One year in Barcelona
My mom and my Dad looked concerned that day. I asked my sister if she knew what might be going on. We were playing until they called out from another room, “Girls come we need to tell you something.” I was kind of concerned but what they told me was nothing like what I had expected. I heard my heartbeat pounding harder and faster while they got to the point. I remember them asking if going to Spain would be exciting but I was too little to understand why they were asking that. Until it hit me like a truck out of nowhere they said: “ We are going to Spain for one year!” They seemed excited and happy. I was really confused and I did not know how to feel. They explained to us that it was due to work my father had to do there. And after doing some crying it was set. We were, for one whole year, going to Spain.
September 11, 2011
We were finally at the airport. My eyes were always wet because of all the crying I did. We went to the airport with my grandparents, and I felt despondent because they were not coming with us. I was going to miss them deeply. I remember going through the gate where me and my grandparents were saying goodbye for a year. My mom had her face full of tears and the eyes reddish and irritated. My eyes were swollen and I just wanted to stay in Colombia. I do not remember much about the flight because I slept most of it. The arrival in Barcelona was really crazy because they were marching for the independence of Cataluña. The streets were full of people with the colors of their region in their faces and with the flags hugging them. “What a cheerful place, “ I thought. I had my hopes raised about this new change and was really thrilled. Everything dived down when I saw the place where we were staying for the first two weeks. The colors were green and gray giving it a really obscure view and the smell was like of a house that was abandoned years ago. Many sleepless nights because of the schedule change. My first weeks were a mix of craziness, sadness and a lot of confusion.
September 14, 2011
It was my birthday! I felt really happy but at the same time really confused. I received many calls and messages from family and friends. I only celebrated with my family and in that house I hated. I am glad we moved from it a week after. My parents got me for my birthday a beautiful dollhouse of a popular doll in Barcelona which was called barriguitas and also a diary that I wrote in every single day . I appreciate it very much because it holds many memories in it. At nighttime, we went to eat and then went to sleep in that creepy house. At midnight I felt really sad and homesick so I remember crying and my parents comforting me. It was a really weird birthday.
First Day of School
I was beyond excited. I remembered being really content and not sleeping that night because of the happiness and the overthinking happening in my head. Would I like them? What would they think about me? Those were some thoughts in my head. The hour we entered was at 9:00 AM. That was really late because I was accustomed to waking up really early in Colombia. When we got to the school a really nice lady talked with my parents, my sister and me about the school. She introduced us to our rooms. While we were going to our respective rooms I saw many kids from higher grades than mine that were testing an experiment. The experiment was a volcano! The dean let us stay there and watch it and I found it really surprising. I was going to be the new girl in a class of many students but everything turned around. The school was not that big and there were only seven students in second grade. They were really nice to me and I remember becoming really close to a girl named Saya, she was from Japan. I am really shy so I figured I would be alone that entire day but to my surprise, I have several friends with whom I spend the day. Lunchtime was interesting because the school put on classical music while we ate and I found it really different from Colombia. I usually do not like to be the center of attention but due to being the new girl and coming from Colombia I was. I kind of enjoyed it. That day was the start point of many experiences that would come that year. Some were fights, tears, happiness, friendship, and learning.
Christmas:
We were lying down about to go to bed with my mom and my sister when my dad entered the room and shouted, “we are going to Paris for New Years!!” I shouted as hard as I could and then there were many more surprises. My dad explained to me that we were first going to Germany to be there on Christmas and afterward we were going to Belgium and finally we were going to spend New Years’ in Paris. My sister and I ran in the apartment and yelled because we really wanted to travel and were even more excited when they told us that my grandparents were possibly coming with us and that after 6 months we would see them again. It was the day before our trip, We were eating dinner and then the doorbell rang. I could not believe what I saw. Two big presents in front of our door and as fast as my hands could I unwrapped them. They were two beautiful Nancy dolls(Spanish American Dolls) for me and my sister. It was a beautiful gift however,, I could not take it on the trip but I still could not wait to go.
December 23
After a long ride on the train, we finally arrived in Germany and it was really cold. The hotel was simple but cozy. It was the perfect place to be that night and everything was going so well until I started to feel a little bit sick and then it just got worse. It turned out I had tonsillitis but luckily the drugstores were really great and gave me some antibiotics to be back on track.
December 24
It was nighttime and we were getting ready to wait till midnight and open gifts. My family had plans to go to a fancy restaurant and we walked and walked to find one but they were all closed. We ended up eating the Christmas dinner at McDonald’s. Back at the hotel, we entered our room and there were other presents laying on the floor. My sister and I believed deeply in Santa Claus at that time so it was a really magical moment for us. That December I learned that things might not go as expected and that we end up having so much fun with the people that we loved more and saving really special memories for life.
December 31
I had never in my 11 years felt so emotional like that day. For my family, it is one important tradition to spend New Years’ together and we always make a big celebration. I usually feel really cozy accompanied during that time of the year and for me it is a very special celebration. That year was different for me and not even my grandparents were with me. Even though I was feeling down and was not that excited about my favorite holiday I ended having a great time. We were getting ready and setting up to receive the upcoming year. The initial plan was to go to the eiffel tower and spend it there. However, there were some situations that shifted that plan. We were on the metro that was taking us to our destination point but it was full of people. There was barely a space to sit and besides that people were really loud and even some of them were drunk. I remember that the lights went down and My mother, my sister and I were really scared so we claimed to my dad that we should stop in the Elysian Fields. He was really stressed at the beginning but eventually we organized there. We waited a couple of hours for the show to begin and it was finally New Years. I felt so many emotions that day but it was with happiness and Thankfulness that I started that year.
Grandparents Arrival:
Each week they were going to come next week and so on. There was never a specific date of when they would arrive. I finally gave in to the idea that they would possibly never come. It was a normal school day and I was tired. Walking through the halls of the apartment a loud noise of a whistle surrounded the apartment. It was my grandma and her characteristic (silbato) she took everywhere. Afterwards, I saw my grandpa and ran to hug them as hard as I could. The happiness I felt was indescribable and my smile was from ear to ear. The rest of the afternoon we played, talked and did homework. I finally felt at home again because of them being there. I knew that the magnificent experiences that I have lived would be shared with them and the thought of that made me really happy.
That was one of the best and most special years of my life. My world was changing and it was confusing and painful in the beginning. Through many different experiences, trips and family I realized that might be the best decisions my parents took. I made really great friends that I regret not staying in contact with, and learned about different cultures and different ways that they lived. I felt cheerful returning to Colombia but at the same time nostalgic. I knew that that was a one and unique experience that I would hold in my heart. The things that went to Barcelona for one year are still useful and all of the memories that trip gave me will be forever remembered.