I spent the whole plane ride home reflecting on my trip (and sleeping).

First, I want to say this course was amazing. I know many of the blog entries I wrote (and probably others) focused on experiences outside of class rather than our site visits and speakers. A lot of the knowledge that we were exposed to, from leading experts in sports and marketing, was unreal. I have so many stars next to bullet points in my notes and boxes drawn around ideas that I intend to bring back to work. It’s honestly hard to reflect and document your whole experience when you are exhausted from fully living. I’ve learned a lot in and out of the classroom. Just wanted to state that up front.

I wrote in my paper that the Olympics are not an event but an experience. Maybe it’s a self-evident truth, but I was happy to come up with that thesis from a marketing perspective. I would imagine that even your reading of our activities on this blog has formed a different picture of the Games in your mind.

And that’s a key point: Before this trip, I was not able to write about the people who helped make this experience. With every event, the experience is truly personal, creating an image and memory of the Olympics that is different to each person who interacted with the Games at any level.  I see that I am getting too deep here and should revert back to my point.

My experience at the Games was not about seeing records broken and goals scored. My experience was that the individuals I met along the way were there to high-five and cheer with me when those records were broken and goals were scored. Friendships formed, and small moments of human connection between total strangers made me feel part of something bigger, and I had the wonderful opportunity to dedicate all my resources to enjoi ing this experience fully for two weeks (I typed it that way on purpose).

Can you imagine that my phone and iPod were off for two whole weeks?! I have so many small stories that I would love to share with everyone as I re-adjust to life back here in the States. I’ve had a great time: My classmates became my friends,  I rediscovered parts of myself through another culture and will love remembering what I love about America and my friends and family here. Hopefully I can continue to learn and experience the American culture as the same rate I did in Beijing.

Thank you, Lisa and everyone on the trip that helped make this experience possible. I hope that I was able to add to your experience as much as you did to mine. Now. To turn my phone back on … OMG.

Best,
Patrick Donnelly