Stargirl

Arrival in Barcelona

I could see the sun setting on the horizon from the airplane window. The afternoon sky filled with a bright orange and pink colour. This reminded me of the long afternoons on the beaches in Australia. As the plane descended my eyes captured the beauty of where the city meets the sea. This was just the beginning of my year here in Barcelona. I was already mesmerised by the charm this city held. I'd been waiting for what felt like decades for my 15th birthday when my father finally agreed to let me go on a solo trip to visit my aunt and her family in Barcelona for grade 9.

After my plane landed and I had finished going through customs, I spotted my Tia Fiorella waving enthusiastically amongst the rest of the arriving passengers and their families. Ana, my six-year-old cousin bounced up and down with uncontainable excitement at the sight of her older cousin, while holding a colourful hand-drawn sign that read "Welcome Soph!" That was my nickname that I adore very much, especially when Ana would call out that name for me.

"Tia Fiorella!" my voice sang out with elation. I couldn't control my emotions. "Ay mi bebe, I missed you so much!" Fiorella squealed as we exchanged hugs. I crouched down to Ana's height, "Hola Ana! Did you miss me?" Ana shrieked with excitement "Si Sophie!" Ana giggled as she flung her arms around my neck.

As we exited the airport, I could smell the sweet floral scent of the city and the salty ocean breeze. "Barcelona is such a vibrant city, god I missed being here with you two." I exhaled deeply as I opened the car door. As we drove around the bustling streets of Barcelona in the evening, all I wanted to do was listen to the hum of Spanish conversations as we drove past. "Tia, can we please get something to eat? I'm starving." I asked with one hand on my stomach to stop its rumbles from occurring. "Of course, after we put your bags in my apartment. Then we can go for a walk to Ana's favourite restaurant." Fiorella chuckled looking into the rear view mirror knowing Ana would have something to say about her favourite restaurant. "Si Sophia! it's just down the road and has the most amazing food!" Ana giggled with delight.

After putting my bags away, the three of us set off on an adventure. Navigating our way through the labyrinth of cobbled streets, each turn revealing another hidden gem this city held. Different Spanish melodies came from every direction and the aroma of the delicious Spanish cuisines wafted through the air, enticing my appetite. "Here we are! It's my favourite because of the delicious meals they prepare, and look at all the pretty fairy lights!" Ana squeaked, jumping in the air and then running inside to talk to the staff members. All of them adored Ana from what Fiorella had told me. 

From the moment the plane touched down in Barcelona, my heart was in overdrive. The city, the energy, it was everything I had imagined. This wasn't just any trip; it was my year abroad, a chance to live in one of the world's football capitals, to be closer to my Aunt and her family, and most importantly, to immerse myself in the place I had always admired from afar. Barcelona was more than a city to me; it was a dream.

For a little back story information, I had been obsessed with football since I could remember. My earliest memories were of sitting on the couch, watching my dad, older brother, and uncle argue over whether Messi or Ronaldo was better. Growing up in Brisbane, I always had my heart set on Barcelona. I followed the team religiously, watched every game I could, and spent hours kicking the ball around with my brother in the backyard. Now, here I was, living in the city of my dreams.

The school I would be attending for the next year wasn't just any school either. It was the place where kids, including some of the best football players in the city, came to learn, study, and—above all, train. The girls at this school were serious about their football, and I couldn't wait to get started.

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About a week has passed by since my arrival and it was already my first day at this new school that I knew would be nothing like my old school, Fernley Way State High School, back in Brisbane. I was already feeling the nerves set in as I sat in the back of the car, watching the vibrant streets of Barcelona whizz by, but Ana knew how to cheer me up, "Don't be scared Soph!" She giggled and hugged me as I'm pretty sure the both of them saw me chewing on my nails staring into the back of my Aunts car seat completely unfazed. Tia Fiorella was chattering on about the school's history and how I would make plenty of new friends. I smiled and nodded, but my mind was focused on something else—the moment I would step onto a football pitch here, under the Spanish sun, and show them what I could do.