Well, here I am sitting outdoors with my cafe con leche. I asked the barista if they had milk without lactose and he didn’t understand me, classic. I kept trying and it’s unclear whether he understood my question or just decided to go with no. Either way, I have found myself sipping on a hot cup of lactose. Thankfully, I am living alone this week. And why is that, you may ask. Well my real, genuine answer is I have no hecking clue. Let me break it down for you:

It was Friday morning when I woke up to a text from my sister saying she had a seizure. My sister has epilepsy but with medication she hasn’t had a seizure in 7 years so it was a shocker to hear about the return of Susie (that’s what we decided to call her growing up). The night before I had heard that a housing option fell through for me in my next possible destination. Uncertainty has hands down been the theme of the past year (I think for a LOT of people) which has been both scary and exciting. Feeling a little off, I decided to throw my energy into cleaning the kitchen until I could check in with my family when they woke up. Cue the incoming call from one of our club managers. 

“Dahna, tenemos muchos problemas.” (We have lots of problems). 

I’m like oh, cool cool cool. Let’s hear it.

Time out, important back story: One of the guys from the men’s team tested positive for COVID, he lives in a different apartment with some of the other men’s players. My housemates and I were all in the gym on Tuesday with one of the guys who he lives with who then also tested positive. This meant that there was 1 guy in the other apartment who was testing negative but living with 2 people who tested positive. This also meant that me and all my housemates could have potentially been exposed in the gym on Tuesday. So the club got all my roommates tested, and they all tested negative. I don’t know why or how but I was never tested, maybe the club decided I wasn’t that important because my season is over and the men were supposed to have a game this weekend?? but obviously, that got suspended. Anywho, basically, si, tenemos muchos problemas. 

Time back in,

So then the manager tells me in Spanish, you need to pack your things up for a week. We are putting you in a hotel and the guy who tested negative is going to move into your apartment today. 

UmMMMMmmMmmMMMmMmm okay?????

Why wouldn’t we isolate the guy who has a higher exposure risk? And why would we put him in a place with all my roommates who have less risk? And is it safe for me to live in this hotel housing when I haven’t gotten tested myself and I’ll be sharing a kitchen with people? Should I bring my food? How long will I be there for? What time do I need to be ready to go?

But in that moment I think I was in such shock that all I could get out was a soft, “vale.” (ok).

The denial was settling and I was beginning to hit the acceptance phase when my roommate said, “Hey Dana, um, they’re outside.” I checked my phone, no messages, no calls. But indeed, there they were, ready for a switcheroo. I simply was not ready. Every player in the situation seemed to be just as confused as I was. My sweet roommate said, "you’re handling this really well.” I said “well, I don’t have any control over it and everything’s fine.” My “everything’s fine” came out far more sarcastic then I intended and we all bursted into laughter yelling, “I’m fine! Everything’s fine!” 

Fast forward after the frantic food packing and I made it to my new temporary home, which isn’t actually a hotel but more like dorms for athletes at the sports complex where we practice. I felt like I could finally breathe, relax the bod pod and mind. The club set me up for a rapid test at the field that day which came back negative. Aside from cleaning my laundry in my bath tub because I refuse to pay 5 euros to use the machine, the set up is quite nice! I have 2 sets of bunk beds and free breakfast!! It’s unclear whether I’m actually allowed to be eating the breakfast but there’s granola there so you all KNOW there’s no chance I’m not eating it. When it comes to granola, ask for forgiveness, not permission.

Day 1 I think I really made an impression on the security doorman. This kind woman who works for the club and showed me my new housing situation told me that when exiting and entering I had to swipe this handy little access card she gave me. Waltzing out the door for my COVID test, feeling elite, I swiped my card and pushed through the metal rotating door which led me to another door. Oh no, this one was closed and locked. Before I could make my next move, the doorman makes his way over to me, points to the wide open set of doors 5 feet to my left and says, you can go through here. We both looked at each other puzzled and holding back smiles, him unsure whether it was appropriate to laugh at me. Me, assessing the situation of how ridiculous I just looked. Both of us, confident that I needed all the help I could get that day. He explained with something along the lines of, when I’m not here you have to use your card but when I’m here you can just go through the PROPPED WIDE OPEN doors. We both started laughing hysterically and I was like yeah, right, that makes sense. Now whenever we see each other we giggle and wave.

SO speaking of closed and open doors, as I said before, the 15s season in Getxo has ended. Meaning I’m no longer a contracted player so I won’t have a salary. But, I didn’t feel quite ready to go back to the US yet. I took action, reached out to a bunch of different people, did some manifestation meditation, heard a lot of “no’s” but ALAS! I am officially moving to Sevilla to play 7s! It’s the same team I played with when I studied abroad there 4 years ago so it is a long awaited return for me. I am SUPER excited for this next chapter. Stay tuned for the stories and doors ahead. :)