Rio 2016: Olympics High

01_rio_0800816Aug 6, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Colombia forward Isabel Cristina Romero Benitez (left) gets a hand to her face by USA forward Nana Faavesi (center) as Faavesi runs the ball during a rugby sevens match between the USA and Colombia at Deodoro Stadium in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

As the beacon tower from the sleepy Afonsos Air Force Base across the way cuts through the hushed night with its rhythmic green and white winks, an inviting cool breeze from the mountains beyond brings an even more relaxed sensation to my apartment balcony. In truth, relaxed is the last adjective I expected to use a week ago as I prepared to travel to Brazil. On the first bus ride here, especially after witnessing the motorcycle fatality on the road, I completely expected to be on-edge and looking forward to returning home daily.

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Rio 2016: Times Like This

01_rio_080616 Aug 5, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Fireworks launch over the stadium during the opening ceremonies for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Maracan

Rio 2016: Emotional Ride

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The Milky Way Galaxy and other stars visible in the sky from a LATAM Airlines flight from Miami to Rio in the air near Puerto Rico early Wednesday, August 3, 2016.

To suggest that the past three days of prepping for, traveling to, and arriving in Rio for the 2016 Summer Olympics have been a roller coaster of emotions would be putting things lightly. In just a little over 40 hours on the ground, I