Before leaving on exchange to study abroad in Valencia, Spain for the 2012/13 academic year, I created "Polaroid" prints of family and friends to decorate my dorm room. I used Adobe Photoshop to create a 4x6 template for two images side-by-side that can be printed at any photo centre (such as Walmart or Costco). The 4x6 image is then cut in half to produce two 4x3 "Polaroid" prints. These prints are a great way to treasure memories and can be used as meaningful gifts. I have gifted some prints in greeting cards in the past, and I recently used the Polaroid template I made to create prints of the Beach Volleyball Athletes from the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and their autographs. If you enjoy travel, photography and/or plan to study abroad, you're welcome to take a look at my Valencia Exchange photoblog: For any questions regarding studying abroad or creating your own "Polaroid" prints, please leave your comments below. |
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1. Uniform and Accreditation Pick-upTORONTO, July 7 - The Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre is a 15 minute drive from my house. I arrived there by car and entered the building that I've always seen on my way downtown, yet never entered. In front of me was a receptionist - I asked where I should go, she pointed left to a short fast-paced line-up in front of a long check-in desk. I approached the line which had already ended once I arrived in front of the desk, and so a lady called me to come forward. I displayed my passport which I brought as an ID, and my name was soon located on the screen. The lady thanked me for coming and directed me to follow a red line on the ground, which lead me to the photo-taking zone. I sat down in front of a tiny external webcam connected to a computer where another lady sat. I took off my glasses, she directed me not to smile and in a blink of the eye, she told me it's over. I was positive the photo turned out terrible, yet I didn't say a word. I was then directed to follow a yellow line now towards the accreditation printing zone. I stopped where a yellow square was outlined on the floor and waiting for the printing zone volunteers to call me forward. A young Asian lady instructed me to advance and so I did. I was handed my accreditation, which was connected to a blue "TORONTO 2015" lanyard. The accreditation card was big, bigger than my hand, the photo was dark and my facial expression was scary. I continued towards the next zone, following a green line which passed through the merchandise store where overpriced cups, key-chains and stuffed Pachi (the mascot) toys were sold. Next, I entered a big room lined with change rooms, and centered with a long clothing rack with various sizes of the TORONTO 2015 outfit. A nice lady asked for my shirt size and offered me different shirts and coats until I found the right ones. I decided on the medium men's shirt, the medium women's coat and the smallest hat they had available. I continued towards another desk where another young lady packed me a brand new backpack filled with two nylon-wrapped shirts, one coat, a hat, a water bottle and a welcome package in a little white paper bag, which included the Pan Am Handbook and some advertising. I thanked the lady and continued towards the final zone where I was checked out and received an envelope containing a single entry ticket to the Pan Am Opening Ceremony Rehearsal. I placed the envelope inside my new blue backpack and continued to the large wall behind me where all volunteers wrote a message before they left the building. I wrote my message in blue: "Din Waismark Press Operations". 2. Attending the Opening Ceremony RehearsalTORONTO, July 9 - I arrived at 18:30 at the Roger's Centre and embarked on the search for gate 6. Long lines of people stretched from every gate around the building, I verified the gate number on my ticket. A kind volunteer directed me towards gate 6 where a few lines had formed, I took a moment to decide where to stand, and chose the line nearest to me, which was surprisingly shorter. Within 15 minutes I was at the security check, looking back to see many who where beside be to still be waiting in their lines. I quickly consumed the granola bar and water I had brought with me and was let into the building. Another volunteer directed me to the left, where ramps lead the way to the 5th floor of the stadium. I found my seat at the 4th last row, to the right of a friendly Filipino woman. We exchanged comments on the empty seats and the delay. We were previously told the ceremony would start at 19:00, yet following 30 minutes of delay I was informed the ceremony would start at 20:00. Three hosts got on the stage and thanked the volunteers in the crowed in English, Spanish and French. They requested to keep the surprise until tomorrow's official opening ceremony, yet to share the excitement using the hashtag #SaveTheSurprise on social media. I stared at the screens that counted down 5 minutes to the beginning of the ceremony: "4:59, 4:58, 4:57..." The ceremony lasted two hours, it was well organized and Cirque du Soleil's performance was brilliant. Every scene creatively demonstrated different aspects of Canada's culture and development, including music, sports, transportation, technology and nature. Near the end of the ceremony, the parade of nations took place accompanied by a long soundtrack of 41 melodies corresponding to the musical styles of each of the 41 countries. Each country was represented by volunteers, where the countries with bigger delegations were represented with the volunteers holding a long rope to take up the space. Cheering was heard with every country marching into the stadium, yet loudest were the cheers for Canada who were last to enter. The set decor, lights and pyrotechnics were unique and fascinating, Toronto did a great job in in representing Canada. 3. Pan Am at the Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre (PBV)TORONTO, July 13-21 - Volunteering at the Beach Volleyball center was an amazing opportunity. I was lucky that I was one of the few who were multilingual and able to interview the athletes following each match. I did some of the other tasks as well, which were more passive, but I did a lot of the interviewing which required researching the athletes, watching their game play, preparing interview questions, asking and recording, and finally transcribing the recordings to be sent to the game news service centre. I had to opportunity to interview in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Moreover, I've learned so much about the game play of beach volleyball and had fallen in love with the sport even more than before. This was an incredible experience for me. 4. Parapan Am at the CIBC Athletics Stadium (YOR) TORONTO, August 10-14 - About three weeks following the Pan Am games, I had the opportunity to fulfill the same interviewer position at the Parapan Am Athletic Stadium. This was a very different experience as I had the opportunity to see and interview athletes with various levels of limitations and disabilities fighting so hard to do what they want and believe in. It was definitely touching and an amazing experience that everyone should get the chance to see and feel. I have learned how strong the mind and will can be and that being happy is a choice that no limitation or disability can take away from you, unless you let it.
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Din WaismarkCome learn about the places I visit, the people I meet, and the things that I create and discover. Art, design, sport, technology, travel and languages. Archives
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