my chest. My addiction to travel would begin then and there, and the chase towards worldly connection would become a lifelong pursuit.

Well, I just finished my freshman year of college. I still haven’t left the continent. But I’ve encountered the feeling in the place I get to call my right-now home: Eugene, Oregon.

In July, I helped my own school prepare and then host the World Athletic Championships. I, along with over 2000 volunteers and staff wore purple collared shirts (aka “the purple people”) and did various tasks to help ensure things went smoothly… and come up with solutions when smooth was out of the question. From filling the athletes' gift backpacks with blankets to helping the Team Medical Lead of Spain find a room for physical therapy to leading the 100 meter hurdle world record holder to a media room, the range in day-to-day activity was indescribable.

Instead of going through every task, I would rather share some stories that stood out to me as meaningful in their own way.

Talking Language

During my first shift, I happened to start up a conversation with the Team Lead of Brazil as he waited to get his keys for the Brazilian Team’s accommodations. He asked me why I was volunteering and after I explained my love for track and field while also my desire to get worldly experience, he asked if I spoke another language. I told him that I am learning French, but I wish I had started learning earlier. He told me to just keep it up and one day visit a French speaking country because that is the best way to learn. I then asked what languages he spoke, and he said, “English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French.” He had been all over the world for Track and Field, and I envied his adventures. He told me to keep on seeking out opportunities like this, and I told him I would.

This man was incredibly kind and willing to share wisdom and stories with a random volunteer like me. After our conversation, he casually showed me his personal wikipedia page and said, “I was an Olympian back in the 80s.” My eyes got wide as I realized that this would be the beginning of lots of little interactions like this. They were short and sweet and added another layer to my connection with the world. But they were also incredibly cool. When else would I discuss language with a former Olympian?

I would go on to listen to his advice and look up what it took to minor in French. I would also go on to look up the Paris 2024 Olympics and daydream about volunteering there in two years. First lesson learned: language is the gateway to connection

Welcome to dorm life!

The first four days I spent leading athletes to the buildings (dorms) they would be staying and then walk them to the basketball arena where they got their accreditation (fancy name tags) and complimentary backpack.

I soon learned that every athlete had a slightly different opinion about their accommodations. It became a fun game: how would their expression change in between the walk into and then from the dorm? One confused looking athlete expressed her confusion over where the room’s bathroom was. I had to inform her that she would be sharing a hall bathroom during her stay to which she replied, “You mean, I walk down the hallway in a towel on the same floor as other men?”

I swallowed. “Yes, that is correct,” a slightly higher pitched tone of voice coming out of my mouth. She nodded, and that was that. I soon learned that sympathizing was the best solution. “Oh I had to do that all last year. It is definitely an experience.” Luckily, that would lighten things up and by the time we got to the accreditation center, they would be laughing over their week of dorm life.

Second lesson learned: it is possible to relate to world class athletes, sometimes.

Winning a Ping Pong Match

After spending a few days leading athletes to dorms (including my very tower and floor), I next found myself stationed in the athlete lounge. While most of the time, this meant sitting at a help desk just in case I needed to answer a question or refilling food at a snack station, I also got to witness several ping pong games. I would get to watch as Italian athletes battled Spanish athletes in a very normal activity, or the relay team from Trinidad and Tobago go against each other. It was funny seeing such talented athletes play a regular game. It reminded me that these people were human too, not just athletes that resembled gods and goddesses.

One night, after we had all sat around a big screen to watch the day’s events, the Dutch team started to play a new version of the simple game. Perhaps regular ping pong was not challenging enough or maybe these runners just had to include their own sport in the match, but whatever the case, this version included running around the table. It would start out with almost six people playing and once you hit the ball, you ran to the other side, going back and forth as each next hitter ran to the opposite end of the table. However, once someone made a mistake, they would be out, leading to a more and more difficult game as players got out, until finally the last two played a normal round.

As I sat at the information desk, one of the Dutch players asked me if I would like to join. At first I was nervous to say yes, but then I reminded myself: they are people, just like you. “Sure!” They also asked two other non-athletes who were sitting in the lounge (and ended up being the DJ of the event and her twin sister/manager). As soon as we got into position to play, we realized there were not enough ping pong paddles. One of the athletes took off his slide and said, “I’ll use this!” We all laughed and began to play this intense version of ping pong.

Let’s just say that while I may not be able to beat a professional runner in a foot race, I definitely had some wins during ping pong.

Getting the Uganda Invite

Another evening at the information desk, an older coach noticed I was writing in my notebook. He came up to me and asked what I was up to. I told him that I was making a list of “good things” because I felt like it. He read the first few words—"learning new words, sitting on benches and listening to the wind, summer, the sun shining"—and exclaimed, “Oh so you are making a list about this event!” I told him that while that had not been the original purpose, I guess this reason worked too. It made me smile.

