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        Germany Celebrates its 4-1 win over England tonight


I just talked to my dad on the phone the day before yesterday.  "So, how's the world cup treating you?" he asked.  I smiled, and told him he would have no idea how much it has affected us.  Literally.

The last game that South Africa played was vs. France on the 22nd of June (5 days ago).  South Africa upset France (3-0) and scored two goals within 20 minutes of each other.  I was driving my friend, Monica home to Cosmo City, and suddely saw people in the streets, blowing vuvuzelas, dancing, lifting up their hands, screaming, cheering, smiles that radiated... sheer happiness.  All because of a goal...  It is an image that will be etched in my memory forever.

There's nothing for me like watching TV and seeing my countrymen cheering for your our home team.  They do the familiar things I've seen done in every pro sports game in the States, but nowhere here.  They pulse with a familiar clueless, fearless happiness that makes us seem arrogant to the world...it's just who we are as Americans!!

Our national flag....?  Don't most Americans know FLAG RULES??  No toughing the ground...no wearing as a garment... no acting like it's a cape...?   I guess not.  Being outside of the States the flag police don't follow you.

What rips my heart up is seeing the Mexican fans.  Almost everyone looks familiar, maybe because we're from California, but also because my family genes are so heavily Mexican.  Right now, as we speak Mario is watching the game for Mexico vs. Argentina.  Argentina is ahead 2-0 and I don't have the heart to watch anymore.

Still, we are having a rip-roaring good time watching soccer here, but I hate to see loss...witness it first-hand.  Especially on this level.

The World Cup is bigger than the Olympics in most underdeveloped countries.  They see it as a chance for their team to bring their country dignity.  It has to be one of the reasons I root for the poorest country.  Truthfully, I didn't know who to root for when the USA was playing the LAST remaining African country in the Cup, Ghana, a country with so much poverty (About 28% of the population live below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day) that the USA seems like giants next to them. Still, soccer equalizes them and the field becomes its own country, each inch being contested territory.  In the ninety minutes of play, the only thing that matters is strategy, endurance and teamwork.  The refs are thrown in to make the game interesting, but most of time they just make us angry!!


Italy (the defenders of the cup) have just been knocked out for good.  German just knocked out England tonight... Mexico is still in, but the USA was just knocked out by Ghana.


As far as the love of the game, I have almost none.  I am caught up in the superhuman desire of the players to play well and to win.  The fans are next in my heart, all cheering (in the flipping freezing cold) their beloved teams with fervor that would make cheeseheads blush.  The whole atmosphere is beautiful here.  Cars are flagged out... people are dressed head to toe supporting.  Tonight at church a young friend was wearing a pancho.  A real one.  I was so jealous, and so encouraged at the same time.  


We have welcomed the world here...and it's been wonderful.


We still have two weeks to go-- I'll keep you posted as much as any girl (who doesn't care for soccer) can.

vuvuzela

It is literally impossible to not think about soccer right now.  Even as I type I am surprised that my keys are still black and white and have not been redesigned to be the flags of the world or white with cool little octagons surrounding them.  

Jozi has the fever, and I'm swept up into it.

I cannot believe that I am looking forward to the cup as much as I am... but I am.  I drive down the street and not even get angered when street vendors are blocking the way, selling flags, hats, noise makers and  vuvuzelas.  


Anyone can stop me in the store and ask me where anything is, even the most obvious things,  like oats that are stacked to the ceiling, and I'll smile and point the way to them.  

World Cup... the event I never, ever - even remotely- understood has come to this country.  

The teams coming to the world cup are professional teams from 24 countries who have shown themselves to be the best in the world.  All except for one team: South Africa's.  Since we are hosting the game, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) has to let our beloved team play.  

At our supermarkets (our main ones are Checkers and Pick and Pay) the clerks hope for our underdogs to show the world that we are no longer an insignificant African tip of a nation and instead a sport force to be reckoned with.  Our team has trained hard can hold the field with anyone now.  The reason? We’re pumped up!

Their name, Bafana Bafana, basically means “our boys”.  Umfana is the Zulu word for boy, Bafana means more than one boy.  The affection of that nickname says that these chosen 23 have been birthed by South Africa, and will make her proud. 

To cheer them on, most South Africans will dance, sing and blow long horns called vuvzelas.  To make the noise desired from the chosen plastic flashy instrument, you seal the mouth over the end and blow!!!  This results in that trumpet or bugle note that is close to an airhorn.  Normally, it is a loud, irritating sound...but during World Cup season, blown by a South African, it sounds like victory!!

On Friday, the 11th of June, the opening ceremonies start at 3:00 p.m., but the first game is at 4:00, and our house is going to become a carnival of people, most speaking Zulu and doing the diski. 

