Euro 2012 Volunteer Training

I just noticed the F-16 flying over Poznan on my map

I need to sort through photos and tell you about the traveling we did with Ed’s brother and our sister-in-law last month, but it will have to wait a few days. I’ve been busy with volunteer training since they left and still have a few days to go.

I suspect there are hundreds of volunteers in Poznan. Most are Polish, but there are about 20 foreigners who have signed up for training in English.

So far I’ve met young men from Turkey, Costa Rica, and France and a young woman from Sweden. We also have a young woman from Hong Kong who is working in Poznan training with us. To add a little age diversity, we have two of my American friends and an Italian gentleman.

We, Americans, were surprised to see that we were the only over 30 volunteers. I think of the many folks my age and older in the US that volunteer at sporting events, in museums, at churches, and in the local schools. I guess if I were Polish, I’d be busy taking care of grandchildren – a worthwhile pastime.

Some of the Polish volunteers are from places other than Poznan. Volunteers who requested lodging are staying in a hostel or in a college dormitory. Our volunteer badge serves as a free pass on public transportation, and we are provided with a meal on days that we are training or working. So with just the cost of getting here, they can see a new city (or country).

This is my Swedish colleague in the photo she submitted for her volunteer badge; it was in the latest volunteer newsletter. 🙂  She’s a student in London and quite the Arsenal fan!

As for our actual work, I’m part of a 12 member group that will be staffing the disabled section of the grandstands in the Fan Zone. Other than my friend Janet, the rest of our group are college-aged Poles, all women, except for our group leader.

It may be different after we’ve worked together, but at this point, I feel much more of a bond with the foreigners with whom I’ve been training. Maybe it’s because our group members only speak English when addressing one of the Americans, otherwise, it’s all in Polish.

As for the Fan Zone, it’s not in the Old Square, as we had anticipated. It’s just a few blocks away in Freedom Square. They expect to host 18,000 fans on an average day, with a maximum capacity of 30,000. I believe there will be three large screens showing all of the matches from all eight (four in Poland and four in Ukraine) locations.

The Fan Zone will open in the early afternoon and close between midnight and 2 AM, with the shift change always at 7 PM. Janet and I have requested the early shift. There are bleachers that will seat 1,000. There will also be folding chairs available. Of course, there will be booths selling food and Carlsberg (the official beer).