Has a sport ever been your reason for changing something major in your life? Whether it be who you’re living with, where you’re living at or how your life at home is. The struggle is real. This is exactly what many of the current international soccer players who have come here to Schoolcraft follow to pursue a passion of theirs: some moving close to 7,000 miles away from home to do what they love.
The distance has a huge impact, with possible additional struggles like learning another language or how things are done in America versus their home country. Either way, adjusting to a new lifestyle can be difficult when there is such a big distance from home.
Sophomore Men’s Soccer forward Guilherme Gouvea came to America from Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2018. Two years later in 2020 he got the opportunity to transfer to Schoolcraft to start playing soccer here. Gouvea described the transition to America as “very fast.” Playing since he was two years old, Gouvea’s time in Brazil was mainly focused and dedicated to soccer.. He had discovered a new way of life and how a day typically looks here is trying to balance soccer and studies.
Another huge adjustment for Gouvea was learning a new language with his studies. In Brazil it was easy to forget about studies and focus more on soccer. “The restaurants, the time people eat, it’s all different here.”
This was another immense culture shock for Gouvea. It took him three to four months to get fully adjusted, while there’s still things he’s getting used to.
“The guys are just like brothers to me… it’s like a family.” Pretty quickly he felt the brotherhood from his teammates which helped him navigate his new surroundings easier.
Gouvea talks to his parents quite regularly, almost everyday to be exact. He spends most of his time in America while his summers are spent back home in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Another player originating from Sao Paulo, Brazil is women’s soccer midfielder Isabela Grande. Grande came to America in the fall of 2021. The sophomore is currently the only one in her family who lives here in Michigan. She describes her transition as not the easiest, as it’s very often she feels homesick. “Every single day. I am very close to my family, and no matter how much time passes, I always miss home a lot.”
Just as it sounds, Grande and her family are close. Soccer is a big motivation for her but her family is an even bigger one. The biggest cultural shock for Grande was the food.
“The food from Brazil is fresh and healthier, I think in the beginning it was one of the biggest challenges I had.”
While it’s obvious that life has definitely changed for the sophomore, Grande’s teammates have felt like one big family to her. She noted how she’s the only international player on the team and they are amazing to her.
“Sometimes we’re training and I forget some terms in English or I don’t understand what needs to be done, so they explain it to me in an easier way to understand,” said Grande.
The sophomore strives to visit her family at least once a year. She has made it evident that life changed for her but she kept persevering, knowing that she’s only bettering herself.
Midfielder Abed Swidan of the Men’s Soccer team came here to America from Beirut, Lebanon last year. Swidan was born in America, specifically New Jersey, he then lived in Lebanon for ten years. Returning to the states, Swidan found a new home here in Michigan, and has lived here for the past two years. The freshman described his transition as hard at the beginning but then just got used to it.
Swidan mentioned many cultural differences, but said essentially everything was different, “the streets, the places, literally everything.”
The freshman spends a good deal of time in Michigan but dedicates his summer and winter breaks back at home in Lebanon. Soccer and life in general has pushed him to stay here, as he believes there are more opportunities here for him.
“I have a better future here,” said Swidan.
Swidan hinted how the economy and schools are different, and that schools get shut down a lot due to a lack of electricity.
The freshman talks to his friends and family back at home a lot.
“As soon as I got here I felt like part of a family.” Swidan included this about how his teammates feel like a huge family to him. He lives here with his mom and four other siblings, his dad comes back and forth from Lebanon since he still works there.
Soccer keeps pushing him because it’s a big help for his mental health. “Once I’m playing soccer I forget about everything else.”
It’s a large emotional tug to transition into such a different life from what you’re used to. In this case, soccer and life in general was that tug. Life in the states may have brought more opportunities for these individuals, as well as their drive towards soccer. Not only did the players have to adjust to a whole different lifestyle but meeting new people, their teammates.
As the players described it, the adjustment was hard and everything took a good deal of time to get used to. However it seems they are all happy with their decision and couldn’t imagine not having a life here in America.