I’ll tell you what that is tomorrow.

Oh, and by the way, if you’re reading this, come over and party with us on Friday...and wear yellow...and bring cold drink.  

countdown

The game, the fever of it actually, has stolen my heart.  It has come into our lives with a crescendo that is unexpected and contagious, and we wait for the day that we hear the blow horns in the streets that signal the beginning of a World event that we get to host!!

Okay, so you don't love the game that most of the world is obsessed with.  Too bad!!  The reason that soccer unites the world is because it is  a universally spoken language; an art form;  the mathematics of the sports world.

It is, in fact, the great equalizer.

Here, in Johannesburg, the game is easy to get excited about.  Our friends talk about it with the same fervor as all-night prayer meetings, and we gleefully accuse them of worshiping football.    School rugby fields have given way for uniformed Afrikaans boys and girls to "kick like Kaka" (funny to hear the kids utter a forbidden word...when used in discussion of football it's referring to the Spanish star, Ricardo Kaka).  Townships stop selling lapa roofing (thatch) and clear the thatch fields for a game between the best adults who don't play for a living.  Everyone breathes in expectation and breathes out  excitement.

In 9 days and 11 hours the first kickoff of the 2010 World Cup (Mexico vs. South Africa) will start the frenzy that we have giddily braced ourselves for: our shining moment as a country, at least in sport.   The eyes of the world will see a close-up of the RSA (Republic of South Africa) and not see strife or apartheid, but rather what this country has become- a nation with 11 official languages, yet strangely homogenized.  A country of Spiritual strength but still wild.

Everywhere are signs of hype and excitement:  The Absa balloon, usually red and white with our national bank logo stenciled on the side, is a soccer ball hoisted above Monte Casino.  The fueling stations have soccer balloons everywhere, street vendors sell flags of the world (we just bought a controversial Mexican one) and on Fridays the whole city wears yellow and green - Bafana Bafana colors.

Coming from a girl who was always picked last for every sports team ever assembled (and with good reason) this sounds funny, but I want to learn the diski and bop the ball from one foot to another to in between my shoulders.

I just hope no one is watching as I learn.

cup

In America, Soccer is for young kids learning how to play a sport (part of what I'm good at is overgeneralizing). Our kids played and were good...I wasn't nuts about the parents, forcing their children to do well and stressing if they weren't getting enough play time; but I was completely loving my kids loving soccer.

It took me several years to realize the importance of soccer around the world. For instance, what I knew as "football" was called "American football" and soccer was REALLY "Football".

I still call it soccer.

Our first trip to Africa (2000) was to a small country called Malawi, a third world poverty-stricken country where I witnessed extreme conditions in small, rural villages trying to make enough food for everyone. We preached the Gospel faithfully, and I saw firsthand the power of faith in these people. Their lives were simple, poor, filled with faith and relatively different from anything I had ever seen.

Still, on Saturdays, the whole village cleared off their world-class green grass field (one of the prettiest I had ever seen) and held a tournament of our guys (white, black, Indian...from all over the world) squared off against the poor village team who played with no shoes....and they kicked our butts. The only one who held is own on the field was our rather big goalkeeper - Mario.

Our first trip to Brazil in 2001 was surrounded in bright yellow and green (Brazil's colors) and chants of "REYNALDO!!"... (there's always a Reynaldo, by the way) and I soon found out that my sport-loving husband would rather go to a soccer match that shopping with us at the famed bazaar called "The Hippie Mart". He went and came back changed. I even got a Brazilian jersey out of the whole thing. The back said "Reynaldo" with a number 7.

I have to admit to being less than literate (completely clueless) when it comes to most sports. I always cheer for my friends and kids...or husband, but have no idea what the rules are. When it comes to soccer, I know my classic "almost-nothing".

So, when South Africa was given the honor of hosting the FIFA (Federation of International Football Association) World Cup in 2010,the whole country erupted into cheers while I stood back, politely clapping. This country has had to endure plenty of negative foreign news reports and its own self doubt in the six years since it won the right to host Africa's first World Cup, but with a kick-off date of June 6, most of those reports are discredited...or ignored.

Instantly, I watched a lazy country "snap to" and begin to widen its freeways, expand (or build) its stadiums and fall into a stupefied hype unlike any I had ever seen before. The 10 stadiums that were ordered to be ready for the Cup were indeed ready on time. In fact, they were early. Six of them (five built from scratch and one extensively expanded and rebuilt) are churches of architecture, wowing even the most jaded of critics. I wish I could attend a match just for the acoustics.



Although there are plenty of areas of concern to test the nerves of organizers, our country is pulsing with a heartbeat that can only be compared to an expectant father.

