By midnight I would lie down, releasing the tension and ache from my body while reflecting on the day’s spectrum of sentiments, from miscommunication, solitude and despondency to self-accomplishment and contentment. My racing thoughts would supersede my rundown body and tired mind, keeping me up for hours longer. I would think, tomorrow will be a brighter day. Mañana será un día más brillante. I’d listen to Ben Harper’s “She’s Only Happy in the Sun” until I fell asleep, singing along to suppress the concerns and qualms consuming my thoughts.

Each day, I would rise with the sun, optimistic and tranquil with self-forgiveness. I’d mount my bike as the sun floated just a meter over the sea and ride toward it as it climbed through the clouds. I would travel down the Costa del Sol, through parks and ports, to the other side of town where the road ended at water’s edge. The school day felt dark with isolation and unfamiliarity, and only the half-hour break outside fortified my spirit and persistence. I buried my light, thinking there wasn’t a way to effectively transmit it through the barriers of language and cultural differences.

As the sun strengthened and the year progressed, I felt increasingly more fervent about all facets of my temporary life. Each small success motivated me and assured me of personal development, from my growing comprehension of Spanish to gratifying self-sufficiency in the foreign country. Auspiciously, each sunrise brought a brighter day than the last, and I felt energized with warmth and verve. I began to thrive in my new life, recognizing the beauty and radiance of the places and people around me. Under the same sun, I found myself again, reawakening the soul I had left thousands of miles away.

Each day, I would rise with the sun, saturating my vigor with its luminous rays. I felt whole and connected to my ancestry as I strived to embody the essence of the Sun God, the Light of the World, and the origin of my name: Mitra. Through the sun, I became a citizen of the world, uniting my Iranian-Indian heritage and American upbringing with my new found belonging to the Costa del Sol in Málaga, Spain. The brilliance of the sun radiates off of each land differently, and my heart is open and ardent to gather all nations’ distinctive expressions of such beauty and vitality.