Lara's Reasons Why Not

We love that so many of you have enjoyed our Olympic blog and followed our Sochi adventure!  We're even more thrilled that so many of you have expressed interest in going yourselves-it is most definitely the trip and experience of a lifetime!  We're planning a blog post that goes over what it costs to go to the Olympics, so hopefully that will push even the more tentative folks over the edge into YES territory!  And if you are a little hesitant, here are some reasons to go (or not go) to the Olympics if you're waffling...

DO go if you straight up love the Olympics-every event, no matter the medal chances of your home country.
DON'T go if you only want to see very few and very specific events.  You're limiting your schedule, your ticket options and prices, and where you'll get to go at the Olympics.  If you only want to see events in the mountains at the Winter Olympics, you don't get into Olympic Park for free, and it's definitely worth seeing.

DO go if you love to travel and experience other cultures.  Planning your trip and actually being at the Games is a mind-blowing cultural mixup of epic proportions.  Interacting with others outside of your own cultural comfort zone results in funny misunderstandings, strange friendships, and a camaraderie that doesn't exist when the Olympics aren't happening.  When I go to visit Jessica in London later this year, I highly doubt anyone will talk to me about the Olympics, even if I wear my red, white, and blue America flair on the Tube (which is a very very sad thought).  The very fact of the Games in a location creates a very special atmosphere of friendliness and fun.
DON'T go if you get frustrated at the idea of non-English speaking volunteers, or non-English signage.  Non-verbal communication works, but it takes some patience.

DO go if you want to see every event possible during your time there, even something that comes up unexpectedly.  There are always tickets available to something, sometimes people are even giving them away for free!  Always be up for a new adventure.
DON'T go if you want to do a lot of sightseeing and tourism based activities.  The Olympics bring a LOT of people to town, and guess what?  They all want to see the Tower of London.  Or the Christ the Redeemer statue.  Or any other myriad of destination highlights.  Unless you plan extra days at the beginning or end of your trip, or a few days in the middle specifically for these things, the time and effort spent getting from one event to the next is time consuming and doesn't allow for a lot of last minute stops.  Erin and I were going to see all manner of London's best tourist destinations-the Tower, the British Museum, the National Gallery, the British Library, etc.  We saw Churchill's bunker and went on a Thames river boat ride.  Late nights spent carousing with Brazilians, Germans, Aussies, the English, and the Dutch make getting up early really difficult.  You're there for the Olympics. BE there for the Olympics.  If you really want to go to Rio, then go to Rio when it's not packed to the gills with people, hotels are overpriced, and flights are overbooked.

DO go if you are prepared to cheer your ass off, dance like no one is watching, and wave your flag like a nutty patriot at the Boston Tea Party.  Because that's what this is ABOUT. 
DON'T go if you are afraid to look silly or too pro-American.  The greatest thing about the Olympics is that you don't have to cloak your patriotism in guilt (as if you should anyway-what's wrong with loving your homeland?).  And if you think wearing some beads or crazy hats is a little over the line, there are dudes in unitards.  There is no way you ever look like the most ridiculous person in the venue.


DO go if you are always someone that says "YES!"
DON'T go if you are someone that isn't up for something exciting, new, and unknown.  Snuff?  Why not?  Ride on the Olympic Park shuttle?  Why not?  Take pictures with random strangers? Why not?  If you can think of reasons why not, then you are missing out on the opportunity to have so much fun your abs are sore from laughing for days afterward.  No one likes a party pooper.

DO go if you are prepared to do a lot of work to get to the Games.  This isn't like a normal vacation.  It's not just about finding a hotel room, it's about finding a place in a location that is close to transportation, or in an area/neighborhood that you want to be.  With the amount of time it can take to get a venue, these factors are important, and research and patience are a huge part of it.  Buying tickets also takes a concerted effort, as you have to plan in advance the tickets you want, establish what you want to pay for them, and then actually buy them.  For countries like Russia and Brazil, you also need to understand and prepare properly for the additional visa requirements, which can be complicated and confusing. 
DON'T go if you expect this work to be done for you.  If you can't help with one thing, help with another.  Be an active participant in the trip-it gets everyone excited when everyone is contributing news, updates, and other exciting facets of the Games!

