Pin Cushion
Pre-Olympics, the exchange rate in China was approximately seven Yuan to one U.S. Dollar. During the Games though, a different kind of currency was king—the pin. Every country, team, newspaper, college, sponsor, etc. had a pin with its logo emblazoned across it, and for many people, collecting them was of utmost importance—for good reason. In addition to being cool little keepsakes, they greased wheels all over the city. From sneaking into private parties to making sure a cabbie didn’t go the long way, a pin could sometimes get you farther than cash.
Before the Games even started, I significantly bargained down the price on a nice leather purse by throwing two Emerson College pins into the deal. That the back of the pins said “Made in USA” was a big selling point for the vendor.
By the end of the Olympics, I’d racked up close to 25 pins, upping the weight of my credentials to what felt like 10 pounds—a great reason to get another massage.
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