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| Special Olympics athlete Garrie Barnes (left) with her volunteer buddy and new friend, Yvonne Cai Yuhuan (right). |
Made in ChinaBy Garrie Barnes, Special Olympics Maryland (USA)
On 1 September 2006, the day of my 27th birthday, I found out that I would be traveling to Shanghai, China, to compete in the 2006 Special Olympics Invitational Games, which were a preview of what the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be like in October. I was very excited to hear a voicemail message from my friend Jason Schriml, of Special Olympics Maryland, telling me to get a passport picture for the China visa. I was selected to compete in the 100-meter run and running long jump at the Invitational Games. I was a little nervous traveling alone without family or friends, but once I got to China, I made a lot of new friends from Team USA, and the nervousness disappeared.
When we arrived to China, we were greeted by a host town community that introduced us to some of the Chinese traditions and customs. After we left the host town, we were introduced to our volunteer buddies. My buddy, Yvonne, a college student in Shanghai, and I connected fast, and that is when our friendship began. Yvonne helped translate Chinese for me, and I even taught her a few English words like the phrase “goof.” Since the Invitational Games, we have become wonderful e-mail buddies, and I want her to visit me in Maryland to meet my family and friends.
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Team USA athletes and coaches pose with buddy volunteers at the 2006 Special Olympics Invitational Games in Shanghai. Team USA includes (second row - left to right) Minter Willis; Sammy Lee Lewis; Garrie Barnes; Danny Herahader; Mark Capano; Jennifer Klapinsky; David James Steffan; Ashley Bressler; Rhily Jo Simpkin; Paul Edward Holland; and Donna Diaz. |
One day while we were chatting over e-mail, Yvonne told me about her new job with the Howard Johnson Plaza Shanghai, where she would be working as the Director of Sales and Marketing. Much to my surprise, she told me she accepted this job because of me. After her unforgettable experience with Special Olympics, she decided that she wanted to make a career in taking care of others.
I recently caught up with Yvonne over e-mail to talk about our budding friendship and how her experience with Special Olympics has impacted her life.
Garrie: Why did you volunteer at the 2006 Special Olympics Invitational Games?
Yvonne: I just wanted to be helpful to someone else.
Garrie: How has the experience changed you?
Yvonne: It made me more patient and cheerful. And I began to appreciate even tiny niceties in daily life from then on.
Garrie: How has our friendship changed your life?
Yvonne: At the beginning of the Games, I was supposed to be a person who provided help. But as the time went on, I found that I was the one who received help. Garrie always translated the difficult English sentences into easy ones for me to understand. And I was really thankful for the trust that Garrie gave me. Now, I try my best to be considerate toward others.
Garrie: How can you use your experience with Special Olympics at your new job?
Yvonne: I realized that it is quite natural that I would meet many people in my life but we cannot be with each other for a long period. However, I am willing to create beautiful memories. So I decided to work in a hotel, I think when I deliver a warm reception to the guest, both of us will be happy, and I like to share happiness with others.
Garrie: Had you worked with people with intellectual disabilities prior to volunteering with Special Olympics?
Yvonne: No, but I was lucky to be one of the volunteers in the 2006 Special Olympics Invitational Games.
Garrie: Will you be a volunteer during the World Summer Games in Shanghai this October?
Yvonne: No, the organizers prefer students because they can volunteer full time. Since I will be working full time, I am not eligible. However, I hope to help out in other ways.
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