Sara In Rio: August 2016

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Saturday, August 20, 2016: My Journey is Complete

The morning started with a bang. Literally. There were many many gunshots being fired outside my window. Yes, I had heard them before, but today was to a different level. I know I have explained my hotel room as right near the beach with a view of the Christo, making it seem glamourous, but in reality, there are slums all around us. Homeless people line the streets, trash littered everywhere. My window doesn’t just face the Christo, rather the view is overshadowed with crumbling houses. A place where gunshots are prevalent. Maybe I didn’t notice as many gunshots the other days since I was never in the room. But they were definitely there, roaring loudly today.

This morning, I did get to sleep in a tiny bit, but I had work at 8am. Part of our role is to help with the nominations of the flag bearer, and today was the announcement of the winner Simone Biles, who would carry the American Flag in Closing Ceremonies to represent the conclusion of the Games (Closing Ceremonies wasn’t actually until the next day though).

Our flight wasn’t until 9pm, so at least we had some of the day to enjoy. Of course I had to go run on the beach for my last time. When I come back down here for Paralympics, I will be living in the Athlete Village, so I won’t get my morning beach runs ever. I had to enjoy my last moments here while I had them. Bridget came with me, and we just took it slow to enjoy the morning. There was a weekend market set up, with touristy knick-knacks being sold under an array of tents. We cut our run short to browse through, although it wasn’t much. Not knowing the language did not help in any sort of negotiation of prices, an expected practice to do in these types of markets. I didn’t mind paying the full price of $10 for a couple things to help these people out. Much better to give them a little. And $10 is nothing compared to the highly inflated prices of Rio logos knick-knacks that we pay for in the Official Rio Megastores.

We headed back for some work that Bridget had to get to, and then I had a call I had to be ready for at noon. It wasn’t really a day-off like we planned, which seemed to be a common theme. And we had to head to the airport at 3pm. Yes, a 3pm departure from our hotel for a 9pm flight. I guess our shuttle service really wanted to be safe with time. I’m okay with that, but 6 hours seemed a little extreme to me. Regardless, that was when I would be leaving. Bridget and I decided to do one last walk around for last minute gifts and sit down for a little lunch before heading out. Back at the hotel, I packed up my last items. Or, rather, shoved my last items in. My one suitcase had expanded quite a bit to a suitcase and a duffel bag (packed especially for this reason… I did think ahead about that). Despite my shopping that accounted for the extra duffel bag, I do believe that I brought the perfect things for the Games: the right amount of clothes, the right type of clothes, the right shoes, the right toiletries and all of that. I learned a few things I would love to have when I come down for Paralympics, but really, I was quite impressed with my packing for a month-long trip. If you know me, you know that that is not usually the case.

Our drive to the airport was a little bitter-sweet again. We smelled the sewage, we saw waste piled up in the bays, and we glanced out over a Favela that housed 500,000 people. That morning on the beach, we had seen a protest about how the Olympics wouldn't do anything to help the poor, or rectify any of the Favelas. And then thinking about all the peoples' lives in this one Favella (a population inching towards the size of Denver) made it all that more visible. Hosting a Games should leave good behind. New infrastructure, more buildings and housing, and more money. Instead, we have seen all too many times the "ghost-towns" that have been left behind in the past (like Athens and Sochi). Where money is invested in the Games, and the Games only. Just for the show. Not for the future. Will these new stadiums really be used? Will the economy derive any value from hosting the Games? Will their promise to clean the water prior to the Games (yet didn't) ever finish? I don't know. I don't know if it was the right place for a Games. I don't know what the future will look like. But I do know that simply hosting an Olympic Games wouldn't be able to solve their entire economic crisis or clear out all the Favelas. No matter what. It's not the fault of the Olympics. It might not have been the best time to host it, but the Olympics can't solve all those issues. But what the Olympics does, and will always do, is display dignity through the power of sport: bringing people from across the entire world, onto the same stage, to compete on the field against one another in the spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play, and without discrimination. It leaves a legacy of sport. And Rio didn't disappoint.

