I've grown up watching Olympic Opening Ceremonies on TV. My brother and I used to record these spectacles of colour and sound on cassette tapes to re-watch on rainy days.
Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta ... my modest upbringing in Brazil had me only dreaming of one day visiting an Olympic host city, but I never imagined I'd have two to call home - growing up in Rio and now living in Sydney.
So the moment the Rio Olympic Games were announced, I knew I couldn't miss it. Sydney-siders had been telling me for years how amazing the city was during the 2000 Games.
Now here I am, in Rio, watching the Opening Ceremony of the XXXI Olympiad at the Maracana stadium. I almost couldn't believe it. What a great showcase of Brazilian culture I've witnessed, making me proud of who we are.
In spite of severe budget cuts, the show reminded me of the ones I've watched glued to the television as a child. I knew my fellow Brazilians would put aside the many problems plaguing these Games, at least for four hours or so, and not disappoint.
But no-one's pretending to be watching the Rio Olympics through rose-coloured glasses. The overall consensus on the street is that the South American giant should have focussed on other priorities.
Amid the worst recession in decades and a lengthy period of political instability, interim President Michel Temer attended the ceremony but wasn't publicly introduced. Most suspect he was avoiding likely booing from the crowd, following the embarrassing moments his predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, experienced at the opening of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
But while watching the opening of the largest sporting event on Earth from the inside, I couldn't stop thinking about what's happening outside. Police have reported fans being robbed while waiting to enter the stadium. A few blocks away, tear gas was being used to contain protesters.
As the athletes from 207 delegations gather in the heart of Brazil's largest stadium, I keep hoping that the games will be a safe and joyous time for residents and visitors alike. And although this time I won't have cassette tapes to re-watch the ceremony, I know I won't forget this evening for some time.
Let the games begin!
