This was a sad day, as the USA took its final bow at the 2010 Fifa World cup. We were all there to witness the overtime 2-1 victory of Ghana. A fellow writer named Phil Deustch, whom is with me on the trip put the game into an article. I am very proud of my American team, I saw them tie, triumph and falter. But through it all we fought hard and I am proud to be an American! Here is his post:
"RUSTENBURG – Ghana sent the U.S. back home overseas in the second consecutive World Cup on Saturday night in Rustenburg, South Africa. Just like in the 2006 World Cup group round, Ghana ended the “the Yanks’” run; this time 2-1 in extra-time in the Round of 16. South Africans, who were mostly rooting for America in group round play, dressed in Ghana Black Stars gear and chanted “Goodbye U— S—A” the entire game.
“We (Africa) have only one team left, and that is Ghana,” said Samuel Beya, a supporter of Ghana, a resident of South Africa and a former citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Other continents such as Europe and South America still have many remaining. We have one.”
The Black Stars did not disappoint their fans on a hazy night when Kevin Prince-Boateng scored in just the 5th minute of the game. He blitzed past a loose U.S. back line, unwilling to step up, and shot one past American goalkeeper Tim Howard at the near post. The continent of Africa rumbled as the only African team left looked destined to advance through to the quarterfinals.
U.S. “journeyman” soccer fans who made the trek all the way to South Africa sat in nervous disbelief.
U.S. soccer had dug another early hole. Both England and Slovenia jumped to 1-0 leads against the U.S. within the first fifteen minutes and even Algeria hit the crossbar in what should have been a quick goal. Ominously, manager Bob Bradley’s squad did not respond with the same sense of urgency as in the other games. Striker Jozy Altidore made several questionable decisions with the ball, and Ghana’s back line (only given up four goals in four games) embarrassed the U.S. offense.
Nonetheless, U.S. striker Ryan Finley controlled the ball in the box one on one against Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Kingson. Finley poorly struck the ball right at the ‘keeper, the ball deflected away and so did U.S. hopes for an equalizer. Some U.S. fans put both hands on their head, stymied by their misfortune. Some cursed in frustration, knowing that this is a tournament where such clear opportunities are scarce.
Ghana fans pumped their fists and waved their flags. They were able to breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the first half.
“Each team must need luck to advance,” Beya said. “Luck becomes very important at the World Cup.”
Luck for the U.S. seemed to be non-existent on African soil this time. Kingson ate up the ball on an open Clint Dempsey run right in front of the goal at the beginning of the 2nd half. On a gloomy, hazy night in Rustenburg, the Americans’ presence at the World Cup seemed to be slipping away at the site where their 2010 South Africa road began.
Then, in the 62nd minute, the dynamic of the game and atmosphere completely changed when a Ghanaian defended shoved Clint Dempsey down in the box. The referee rewarded the U.S. a penalty kick, and Landon Donovan stuck the 3rd U.S. equalizer of the tournament past Kingson. Americans waited all game to celebrate, and then they did when their team tied the game in an intense elimination game. Donovan had U.S. fans believing once again in a team that erased their 3rd deficit of the tournament.
This round of 16 game laid in balance as the final minutes of regulation ticked away. Both defenses shut down the opposing offenses during the last 30 minutes of the game.
When I went to the restroom during the five-minute break before 30 minutes of extra time, I heard a medley of American songs and chants, including the “Team America” theme song, the “Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America” and “Proud to be an American.”
Another defensive lapse and an incredible left-footed strike in the 93rd by Asamoah Gyan of Ghana quieted the American patriotism. Gyan darted to the surrounding track and leaped in the air shouting to the African faithful. Gyan’s 3rd goal in four games proved to be the game-winner as Bradley’s squad fired everywhere but in the net during extra-time. Headers went wide, crosses fell short and Ghanaian players faked injuries on stretchers, stalling the chance for a U.S. comeback.
When the final whistle sounded, Kingson dropped to his knees in joy, some Ghanaian players tackled each other and others sprinted around the track with their native land’s flag in hand. Ghana supporters rhythmically chanted “Ghana – Ghana – Ghana.”
Meanwhile, fiery Clint Dempsey stormed off the field, and U.S. defenders collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and sadness.
U.S. fans looked on at the celebration in dismay. Most had blank stares – feeling letdown by the U.S. and an unforgiving tournament. Some wore their American flags over their heads, shielding their eyes from the scene before them. No longer would Americans flock from stadium to stadium in South Africa draped in American flags and sporting patriotic top hats. The road for the comeback kids ended at the feet of Ghana again.
Our American study abroad group quietly drove back to the hotel. We were met by South African and Democratic Republic of Congo security guards holding in their excitement while respectfully consoling U.S. fans after a great game.
Ghana moves confidently to the quarterfinals to face Uruguay and continue to represent the people of Africa and African football. The pressure builds as the lone Africa team stays alive among European and South American football giants.
Five other African teams mostly underperformed and were eliminated from FIFA World Cup South Africa during group play.
Security guard Pierrot Papy-Tabasenge, from the Republic of Congo and fan of Ghana stayed humble but hopeful in the wake of victory. He described the surging African team: “Ghana, you see, they can do something. They are above the other (African) teams. They are special.”