We got to the airport in ample time and found our way to the Premier Lounge (like the United Club, but for multiple airlines). Luckily, Bridget had status to get us in. We worked a little, but then were fortunate enough to be there right when the Men’s Soccer team gold medal game was being played on TV. Brazil versus Germany. Brazil was looking for redemption over Germany, who had destroyed Brazil in the semifinals of the World Cup the year prior, shattering Brazil’s dreams of owning that title. So, here was Brazil’s chance to come back. And, the people in the lounge were all rooting for the Brazilians, making the atmosphere boisterous. It was tied at the end of regulation and went to overtime. No one scored in overtime, so it went to penalty kicks. Best out of 5 penalty kicks, and then if still tied, one and one. Our flight was about to start boarding, but we had to stay and watch. Both teams made their 4 kicks. 5^th kick coming up and Germany missed. If Brazil made their last one, they won the Gold. And who else but the star and captain of the Team (and world-renowned player) Neymar to take the field. He shot a laser into the net and stands (and the lounge) erupted in jubilation. Brazil was taking home their first Men’s Soccer Gold Medal! On their home field. On the last day before Closing Ceremonies. Everyone in Brazil was cheering (okay, except for the Germans) for this victory, including us. And for that one moment, no one was thinking about the problems in their lives. Rather, they were lost in celebration of an achievement from 11 players on a soccer field bringing home a Gold in honor of their country. And they were part of it.

What a perfect moment to stand up while clapping and high-fiving others, head to our gate, and say goodbye to Brazil and to the Olympics. My journey was complete.

Last morning run on the beach

Goodbye Rio!

Ciao!

Friday, August 19, 2016. Goodbye Flamengo.

I couldn’t believe that I would be leaving the next day! I felt like there was still so many things that I wanted to do, wanted to see, and to experience. But, I knew I would be back soon enough (for the Paralympics in just a couple weeks). Truthfully, I wasn’t very home-sick. Yes, missing Tony of course, but I have heard so many people down here grumbling about how much they hate it here and can’t wait to get home. I have a completely different feel than that. I love it here. I love my morning runs, I love the people I work with, I love our dingy office room shared with 5 people, I love looking out at the Christo during the day, I love walking down to the little bistros for dinner, I love the fresh air, I love doing work from down here, I love helping out on other projects, and I even love our car rides to work. It has become my home away from home.

Today would be my last day going into the office. We took a bit of the afternoon to go over to the mall for lunch and shopping. I had my favorite salmon dish (yes, my favorite meal from Brazil was at the mall! But, you have to remember that the malls here have nice sit-down restaurants). And then, we just went shopping. I wasn’t on a mission to find anything, but Bridget had a few things on her list she wanted, and I would never turn down a trip to the mall. It felt normal: just walking around a mall rather than the craziness of the Games.

After our extended “lunch,” we actually didn’t have much time when we got back to the office before the car was headed out. It was actually very rushed. I didn’t feel like I got to say my proper “goodbyes” to Flamengo as I gathered up my stuff in a hurry. Other work people would be there a couple more days to do the final tear-down, but Bridget and I would be the first to leave the next day. We hoped we remembered everything.

Flamengo now has a special place in my heart that I will remember forever. It isn’t the most grandeur of a place. It isn’t the famous beachside with waves crashing along the coastline. It isn’t the iconic statue of Christ. It doesn’t have a panoramic view of the city. There are no cable cars like on Sugarloaf. It doesn’t have historical markings like the Selaron Steps. But, it was my place. It was beyond just an office building to me. I felt a sense of belonging there, and that I had purpose. I would wear my USA shirt and Team USA Staff badge with pride when I walked around the grounds, making friends with the guards. I had somewhat of a daily routine, but it wasn’t mundane in the least. And getting to walk two steps out from my office into the fresh air (and watching elite athletes practice) is exactly the type of place that I need. Despite being on the go all the time, and definitely tired at this point, I had more energy there than I have had in a while. I felt happy at work, and not a single second of it felt like “work.” I know how fortunate I am to feel this way because I know many other people don’t have the same feelings. I am not sure if it’s because I have kept such a positive attitude the entire time, or I’ve just been extremely lucky with my set-up, but I cannot say one bad thing about my time at Flamengo.

