𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 || 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨

𝙗𝙚𝙢-𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙤!

𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧

𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵 - 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯

📍connecticut

「 ✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗮 𝗣𝗢𝗩 ✦ 」

Startled from my restless slumber, I'm jolted awake by the booming announcement of the pilot welcoming us to Hartford, Connecticut. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I peer out the window, greeted by the sight of a new city unfolding below me.

As I step off the airplane, a wave of disorientation washes over me. The sights, sounds, and even the air feel strangely foreign compared to the familiar streets of Rio. My senses are overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of everything around me.

Navigating through the bustling airport, I can't help but feel lost in a sea of confusion. The signs are a blur of unfamiliar words, their meanings escaping me. The accents swirling around me sound strange and unintelligible, making it difficult to grasp what's being said. Even the air smells different, lacking the salty tang of the ocean breeze I've grown so accustomed to back home.

Spotting my aunt Carolina, uncle James, and cousins Lily and Thiago among the crowd waiting at the arrival gate, a mix of relief and trepidation floods my chest. They rush towards me, their faces lit up with excitement, holding up a brightly colored "Bem-vindo!" sign.

"Bem-vinda à América, Augustinha!" my aunt exclaims, enveloping me in a tight embrace.

Their enthusiasm is noticeable, but amidst the chaos of the airport, I struggle to keep pace. "Thank you so much," I manage to stammer out, my voice small amidst the noise around us. "It's so good to see you all."

As they lead me through the maze of the airport, my uncle James chuckles reassuringly. "Don't worry, Augustinha, you'll get used to it soon enough. America just takes a bit of getting used to, that's all."

I nod, trying to muster a smile despite the lingering uncertainty gnawing at me. "I hope so," I reply softly, steeling myself for the adventure that lies ahead.

As they envelop me in warm hugs and kisses. I know I'll need to quickly brush up on my English if I'm going to navigate this new world with any semblance of confidence. Despite my nerves, I'm grateful for my family's unwavering support. Yet, as they lead me through the maze of the airport, I can't shake the feeling of being directionless in this strange and puzzling land.

As we pile into the car, the chatter of my family fills the air, momentarily easing the tension that still lingers within me. Lily, my bubbly cousin, leans over to me with a mischievous grin. "You wouldn't believe how much Mom wouldn't shut up about you coming to live with us," she whispers, rolling her eyes playfully.

I can't help but chuckle at her antics, grateful for her attempt to lighten the mood. "I'm sure she's excited to have me here," I reply with a smile, though a knot of nervousness still tightens in my stomach at the thought of living in a new country with my relatives.

My aunt Carolina, ever the social butterfly, jumps into the conversation with her trademark enthusiasm. "Oh, Augustinha, you have no idea how much I've been bragging about you joining us!" she exclaims, her eyes sparkling with pride. "I even pulled a few strings with the girls' basketball team at UConn. You'll be the manager for the women's team, and you'll get to shadow their athletic trainer too!"

Her words hang in the air, and for a moment, I'm speechless. The magnitude of what she's just said sinks in, and a rush of excitement floods through me. Managing the UConn women's basketball team and shadowing their athletic trainer—these are opportunities beyond anything I could have imagined.