Hello from Rio,

After 4 days of one or two-a-day training, the day of our departure became one of a hectic run around as tired bodies panicked in the two and a half hour window we had to pack our belongings.  Somehow, everyone arrived nearly on time as we loaded the Oberlin busses to head to Cleveland-Hopkins airport.  With one teammate having some visa trouble, he, *cough* Bean *cough*, managed to sweet talk his way onto a flight that arrived the day after ours and will arrive back in Cleveland 24 hours after we do.  Fortunately, that gave us a full roster of 19 players and 4 coaches, along with trainer Tim as we headed first to Atlanta and then on to Rio.

Touching down we gathered our bags and made way for the bus as Coach New told us to make sure we were awake and looking out the windows.  What was in store for us was a new appreciation of how fortunate we are as the flavellas (ghettos) with their eerie war-torn appearance along with the run down streets that they lined opened eyes, although weary, to how lucky we are to be in the situation in life that we are.  Although this image may seem dreary, as soccer players, we were especially moved by the one constant amongst the country, naturally, the amount of futebol (FOO-CHEE-BOWL) blood that runs through the Brazilian nation.

No matter where we were, fields upon fields whether beach, dust ridden, turf, grass, whatever they may be, stretched out to the horizon in an endless sea of goals and players.  Everywhere, the game existed as reruns of games took place from 8 am until we fell asleep at 11 pm.  

Anyway, we arrived at the hotel at 10 am, and not having our rooms ready yet, dropped our bags in two rooms as our guide, former professional basketball player, "The Big Cigar" Cesar (Say-zar), took us on a walking tour around the area of our hotel in the district of Leme.  Eventually, we made our way to a restaurant for our first meal in the country.  Incredible was the one word used to describe the food as we paid our bills and made our ways back to the hotel before taking a nap and then going to the beach to finally play.

After a short run, we all stepped in to play a quick, fun, pick-up game in the sands of Leme/Copacobana Beach.  An experience not soon to be forgotten.  Tired, legs weary and bodies achy, everyone jumped into the Atlantic Ocean for a swim, well, not so much a swim as much as a body surfing exposition.  Nearly everyone went out to the point where chins rested on the top of water to try to catch a huge wave that would send bodies tumbling through the ocean and ending up on the beach.  

As the last body exited the water, we again returned to the hotel to prepare for dinner and then some free time.  Dinner was fantastic as we then had some free time to stroll the streets or do whatever we so chose.  Personally, a few teammates and myself walked the beach and eventually some of the city streets to find a culture that reiterated our initial impression of a futebol mad nation, but more importantly, a nation of laid back, casual, collected and cool, not to mention beautiful physically, people.  Up until the lights went out on the beach were people playing, and on top of that, anywhere you went, a game lit up the TVs of the bars or restaurants.  In short, it clearly is the one place to be before making a run for a conference championship. 

Tomorrow, we prepare for a match against a strong Portuguesa Juniors side as teammate and fellow senior classmate Michael Mullaley will bring you tomorrow's events.  Until then,

Tem um bem dia (Have a good day),

Zach