The World Cup is FINALLY here and you wouldn't believe how excited our students are about the whole tournament. It's the thing that kept them from focusing on their exams (and the last few weeks of classes!). It's the thing that had me confiscating iPads and laptops like a crazy person (are you SERIOUSLY on the FIFA website AGAIN?!). It's the thing that had me "tied up" at recess with TOO MANY 11 and 12 year old's who fought - day after day - over who had the pleasure (task?) of explaining the tournament bracket to me. It's the thing that had us rushing to "Soccer Scene" at the mall for official team jerseys (because "WALLAH, MISS! YOU NEED AT LEAST ONE!"). It's the thing that.............IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL! It's LIFE! It's EVERYWHERE! And it is totally freaking awesome to be in a place that loves the game of football THIS MUCH.
This afternoon we went for ice cream at the mall and Nory and I were both wearing our jerseys. It was exciting to pass people supporting the same nation and equally as exciting to pass people supporting other nations. The cupcake store was cheering on all of the teams, with window decals to represent each country. Several restaurants and shops followed suit, with fan-crazy mannequins or garlands of flags. And the information booths were giving out free World Cup booklets to keep track of the scores, with all scheduled matches listed in KUWAIT TIME! It's crazy isn't it? And this country didn't even qualify for the tournament!
The whole hype gives me memories of hockey playoffs in Canada (which we have missed for several years), Olympic hockey (which just isn't the same with only three Canadians in the room), and the World Junior Hockey Tournament (which made up for every single ounce of feeling "left out", as a whole crew of Canadians relocated themselves to Malmo). Hockey is our game and football is theirs. I'm hopeful that SOMEBODY in Lakefield - perhaps at The Loon! - recognizes a soccer jersey when they see one this summer ;)
8 more days until we are HOME. Oh - and Nory is 16 months old today!!! And, finally, GO BRAZIL!!!!!!!!
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| In our Brazil jerseys - the only team jersey that had a size for each of us!!! I guess we are cheering for the host country ;) |
This afternoon we went for ice cream at the mall and Nory and I were both wearing our jerseys. It was exciting to pass people supporting the same nation and equally as exciting to pass people supporting other nations. The cupcake store was cheering on all of the teams, with window decals to represent each country. Several restaurants and shops followed suit, with fan-crazy mannequins or garlands of flags. And the information booths were giving out free World Cup booklets to keep track of the scores, with all scheduled matches listed in KUWAIT TIME! It's crazy isn't it? And this country didn't even qualify for the tournament!
The whole hype gives me memories of hockey playoffs in Canada (which we have missed for several years), Olympic hockey (which just isn't the same with only three Canadians in the room), and the World Junior Hockey Tournament (which made up for every single ounce of feeling "left out", as a whole crew of Canadians relocated themselves to Malmo). Hockey is our game and football is theirs. I'm hopeful that SOMEBODY in Lakefield - perhaps at The Loon! - recognizes a soccer jersey when they see one this summer ;)
8 more days until we are HOME. Oh - and Nory is 16 months old today!!! And, finally, GO BRAZIL!!!!!!!!
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