Global Correspondents, Semester Abroad From my Living Room to Barcelona and Argentina: A Soccer Story

SA: SIT International Honors Program, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Barcelona, Spain

Guadalupe, one of the Semester Abroad Global Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the Fall 2024 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.

I remember watching my dad sitting in the living room, eyes glued to the TV, with the volume always on full blast during soccer games. It was through him that I was first introduced to soccer. From the day he told me about Lionel Messi, I became familiar with the sport. My dad would get so excited and tell me all about other soccer legends, including Pelé from Brazil and Diego Maradona from Argentina. 

I was around 8 years old when I finally began to understand my dad’s passion for soccer. I even signed up for a soccer team in elementary school, and I remember him attending my games. I still cherish the memory of going to buy shin guards and cleats with him. Every time there was a soccer match, my dad’s eyes would light up with joy, and we would have endless conversations about the game and his favorite players. 

Fast forward to my college study abroad experience, I found myself visiting Argentina and Barcelona, both places where the love for soccer never ends. Argentina’s admiration for Maradona and Messi was showcased everywhere I walked. Growing up, I admired them, but seeing their murals and the way people in the streets celebrated them truly reminded me of home. It made me think of how my dad and I bonded over soccer. It was almost like bringing a piece of home with me while being abroad, unable to see my family for a few months. Anytime I spotted anything soccer-related, I always took a picture and sent it over to my dad. 

Throughout my first few weeks in Argentina, my dad told me about the “Superclásico,” and I was fortunate enough to be in Argentina while this match between Boca Juniors and River Plate was happening. My dad said, “Es algo que no te puedes perder. La rivalidad entre los dos equipos es increíble.” This translates to, “This is something you can’t miss out on. The rivalry between these teams is insane.” On this day, I truly got to see the people of Buenos Aires light up. I was Team Boca Juniors, but unfortunately, they lost. However, I did get the chance to visit La Boca, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, and the stadium. This meant a lot to me because I got a jersey for my dad and showed him all the cool pictures I took. It was beautiful. 

Now in Barcelona, I find myself wrapped in another layer of soccer culture. Messi's influence bridges both worlds—his Argentine national team jerseys mingling with the iconic FC Barcelona stripes in shop windows. As I prepare to watch Barcelona face Espanyol, I can't help but smile, knowing that soccer has a gift from father to daughter that transcends borders and brings us closer, no matter the distance. 

Through every match I watch and every stadium I visit, I carry with me the passion that once filled our living room. Soccer isn't just a sport—it's the thread that weaves together my relationship with my father, connecting past to present, home to abroad, and father to daughter.