I had planned to go to USA House that night with my friend Ryan. I was tired and I kinda just wanted to stay in and get packed up, but then I thought: this is my last night here! I must go out and enjoy it!!! I got excited thinking about celebrating my time here. So, I jumped in the shower as soon as I got home. But then, my phone was buzzing while I was in there, so I looked at it immediately when I got out. At least 4 texts from my boss, Kacie. More of the swimmers issue. I cannot give the details, but something would be happening the next day and so she asked me to do research on a few things. I immediately started working on it, not even getting out of my towel. I wasn’t sure how much information she would need or how long the work would take me, so I had to cancel on Ryan. I told him that I just didn’t know how much I would need to do for this, and he shouldn’t be just waiting on me. I felt bad and gave him the two tickets that I had so he could enjoy it the next night with a friend. It was the right decision to be made as I had to work with my boss Gary on it for a while longer, and it was what I am here to do.

It is what it is. I had already gone to USA House, so I wasn’t feeling like I was missing anything. I did feel bad for canceling on Ryan, but as I say over and over, these are the Games and we have to roll with it. Things come up. I went across the street for a quick dinner with Bridget, and came back and started packing. A task that I didn't believe I was doing.

My team at Flamengo

Flamengo crew

Flamengo fields (a renowned soccer field for Rio's finest)

Flamengo fields again

Part of our "office" buildings... this is where lunch was held

Our weight room that was set up for our athletes, and that we will donate and leave

Lounging area (this was mostly for athletes as we had a separate couch room in our office)

Thursday, August 18, 2016. Diving and Dutch House.

Earlier in the week, I had decided that this day would be the day that I would take off. That I would shut off my alarm, sleep in, run on the beach when I wanted, lay out on the beach, shop, and go watch the women’s 10m diving event that I had tickets to.

Well, that didn’t really happen as planned.

Before I had gone to bed the night before, I realized that I would have to go in. That I couldn’t take the day off. There were just many issues going on and I really wanted to still go to the diving event at 4pm, so I would have to forgo my dream of not setting an alarm for another day. I still woke up early for my run, yet I dragged through it. This was a morning where I could have used that extra hour.

I went into work, but then I left around 1:30pm so I could make it the women’s 10m diving finals! Our U.S. was in 2^nd place going in. However, the scores would be wiped and everyone would start the finals from zero. Giving everyone an opportunity to medal. Honestly, any of those top 12 divers had the chance on any given day. Diving is a sport where a fraction of a second could affect an entire dive, putting someone out of the medals in an instant. Yeah, we all knew that a Chinese diver would probably get the gold, but the opportunity for a medal, any medal, still existed for anyone to achieve. First, my friend/co-worker Jayme was going to go with me, but she had to be “on-call” that day and couldn’t make it (completely understandable here). So, friend/co-worker Rachel had meetings around the Olympic Park and wanted to meet up for it. However, I didn’t really hear from her that day to confirm, but I kept the ticket for just in case since I had offered it to her. No-one else was really available anyways, but I wasn’t really asking around much. So, I would just go up there alone and meet up with Rachel, or just go up there alone and go by myself. Which I was more than happy to do, and actually excited to do.