Here are some tips if you are planning on coming to the Republic of South Africa (RSA) for the cup. I've thought of all the things that I wish I knew before I moved here:

1. -- SOUTH AFRICA IS A DEVELOPING COUNTRY -- Don't expect everything you're used to!--

Power outages; traffic on small roads when there's room for big ones; slow service, no service; people who don't know the meaning of "personal space"; no seat protectors, etc..

Being in a developing country means that your western conveniences are almost everywhere, but still very different. KFC has one recipe of chicken. It takes a long time to get served in a restaraunt. There is no mexican food. Manners are different, in some places, non-existent. Street vendors are everywhere, so is begging. At street lights (robots) taxis shove in front of your car and honk (hoot) at pedestrians to see if they need a lift, then stop suddenly, if they do.

Sometimes tourists don't want to tour, they want to be at home in another country. South Africa is half first world and half third world. The blend means you give up a lot, mainly your preferences.

A good tip? Keep your heart ready for new things, be patient and enjoy the wild ride. Oh yeah, bring hand sanitizer!

2. -- YOU'RE COMING TO THE WORLD CUP... so is everyone else! --

I'm sure that people think that RSA will be busy. I don't think they know it will be like Bethlehem during the census. Because of the influx of people here, patience of everyone may become thin. Try to prepare for the worst.

Lines will be long. Bathrooms will be not-so-nice, and the whole event may be "So not worth it!" if you have an impatient attitude. The people waiting with you will speak other languages, and may be impatient as well.

If you haven't booked a place to stay yet, GOOD LUCK!! Call us and we can help you find a place... within reason.

A good tip: If you are coming, plan a lot of time to get from place to place. Take little snacks and water bottles with you. Be prepared for a lot of people asking you to share, and don't be afraid to smile and politely say "no".


3. -- BE ALERT, CAREFUL, and for the love of GOD don't look frightened!! --

As with all events of this magnitude, street crime increases. Local hawkers, confidence schemers, pick-pockets, and thugs come out to play, especially at the event gates. Once you're in the match, there's very little to worry about, but while you wait in line (in the cue)be very aware of what's going on.

Our national press has started warning people to be aware of their surroundings ranging from violent crime to being followed... use your common sense, and remember my favorite catch phrase "What would Mario do?" If I can speak from a foreigner's perspective, this country is basically friendly and doesn't want to disturb you, they want you to enjoy yourself and come back.... get ready for some good contrasts.

A good tip: Do a Google search for "common tourist traps" and get the low-down on being in a foreign country and not looking like a target.

4. -- EAT LOCAL FOOD!! --

The good news on South Africa? Food is cheap, and it's good!! Local fruit bursts with flavor (EAT ALL
YOU CAN!!) and chicken tastes like it did when I was 12. Try something called "boerwors" (BOO-er-vors)and paap (pup). Biltong is better than jerky, samoosas are from God, and get ready for the best meat... and I'm almost a vegetarian. Most of the meat here is free-range, so pretty healthy and delicious.

By the way, prepared food is tricky. Seasoning is either English, Dutch, Portuguese or African. All are not what you're used to. If you order fish and chips, it comes with the skin on, if you get a hot dog it will most likely be mushy, and the french fries are not as crispy as we like them in the states. Oh, and Mexican food? Just come to my house. It's the only place I've found it.

A good tip: Ask a South African for the best place close by. Experiment with stands and "Wors-roll" hawkers. They usually do pretty well, and need your business. Mario's favorite chain is called Spur (a local family restaurant that is politically incorrect...you'll see) and my favorite chain is good ol McDonald's- there's tons of them here, and may God smite me with a wicked allergy to all their food!!

5. -- DON'T GIVE MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO BEG!--

A personal pet peeve of mine is how many people do this.

Poor people don't beg. Beggars beg.

If you want your money to go to the poor I can help you find a deserving family who really needs it because of a devastating something that's happened. Street beggars usually work for someone and live in communities that are rife with alcoholism and drug abuse. If you really are moved to give, try giving an energy bar, or a bottled water.

Anyone who wants to have a job can hand out fliers for 70 rand a day, but has to work a full day. Many people who work for others have a salary that is less than these street beggars make.

Oh, the ones that make the most? Ones who have babies, ones who have no shoes, ones who are disfigured. These are the gold of a creepy business. Don't fall for it.

A good tip? Keep your windows up and your doors locked, especially when you exit a venue.

Smile, make eye contact. Clap your hands together and show them your open hands. This is universal for "Bless you, but I have nothing to give you". Most will smile back. The ones who are terribly successful will point to their belly or their mouth and keep begging....


Remember, we all are human, and EVERYONE needs Jesus. Make the most of every opportunity, but be wise. Above all, have fun...and bring face paint!!

Oh yeah, Bufana, Bufana!!