It's hard to imagine, but there was oft-photographed celebrity athlete Nancy Greene gawking like a tourist in the rotunda of the House of Commons.

Julie Van Dusen

The world champion skier was with relatives including her husband and son, snapping pictures and clearly enjoying every moment as a new senator for British Columbia.

Greene says there are "a lot of opportunities to look at issues quite deeply" in the Senate. But she admits that life will be different from now on.

"Its going to be a big change for sure, it was not easy to give up skiing every day at Sun Peaks where we have such great conditions. But I've been doing that for the last fifteen years, in a way this is a new challenge for me and i find it really exciting. It was either this or take up bridge, " she laughs.

Former broadcasters, and new senators Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin were also getting used to big changes.

First of all, being questioned by reporters instead of doing the interviewing is a change. Duffy, until recently the host of CTV's Mike Duffy Live, says what surprises him the most is the workload.

"I've been to a group of briefings and three days a week they work a minimum of twelve hours a day. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then on Monday and Friday you're flying back to your constituency. So all of a sudden I said hey this retirement home is a little more active than any of us realized."

As for Wallin, she says she would consider running for her position as senator if that opportunity came up. "I have spoken to the premier of Saskatchewan about that and they are studying legislation at this point so if that comes to pass and all of the stars are aligned I think that would be a good thing. I think we need reform of the organization."

For now though the former diplomat is getting used to her new job and appointed seat in the Senate, in the very back row. "We're the new kids on the block that means we can keep an eye on everybody."

Julie Van Dusen