I took the subway and the bus (following a million other people doing the same thing, going the same place) to the Olympic Park. Walking into the Olympic Park, you felt the work that the city had put into it. At least 8 stadiums were in front of me, all enclosed through the security entrance. I looked at the large apartment buildings surrounding the Park, and thought about how many homes they had to bulldoze and how many families they had to displace to make these stadiums…

The subway was built for the Olympics, and the line I took was exclusive to those people going to the venues. It was required to have a ticket to an event to ride that line of the subway. It was brand new, fresh, and clean. A breath of fresh air walking down the stairs versus the stale, trash-filled stench of the other subway lines I have ridden in. Once off the quick subway, the bus was easy to find: follow the crowd. Everyone from the subway was going to the event (since that was required), so we all had to go the same place. The bus ride was longer, but we got there quick enough. Probably just an hour, which isn’t too bad. You use your ticket to the event to get into the entire Park, and then find your respective stadium. I went into the “megastore” and yes, drank a beer. Rachel texted about 30 minutes before the event that she couldn’t go, and I was totally fine with that. I really am very fine being alone, and actually welcomed it that day. And, I really do feel safe here, no matter what the media portrays.

I got into the diving stadium just about 15 minutes before it started. Although my ticket was expensive-ish (for a diving meet that is), I had a terrible seat. And the stadium was quite empty, which was such a heartbreaking disappointment. This is the Olympics and the finals of the women’s 10m diving event. A prime event for the Olympics. And yet, it was probably only 50% filled max (and that is the count at the end of the event, not at the beginning when there was only like 30% of the seats taken). I walked over to a better section and just sat in an open seat with a much better view. I would leave if I was kicked out, but I thought there was no harm in trying. And, in fact, I got to stay there the entire time.

Women’s 10m diving probably wouldn’t have been my first event to see. I would have liked to watch springboard, or the men’s 10m, but believe me, I am not trying to sound picky here. It was an incredible treat to be there and watching this final!!! Diving was my life for so many years and just feeling like I had even a part of the sport made it even that much more special. Although 10m was not my favorite, nor was I the best at it, I still did it. It was fun watching some of them still do the dives that I had done back in the day. It’s been 10 years however, so these young girls are doing much harder dives these days, which I was thoroughly impressed with. They were doing dives that the guys wouldn’t even do 10 years ago. Incredible.

Our U.S. girl hit her first dive for 9s, 9.5s. Incredibly beautiful diving, and she looked "on." She had the third best dive of round 1. Same with round 2. And then, unfortunately, she came out a little early on her inward 3 ½ tuck, getting 4.5, 5s and dropped down to 10^th. She missed her next dive, and dropped to 11^th. You can’t do that on this stage and medal. It’s just not possible. She ended up 10^th. The Chinese secured the top 2 spots, and that’s because they were spot on. Just in another league. I couldn’t even believe our U.S. girl had been 2^nd after the semifinals and competed with them. Our U.S. girl wasn’t expected to medal, but it’s the Olympics and you never know what can happen. She fell short that day, but I guarantee that Jessica will back. She is young and still has a huge future in front of her. I clapped with pride after her last dive.

I got back from the event, tired once again (I’m always on the go…). However, one of my co-workers had invited me to go with her and some other people to the Dutch House. Every nation has their own “house” (like I have talked about with the USA House), and I had heard sooooo many great things about the Dutch “Heineken” House. It was one thing that I really wanted to do while here. I had a minute to debate that decision, but decided that I had to go. I only had a couple more nights here, I had to enjoy it, or at least experience it. Wow, the Dutch House did not disappoint! There was a huge huge huge screen TV over a gorgeous swimming people (that guests could utilize during the sunshine hours). There was Heineken being served everywhere, and different food stations. A huge dance floor, that was set up with a party when their medals were introduced (on the nights they won medals). Everyone was just having fun. Light-hearted. Not uppty (like others Houses might be). Only 45 EURO to get in (although it was free for us that night). It was a place that you could go all day if you wanted a fun day off, in Brazil.

We didn’t really partake in all that we could have there, but it was worth it to see. We ubered home (our main mode of transportation here expect for when we go to work with a ride arranged just for that). Once again a late night, but once again, memories made.