Soccer Anyone?
*****
It’s been interesting to experience World Cup fever in a country (and continent) that is soccer crazed. You wouldn’t believe the hike in jersey sales in town - you can find just about any country you want (even North Korea, who would’ve thought) and, although it’s an illegal reprint/fake jersey, it’s still good enough. Red, gold and green are colors that never leave your sight and at any time of day, you can hear the trumpeting honk of the vuvuzela horn being blown.
We watched the Ghana vs. Serbia game yesterday at one of our favorite local restaurants. The owner, Amelia, graciously rented a projector and set up a screen and about thirty Volunteers were there, along with the same number of Ghanaians. Needless to say, everyone was very excited about the win. I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like to actually be in South Africa during the game. They showed the game on local television so there were cuts of shots of people dancing in the streets in Kumasi, Osu in Accra, people hanging from their windows waving flags in Cape Coast. It was fewer people, but the same atmosphere at The Desert Rose with us.
Of course, we all got decked out in our finest, both for Ghana’s game and the US game the day before against England. Jake really outdid himself with his America outfit fully purchased in Ghana. We were able to rent a room out at another local restaurant and celebrated in style the tie that was as good as a win for the fans in the room. The next game is on Friday, I believe, but I think I’ll watch that in town.
How, you ask?
With the lights that have been newly installed in my village! They work mostly only at night and the fuse in my house is bootleg, even for illegal fuses. But it’s still there, about two hours a night, barely strong enough to run my fan. I can charge my phone, though! That’s a start, right? Today, fans, tomorrow - a movie theatre!
And check these videos out - how cool is this song?
And here's a commercial featuring it (Wavin' Flag by K'naan, a singer from Somalia) that's running over here - not sure if it's in the States or abroad:
It’s been interesting to experience World Cup fever in a country (and continent) that is soccer crazed. You wouldn’t believe the hike in jersey sales in town - you can find just about any country you want (even North Korea, who would’ve thought) and, although it’s an illegal reprint/fake jersey, it’s still good enough. Red, gold and green are colors that never leave your sight and at any time of day, you can hear the trumpeting honk of the vuvuzela horn being blown.
We watched the Ghana vs. Serbia game yesterday at one of our favorite local restaurants. The owner, Amelia, graciously rented a projector and set up a screen and about thirty Volunteers were there, along with the same number of Ghanaians. Needless to say, everyone was very excited about the win. I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like to actually be in South Africa during the game. They showed the game on local television so there were cuts of shots of people dancing in the streets in Kumasi, Osu in Accra, people hanging from their windows waving flags in Cape Coast. It was fewer people, but the same atmosphere at The Desert Rose with us.
Of course, we all got decked out in our finest, both for Ghana’s game and the US game the day before against England. Jake really outdid himself with his America outfit fully purchased in Ghana. We were able to rent a room out at another local restaurant and celebrated in style the tie that was as good as a win for the fans in the room. The next game is on Friday, I believe, but I think I’ll watch that in town.
How, you ask?
With the lights that have been newly installed in my village! They work mostly only at night and the fuse in my house is bootleg, even for illegal fuses. But it’s still there, about two hours a night, barely strong enough to run my fan. I can charge my phone, though! That’s a start, right? Today, fans, tomorrow - a movie theatre!
And check these videos out - how cool is this song?
Click to viewAnd here's a commercial featuring it (Wavin' Flag by K'naan, a singer from Somalia) that's running over here - not sure if it's in the States or abroad: