#20 He Regresado :)
Hi friends,
I’m sorry I haven’t posted in awhile. I was hesitant to post my last blog post and then that led to me procrastinating on posting anything. Plus I was enjoying my time in the United States with family and friends from PA all the way to Oregon! After some time to think and reflect I am ready to share my world again :)
Life update: I am BACK in Getxo, Basque Country! But this time I am accompanied by the one, the only, Lili Riley! One of my best friends from home. We played against each other last season as she was playing and living in Barcelona and now we get to be teammates AND housemates, along with her boyfriend who is playing for the men’s team! We’ll have new roomies coming soon so updates to come on the housing.
I decided on Getxo because it’s important to me that I can focus on developing my coaching business without needing an additional job on top of rugby. The coach here helped me grow as a player and I knew that he valued me. He is definitely that supportive demanding style coach who has high expectations but will give you the tools and support to get there. I also felt like I had some unfinished business with this team. We lost in the semi finals last year (@Lili) and I am really excited to see where we go this season because the team has so much potential if we focus up this year and grow and develop together.
My arrival here was, un poco chaotic. My bags were packed and I was ready to rock and roll (so I thought) September 19th for my flight from Newark to Bilbao. At check in for TAP Portugal I was surprised to find out that you needed a COVID test in order to pass through Portugal even if it wasn’t your final destination. I simply, was not prepared. I quickly searched online to find the nearest COVID testing site and the woman at the counter was very sweet in trying to help me out but it was indeed 9pm on a Sunday night and everything was closed. Feeling defeated I thought about what to do next given I had arrived via train and my sister was unavailable to pick me up post edible consumption. Then I overheard the woman next to me experiencing the same shock that she could not board the plane without the negative COVID test regardless of vaccination status. I said hi, I’m in the same boat.
This woman was an experienced traveler no doubt about it and she was very upset. She started raising her voice at the airline counter workers and I peeped out, “it’s not their fault.” She was saying it needed to be clear on the ticketing that you need a COVID test. And yes, I agreed but I felt bad for the workers on the other end who had no responsibility in the labeling of the tickets. The blonde experienced traveler looked at me and said, “you’re sweet but this is not okay.”
Moments later I was rescheduling my flight with the attendant and learned that it would be an additional 450 dollars to reschedule my ticket to 2 days later. Thinking about the cost of the Uber I would likely have to take I began feeling very overwhelmed. I had 2 almost 50 pound bags with me and was not ready to drag those bad boys on the train and NYC subway system. Uh oh, I felt the lump in my throat and my eyes welling up. I was tired. I was stressed. And I felt silly. So yes, I started crying as I told the attendant to change my flight and put it on my card. Blonde haired woman saw my face and immediately switched to mom mode. “I have a daughter your age and if she was in this situation I would be pissed. Where are you going? Do you want me to put it on my card? What’s your name?” Alison reminded me a lot of my mom the way she sprang into action at the sight of my distress and stood her ground on her expectations of a well run company.
I told her that it was okay and I just had to figure out what I was gonna do that night. Thankfully one of my friends but also super fun ex lol lives in NY so my plan was to go to her place. Alison lives in the Bronx and said I could get an Uber ride with her so that I’m closer to my destination. I thought sure, and off I went with my new adopted mom Alison. She thanked me for stopping her from cursing out the check in attendants and I thanked her for saving me from a $145 Uber ride.
It turns out that she was going to Portugal to visit her ex which was hilarious given I was on my way to an ex. She kept referring to my ex as “he” and I didn’t feel like correcting her in that moment so I just let it go, classic assumed heteronormativity. Anyways after about 5 hours of travel from my house to the train station to the rail link to the airport to the Uber I made it to Alison’s house. And my saint of an ex girlfriend reserved my second 45 Minute Uber to her place from Alison’s. The whole thing was quite a mess. BUT,
Two days and 2 COVID tests (just to be safe) later, I was on my flight to Bilbao ready to take on the next adventure.