DO go if you are okay with less than ideal conditions.  Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate for events to go off when you have a ticket for it.  Sometimes there is brown drinking water, stray dogs, and strange toilets.  You will survive.  You might get norovirus, but you will survive.
DON'T go if you are easily frustrated at change, or have toilet anxiety in foreign countries.  The best way to figure out if this is you is to find out how you feel about porta-potties.  If you refuse to use a porta-potty, stay home.  Not that every toilet is a porta-pottie, and it's not like people should be amped to use a porta-pottie, but don't subject your fellow travellers to weird constraints or travel speedbumps based on your toilet hang ups.

DO go if you are okay with surviving on hot dogs and donuts. You'll be able to squeeze in a few decent meals here and there as time and schedule allows.  But don't get your hopes up on fancy restaurant reservations-you're going to be exhausted and sometimes a hot dog just seems like a lot less of a hassle.
DON'T go if you are a picky eater that can't be satisfied with mere concession stand food.  Look, I get it-I'm a total foodie, but the Olympics are not the time to demand Michelin star restaurant service.  You're going to be eating a LOT of concession stand food-some of it okay, some of it terrible, some of it that words can't possibly describe.  What feeds you during the Olympics is the experience.  And the beer. 

If you want to go, feel free to ask us questions!  We'll answer whatever we can!

What to wear to the Olympics: A rough guide

Packing for any vacation always presents a plethora of decisions. Should I pack a heavier coat? What if I spill something on my clothes? Can I do laundry? In addition to the weather and size and weight restrictions, the Olympics present an entirely new set of issues: what should your OLYMPIC wardrobe look like?? 

Your Olympic wardrobe shouldn’t break the bank, but you also don’t want anyone to pass you on the street wondering which team you’re cheering for. A few simple suggestions:

THE FLAG:

Don’t leave home without it. You should have at least one that’s LARGE—it’s MUCH easier for NBC to spot a flag when it’s the size of a person. Our sources also tell us that choosing a flame retardant material could be important for when you encounter hostile fans from other countries. But don’t stop there. Party City and loads of other stores stock Old Glory in every shape and size. A few of our favorites: 

--Gameface tattoos: You can order large quantities of these for very little money, and then no matter what you’re wearing, your allegiance is apparent. (tip: these are also great for sharing with Americans you encounter who are not appropriately dressed. We don’t understand such people, but we do support helping them)

 --Small flags on sticks: If you’re worried about space, a tiny flag can always be shoved into your back pocket or camera bag and whipped out at an opportune flag waving moment. 

--Bunting: Not only can you use this to make your living space more festive, it can be fashioned into a sash (think Ms America) to add a little pizzazz to any outfit.

Headwear:

Your best investment pieces are worn on your head. This is what cameras will see to potentially put you on television. If you’re an American, a cowboy hat is a great option. Although Americans typically associate them with the South and rural areas, the rest of the world sees a cowboy hat and knows you’re a Yank. 

The winter Olympics will offer a great opportunity to show off the red, white, and blue in a variety of styles. Start watching for hats that feature USA colors the year before the games, and you’ll likely get a bargain on awesome knitted caps. You’ll definitely want more than one, in case you lose yours après ski in a bar, or it gets stolen by a jealous Russian fan. 

Red, White, and Blue clothes:

Depending on the year, these can be very easy to find. Old reasonably priced staples like Old Navy, the Gap, and Urban Outfitters often offer pieces that feature the flag, as well as basic pieces in red, white, and blue. These are great picks, because you can wear them before and after the games. You can do a lot with a navy sweater when you pair it with a face tattoo, a flag sash, and cowboy hat. Be creative. 

If you don’t get clothes in advance, remember you can always head to the American house to get the latest Olympic gear, but it will be priced exorbitantly. Then again, you’re at the Olympics, so treat yourself!

Don’t be afraid to be bold. No one remembers the guy who went to the Olympics and wore a black Columbia jacket. Don’t be that guy. Aspire to be the guy who wears body paint and a wig to Men’s halfpipe. Everybody loves that guy. 

USA! USA! USA!