Buenos Días, Barcelona

Photo credits to barcelonaphotoblog.com

After a leg-numbing 16 hour flight, I have stumbled out of the plane into the embrace of a surprisingly cool Barcelona summer.  Nothing of the hot, humidity I was hoping for.  Instead, the weather was startlingly similar to last September's waning spring.

It was like nothing had changed at all.

And yet, so many things have.  There was no perfunctory "Sarah Pang" sign held out by an unknown Academy driver.  Instead, Tony stood with his hands tucked into his pockets, waiting beside a pillar.  "Sarah!" he hollered across a row of people.  I looked, recognized this Academy's warm driver, and smiled.  

I was genuinely surprised with the amount of warmth I met at the Academy.  Many looked both surprised and happy to see me.  I was kissed warmly both from the office staff, cleaners, many fitness and tennis coaches alike.  Maybe the warmth is generally just part of Spanish culture--but it certainly felt like more.  In many ways, it reminded me of the "family" I'd unconsciously left behind at Sanchez-Casal.

All of them, smiling, asked the same, solid question.  "How long are you going to be here for?"

I don't know, I thought to myself.  I really don't.

Apart from my oft tumultuous feelings, it's obvious God's grace is reigning stronger than my consciousness of lack, or my moments of irrational fear about the coming months.  When I think about the miraculous 50kg airport luggage grant, the easy hellos, the warm hugs and kisses,... it's obvious.  The marks are so strong, they simply take me by surprise.

Maybe a year won't be too difficult to imagine.  Still there are so many things to think about.  I don't have enough on me for more than a month's tennis fees--and that is all that I just about have right now.  I need to talk to Emilio to see how I can work more than just a EUR400 12-hour night shift.  I need to think about how much I want to train, how fast I want to get back into my regime.  How to avoid injury in the whole process, while balancing work.  I need to think about my short, long term objectives, to chart them out and peg them down with specific directives.  The thoughts are often overwhelming, brain-paralyzing...  At moments, it's so easy to feel alone in this.

But even that's a lie.  I am not.  I have a team of family and friends back home who love and support me.  I have a God for which nothing is impossible.  And I have a dream that I am truly chasing.

So I'll take that deep breath, and say again, indeed.

Good morning, Barcelona.