He then asked me if I had ever been to Uganda. I told him no, and he revealed that he was their Team Leader. He then took the pen I held out of my hand and wrote down his email into my notebook. “For when you come to visit!” I laughed and promised that if I ever visited Uganda I would definitely email him. I then asked him what it was like and why I should go. He then crafted a list of three reasons: 1. Murchison Falls (waterfall) 2. Gorillas 3. Rwenzori, Mountains of the Moon (A mountain range)

Seems like some pretty good reasons, right? According to my new friend Daniel, “The people are beautiful,” and after meeting such a wonderful guy like him, I believe him.

After our conversation, he invited me to play with a little golf putter in the athlete recovery room. A green mat led to a mini hole. He took about fifteen shots before sighing and telling me that golfing is not too popular in Uganda. We then went back and forth trying to make a mini hole in one. Apparently, someone in charge promised him the golf set after the event was over. “For my grandkids, I want to teach them!” He told me.

Daniel was a kind soul. If I ever make it over to Uganda, an email will be reaching his inbox.

Enter the Medal Ceremony Rush

The last days of the event I got promoted. (Kind of). Instead of working in Athlete Village, I was stationed under Hayward Field to aid in medal ceremonies. (Major freak out moment!!!) I had no idea what to expect, and after a brief welcome, I learned I would have to go with the flow and catch on by experience.

These last two shifts went somewhat like this: I arrived to the volunteer check-in center at the old basketball court, signed in, and sat down with the other Medal Ceremony volunteers. Once we all had arrived, we went the back way to the underground part of Hayward field. The first day I entered Hayward next to Noah Lyles and almost had a mini heart attack. I turned to one of my teammates for the evening and said, “We just walked in with THE Noah Lyles.” She shrugged, “Yeah, you should get used to that feeling.”

Maybe it was a good thing I only spent the last two nights with this job. I might have not been able to function properly if I spent the entire week here. However, this also kept these two nights special and made me appreciate the smaller moments I had in the Athlete’s Village. Under Hayward, there wasn’t time to sit down and talk with athletes because they were in the zone, focusing on competition and appearance because cameras were everywhere. I had to be a very different kind of volunteer. Instead of going with the flow, I had to follow tight schedules in order for the athletes to get where they needed to be on time.

My main task was to gather athletes on time and hold them in one area before lining them up to go out onto Hayward for the ceremony in which they stood on a podium and were presented with a medal. This may sound easy, but with the multiple rounds of media they had to go through, it could get hectic. For instance we had to run after Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the woman who set the world record for the women’s 100 meter hurdles, to make sure she would have enough time to change for her ceremony. Each athlete was supposed to change into their track suits, but when an athlete did not have theirs with them or did not own track pants or jacket, we would have to improvise, even though most TV viewers probably would not even notice.

There were many rules I had to follow too: no pictures with the athletes, no handing them water as per anti-doping rules, no freaking out like a fangirl because in this instance you could not be a fan, etc. So while I was in the presence of Sydney McLaughlin, Noah Lyles, Athing Mu, Armand Duplantis, Michael Norman, and other medalists, I could not show my intense desire to take a selfie and scream.

However, on the last night as we prepared for the medal ceremonies for the 4x400 relay, Sydney McLaughlin came up to me and asked me to take a picture of both 4x400 USA teams. I tried not to let my hands shake as I took the picture (which Michael Norman later posted). It was SO cool.

The After Party

Once all of the races were done and the final night wrapped up, some of the medal ceremony volunteers went onto Hayward and took some fun pictures! Then, we decided to drop by the after party hosted by World Athletics in the Athlete’s Village which just so happened to be on my freshman dorm’s lawn. After showing up in our uniform (collared polo purple tee and sweatpants), we quickly realized that was not the vibe. Because most of us did not live too far away, we went to change into attire that was more *dance* friendly.

Upon returning, both the crowd and music volume had multiplied. My new friends and I made our way to the patch of grass in front of the DJ otherwise known as the dance floor. Soon, we were thrown into the mix of thrashing bodies, rejoicing in motion because the work (for now) was done.

Amidst athletes from Algeria, Italy, the Netherlands, Brazil, (the lists goes on and on), I danced. And let me tell you—professional athletes do not get tired. Sweaty, hot, and probably the best party I had been to in a while, this night was filled with the unexpected. That undeniable “woah” moment reverberated through me over and over again (along with multiple international song remixes).

At one point, Noah Lyles crashed the dance floor. Now, if you do not know who he is… Just look him up. He’s a track god. The crowd (of professional athletes may I remind you) went nuts. A celebrity among the celebrities i.e. MAJOR cool moment.

By the end of the night, I was watching athletes dance through the streets in a language I could not comprehend, but one thing was clear: this was a celebration. (And sadly, it had to end.)

These little snippets into Worlds all hold a special place in my heart (as cheesy as that is). However, above all, this experience taught me about the importance of seeking opportunities to connect with others, from your own country or beyond. Yes, I still want to study abroad. However, I am lucky to have spent July with people from all over the world right in my own (freshman) backyard.

To those seeking the world, sometimes it finds you first. Look. And if it does, consider yourself lucky.

Much Love, Chloé