Not so fun bubbles

by Mylana de Oliveira (Brazil)

I didn't expect to find Spain

During this 23 year journey that is my life, I had one unique opportunity to travel abroad with my parents. Solely having one experience is sufficient in my social environment and I was barely aware of this privilege at the time. I was almost 15 and preteens can be quite... Complex. To say the least. I remember that I pouted to wake up early to visit touristic spots, I slept more than I should and I was not interested in getting out of my bubble to socialize with Spanish people, even less interested in speaking Spanish. Yet, one day, I popped the bubble and- Oh. I visited an Egyptian temple near downtown Madrid and that was surprisingly delicious. A new feeling for a kid who was paying too much attention to Tumblr during a summer abroad. Something about it made me so emotional and I was so absorbed in all the details of that place that before I realize it, I was searching for someone in the staff. "Excuse me, señor," I said with big curious eyes, "do you know why are there Greek columns in this Egyptian temple here in España?" The older man laughed. "I work here for a long time and I never thought of that." The employees failed to try finding someone who knew why, but we all ended up laughing. Walking back home, without the answer to my question, I started to look up and observe. Spanish people are funny, reserved, and observant as well. They won't make the first move to say hello, but once you do, you get yourself a new friend. I ran into a group of visibly gothic teenagers during this walk. Being a facially expressive person, I couldn't hold back a frown upon their clothes, peculiarly dark and heavy under the scalding sun. One of them, however, noticed my disapproving looks. He smiled at me, the most tender smile someone gave me all day long. I stopped. My heart was racing and my lungs filled with all the air of that space. I was alive and life was waiting for me all this time to wake up, pop my bubble and be less of a shitty person. Today, I am an Architecture student as well I always thought it was a shame that I had to cross the sea to listen to the voices of kindness and gratitude. Today I'm just grateful to have had a chance to hear.