Lynnfield duo savors Olympic duty

LYNNFIELD – Today marks the official start of the 2008 Summer Olympics and the beginning of a life-changing experience for two local girls.As part of their summer internship through Ithaca College, Julia (Jules) Ellison and Stephanie Salisbury, both of Lynnfield, are thousands of miles away from home working as flash reporters for the Olympic News Service in Beijing. Ellison is responsible for providing the latest information on fencing competitions and Salisbury will cover the water polo beat. Their jobs require them to get up close-and-personal with the athletes, record snippets of audio, and post blogs and videos online for the international press to use.?While we?re there, we?ll be on tight deadlines with interviewing,” said Ellison before taking flight in July. “We?re expected to get everything in the database within 20 minutes.”Although the pressure is on, the girls feel rather confident that they?ll be able to complete the task. After all, combined, the two have well-rounded experience in related fields.Ellison, who will be a senior this fall, is working towards a television and radio production major and a minor in journalism. Salisbury will also be a senior in the fall. She is studying pre-professional health.Prior to their departure, they both were asked to take courses in journalism to help improve their writing and coverage skills. They also took a class on the history of the Olympics and the variety of games, met with members of the Olympic News Service for advice, and went through a series of practice reporting runs to get the hang of writing sporting event reviews.But, it won?t be all work. The girls, in addition to 20 other students from across the world also participating in the internship, will have plenty of time to sight see.Ellison and Salisbury made the 16-hour flight to Beijing on July 6 and will remain in the Chinese city until the end of the Olympics on Aug. 27. So far, they?ve climbed the Great Wall, visited the Peking Opera, and explored the Forbidden City.?Beijing has been a mind-blowing culture shock,” wrote Ellison in an email to the Daily Item staff. “I have really enjoyed the experience so far?The Great Wall was without a doubt the most amazing experience of my life. I have never felt so proud of myself or more accomplished as when I stood atop the Great Wall.”Ellison described the event as a lot more difficult than she expected.?I thought on several occasions that I wasn?t going to make it to the top,” she wrote. “But the rush of the scenery and the view (from the top) is mind-blowing. I actually cried.”The girls have also made time to taste authentic Chinese cuisine – Peking Duck is Ellison?s new favorite food – and catch some street performances. The only downsides, if they had to choose, are dealing with the language barrier and transportation.?It is a bit frustrating not speaking any Chinese and even more difficult to maneuver throughout the city,” wrote Ellison. “But, we are all finally getting acclimated and used to floundering here.”As the games neared, Ellison began to feel the pressure.?Things around here are getting a bit hectic,” she wrote. “But I know it will all work out in the end.”The girls are recording their day-to-day experience on their blogs through Ithaca?s Olympic coverage Web site, as well as loading videos and personal photos of their travels. To track their adventures online, log on to www.ithaca.edu/olympics08/blogs/.