It's been a long time since I've updated my weekly journal, and during the isolation period I was able to meditatively review the messages I've received during this period, keeping every word of encouragement and urging in mind. It is rare to have such a period of free time, after the enthusiasm has subsided, to be able to calmly record the recent mood.
Looking back on that thrilling Top 12 match, the twists and turns the team experienced seemed to go on and on. I remember taking the flight to Shanghai, and the moment the door slowly closed, I took a long breath and said to myself that this was just the beginning of a series of twists and turns. When I found out that the whole team had to transfer to the United Arab Emirates, I was able to face it with ease.
In the face of all the changes in the past two years, I have long practiced the ability to cope with them with ease. No matter how the world changes, all we can do is to make ourselves stronger. Besides, we have a professional and strong team of staff to support us when we go to the UAE. Soccer itself is full of unknowns, and we will do our best in the upcoming Final 12, and I believe we will be more calm.
Perhaps it is purely coincidental that, compared to the previous summer's return, two years ago the team rode out the sprint and whistled their way into the UEFA Cup, while the season just ended with a last-gasp victory to win the Liga B title and get back into La Liga. Both returns were filled with memories, and the joy of being able to achieve results that the team was happy with still fills my heart when I think about it now.
These two years have made me glad that I made the decision to go abroad. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have been able to experience the fervor of Europe and the loss and pain of relegation from the league, those goals against Barcelona and the resilience that comes with injury. I'm glad we're back in La Liga, I'm glad we made it to the Round of 12, and I'm glad my perseverance is still relevant.
My goal has always been to experience a different world of soccer, and this year and a half of intense competition has taught me that every stage has its goals and pursuits. As long as I persevere, I will have different insights and growth, which is exactly the meaning of what I am pursuing.
Two years ago, when I was just starting to prepare for the full season, I received an invitation from my time and my producer to participate in the second season of the character documentary. The original idea was to document life in the foreign country, much like the weekly diaries do now. The last time the crew came to Spain to film was the time I scored the Barcelona goal and they recorded that moment. I remember after that game or my first break that season, I made a point of taking the kids to the playground in Tarragona. Due to the epidemic, the story could not be continued after that, but this has been the truest record of my life before I left the country, and I hope we can remember this extraordinary journey together.
