By Barac Thon
(Player)
Today was another great day in Portugal. We started things off early with a morning practice.
We have been keeping the practices short because the gyms are very hot—35°C is the norm in the gym—but we were lucky to switch our time to the morning, so it was a bit better today. Final tune-ups for tomorrow’s game.
After practice, we made our way to the town of Sesimbra. We were able to walk around and check things out for a little bit on the beach.
Afterwards, we stepped onto the catamaran and headed out onto the Atlantic.
Crystal blue water, the warm sun, the sound of waves underneath us, and cliffs were great to see.
We stopped and jumped into the ocean, swam around, and just lived in the moment.
Being able to share something like that with your teammates made it even more special. It’s rare to get experiences like this.
We were able to come back to the hotel for a buffet dinner. The food has been amazing all trip, and this meal was no different.
A few of us went to go shop around after dinner. I ended up with a Portuguese soccer club jersey that I bought, then came back and wound down for the night.
This trip has been full of moments we’ll never forget, and today was another one to add to that list.
Traveling across the world and creating memories like these is something we’ll be talking about for years.
None of it would be possible without the support of our alumni and everyone who helped make this trip a reality.
I am so incredibly grateful for this. I also believe it is growing our tight bond even tighter.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to grow, explore, and experience something this meaningful together.