My DD graduates in May with a double major in international relations and romance languages (Spanish and Portuguese). Apparently she applied for and has been accepted as a volunteer for the 2016RIO Olympics. She is an adult and is paying her own way, so I don’t have much say so in any part of the decision - and it doesn’t really matter how I feel about it, but I thought I would ask for discussion on the following:
How will this impact her job search? The RIO2016 Olympics are in August - so she can’t start grad school until Fall of 2017. Will employers look positively or negatively on this choice/opportunity? Does it matter what employers will think, e.g. Is this a once in a lifetime opportunity? or is it an over-rated “Disney-Retail” position?
Should I be concerned with safety? On the one hand, there should be great security in RIO for the Olympics, but on the other hand, it could be a target for terrorism.
Just looking for discussion as her decision is really her decision - not mine, not within my control.
You’re only young once. She should go for it if that’s what she wants to do. There aren’t many times in your life that present much flexibility in one’s schedule.
Assuming she is not pregnant nor wants to become pregnant in the near future, I wouldn’t worry about Zika too much, unless the CDC comes out with some info they haven’t told us yet.
The Zika Virus is nothing to worry about unless you’re pregnant. It’s been around for a long time and it’s pretty much like a very mild flu if you show any symptoms at all.
I second ucb on regular old crime being infinitely more likely.
On another note, why does an event which rakes in millions (billions?) looking for volunteers?
"why does an event which rakes in millions (billions?) looking for volunteers?
Because they can.
Honestly, cities/countries should stop groveling to get the Olympics, and if they do, they should stipulate that the majority of jobs go to locals who are paid for it.
I would not worry about local, garden variety crime either. It usually goes down during Olympics. With so many LEO brought in from all over the country to monitor the Olympic venues, the risk of being caught and prosecuted goes way up, so pickpockets etc. take a vacation… For instance, this is what happened in London:
“On another note, why does an event which rakes in millions (billions?) looking for volunteers?”
Uhmmm… Because they can, just like US cos can claim that they provide “training” to unpaid interns… as long as those interns pay tuition to their schools.
Good for your daughter! It is exactly the time of life to do this. I’m sure you’ve discussed birth control options, and the extra importance of super meticulous compliance in light of the zika virus, so all is good!
“How will this impact her job search? The RIO2016 Olympics are in August - so she can’t start grad school until Fall of 2017. Will employers look positively or negatively on this choice/opportunity? Does it matter what employers will think, e.g. Is this a once in a lifetime opportunity? or is it an over-rated “Disney-Retail” position?”
If she plans to enter grad school in the fall of 2017, her post-graduate school employers will not give a hoot about what she did before her undergrad and graduation from her grad school. She should just go for it.
Sorry I don’t think my post came through like it meant to. It was a rhetorical question and I was lamenting the fact that these huge money making things rely on free labor. It’s like how the super bowl relies on volunreers. It just bothers me.
I know a few people who went to or worked at the 2002 Salt Lake games. All loved it and still talk about the experience. My niece was a junior Olympian at the time, so her jacket got her into a lot of venues. Another friend was a reporter, so had access to the medals venue and a lot of the official stuff.
I think it is a pretty good opportunity, especially since her interests are in Spanish and Portuguese.
I don’t think there is a parent in the world who wouldn’t worry about safety. My daughter is at Disneyworld right now and I worry. The other is snug and cozy in her dorm and I worry.
I went to the Sydney Olympics as a child, the Turin winter Olympics as a teenager and London Olympics as an adult. It’s an experience your D will never forget. She will love it. It’s good for the soul to meet so many people from all over the world all united by sport.
There is pretty tight security inside Olympic venues. In terms of terrorism, public places with large crowds are at higher risk (see for example Atlanta 1996 bomb). But as already noted, petty crime like pick pocketing is 1000s of times more likely. Just be alert.
This is Rio, Brazil, not Sydney or LA. It is not safe.
When I used to go in and out of Mexico and Brazil, my driver in Mexico didn’t have to carry a gun, but my driver in Brazil did. It was not uncommon for people in Brazil to have bullet proof cars. The drivers were trained on how to make sure their passengers wouldn’t get kidnapped (never get boxed in at a stop night, no side streets…)
Young professionals in my firm (without personal driver/car) were told not to get taxis off the street. When some of them did, especially late at night, they were often taken to get money out of ATM machines. Right around midnight were favorite time because they could withdraw twice. All expats in those countries all had to go through security training on what to do under various situations.
I was called at home one time to let me know my H was kidnapped and I had to drop off the ransom at a specific place. Unlucky for them I didn’t speak Spanish, so I kept on hanging up the phone on them. They finally spoke with my housekeeper who translated it to me. I consulted my firm’s security and they got in touch with my then H. I heard it was a common practice. My firm’s chief service officer spent much of her time dealing with security problems (kidnapping). The firm paid for a large security staff (army) to ensure safety of its employees.
D2 went to high school in Mexico for 2 years while I worked there. She wants to “go home” again, but she is very aware of security issues there. She would only go if I could go with her, and we would have a driver to take her around.
D2 is 22, graduating this years, and a very savvy, mature woman, but knowing what I know, I wouldn’t have her travel to Mexico or Brazil by herself. It was very stressful for me when I worked down there to be constantly worried about security. I am not sure how enjoyable it is going to be for OP’s daughter if she is not going to have the freedom to come and go as she pleases.
“On another note, why does an event which rakes in millions (billions?) looking for volunteers?” - this made me smile.
Go back in time, the 1984 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles - I was in my mid-20s and I volunteered through the Olympic Organizing Committee and was given a position as the “hospitality suite manager” in the PSA (airline) suite (at the time my background was all hospitality, I grew up in the restaurant industry). It was a blast! I not only got tickets to events that were held (of course not during my shifts - sports events and parties around town) but met some very high profile people and athletes (and even had a sweet conversation with Nadia Comenici - we are close in age) - during the games I received a lot of the collectible pins (which I still treasure) and at the end of the Olympics I was gifted with several round trip airline tickets from PSA as a thank you. To date I talk about this event and what an honor it was to be involved. Sure, I was a “volunteer” but for a good 10 years after I had it on my resume, Hilton Hotel LAX hired me to work high profile banquets because of it.
I haven’t been to Rio in 23 years. We stayed with relatives who are Brazilian. They wouldn’t let us wear jewelry or perfume. Would not let us carry a camera…and we were with them. Any thing that said Tourist or Money…and wearing perfume signaled that, too…we weren’t allowed to do. I’ve heard it’s much more dangerous now.
There is NO WAY on God’s green earth that I would allow a young woman to go to Brazil this year! The country is in the middle of BOTH a financial and a virulent Infectious disease crisis!! Its NOT just that she might catch Zika down there! When she gets BACK she can infect OTHERS!! There is NO CURE!! Dont you read the papers??
Ye Gods! The World Health Organization has declared an emergency! Would you have allowed your daughter into one of the countries experiencing the Ebola crisis?