Philip Deutsch
Monday, June 28, 2010
Day 17
Very much still inebriated from the night before today we had two professional visits to the Volvo plant and the SAB Miller brewery.
The volvo experience was marked by several eye opening facts and one comical statement made by my fellow intern Antonio Spano.
First the facts about the current state of HIV/AIDS among drivers is 80% and the company literally has to train 2 people for every position because drivers will perish at an average age of 50 years old! This is nearly 27 years earlier than americans, scary. Also the natal province of South Africa posts the highest rates of contamination with nearly 50% of people living there are infected with the disease!
The presentation switched English business man who is head of the branch to a South African fellow who does the banking, the accent threw some of us off. The poor man was mentioning how the business profits are given back to "shareholders." He spoke in a strong africaans (A hybrid form of Dutch) which was hard to make out even in the front row. Antonio was sitting in the front, but apparently was having such a hard time understanding that he asked a clarifying question; "Excuse me, but are you saying Shit Holes?!" The room immediately burst into laughter and Hugo apologized for the comment. It was an unforgettable moment of the trip and the day, so hilarious.
Next we went to our much anticipated visit of SAB Miller Brewery. The brewer of Castle Beer and its by-products was pretty fun. They taught us about the history of beer and as a reward at the end of the tour we each received two free beers of our choosing. What a deal for 20 rand. Lunch was enjoyed out in the patio. I had a very good south african sausage and some meat pie. I have noticed that this culture is very much into their meats, as I have yet to have a meal which didn't have meat in it.
We then split up some of us went to the Apartheid museum, and Soweto; some went back but Fred, Pat and I went to the Gold Reef City theme park for 3 hours of childhood fun. We were very efficient riders and rode 7 coasters a total of ten times. The park had a coaster where your feet dangling as they whip you in 2 loops and several cork screws. Sooo fun!
It was back to Pretoria for a wild night. I have been drinking wine as much as I can down here because the climate is so perfect for growing grapes. I'm very much looking forward to our trip to Stellenbosch, which is South Africa's prominent wine land.
The volvo experience was marked by several eye opening facts and one comical statement made by my fellow intern Antonio Spano.
First the facts about the current state of HIV/AIDS among drivers is 80% and the company literally has to train 2 people for every position because drivers will perish at an average age of 50 years old! This is nearly 27 years earlier than americans, scary. Also the natal province of South Africa posts the highest rates of contamination with nearly 50% of people living there are infected with the disease!
The presentation switched English business man who is head of the branch to a South African fellow who does the banking, the accent threw some of us off. The poor man was mentioning how the business profits are given back to "shareholders." He spoke in a strong africaans (A hybrid form of Dutch) which was hard to make out even in the front row. Antonio was sitting in the front, but apparently was having such a hard time understanding that he asked a clarifying question; "Excuse me, but are you saying Shit Holes?!" The room immediately burst into laughter and Hugo apologized for the comment. It was an unforgettable moment of the trip and the day, so hilarious.
Next we went to our much anticipated visit of SAB Miller Brewery. The brewer of Castle Beer and its by-products was pretty fun. They taught us about the history of beer and as a reward at the end of the tour we each received two free beers of our choosing. What a deal for 20 rand. Lunch was enjoyed out in the patio. I had a very good south african sausage and some meat pie. I have noticed that this culture is very much into their meats, as I have yet to have a meal which didn't have meat in it.
We then split up some of us went to the Apartheid museum, and Soweto; some went back but Fred, Pat and I went to the Gold Reef City theme park for 3 hours of childhood fun. We were very efficient riders and rode 7 coasters a total of ten times. The park had a coaster where your feet dangling as they whip you in 2 loops and several cork screws. Sooo fun!
It was back to Pretoria for a wild night. I have been drinking wine as much as I can down here because the climate is so perfect for growing grapes. I'm very much looking forward to our trip to Stellenbosch, which is South Africa's prominent wine land.
Day 16 (Elephants and Cheetahs)
A side note, at this point on the trip I have been running a fever from what was believed to be food poisoning. Eating hot dogs at night clubs is something I will never do again. But for the most part the food has been tasty and non vegetarian, people in south africa love meat and braais (bbq's) are an integral part of the culture.
The euphoric feeling after the win lingered in us the next morning as we boarded the bus to the Elephant Park in Jo-Burg. The elephant park was great, the tour had three parts, anatomy, touching and feeding. The touching was the most enjoyable three teenage african elephants were brought before us to take picture with and see them up close. The leader of the tour suggested getting a kiss from the elephant, so not fully knowing what was going to happen, I nervously volunteered to go first. The rest is a one time feeling that is hard to describe. The elephant brought its trunk up from the dirty ground and placed it on my cheek. The big mammal then sucked and blew out leaving a residue of dirt and elephant snot on my face. Now I can say that I have been kissed by an elephant. After seeing the large bull of the group we then headed to the cheetah park which was close by.
We stopped for a bite to eat at a market on the way to the cheetah park. I enjoyed a 1/4 chicken tikka which was a bit spicy and fries, which are called "chips," here. What would have been a decent meal was hard to enjoy with the churning of my stomach.
At the cheetah park we were able to pet a live full grown cheetah! The big cat was placed on a table in front of Fred, Zack, Mike and I and we nervously petted and smiled for the camera. The next part consisted of a safari vehicle ride through their camp, where we saw more cheetahs, wild dogs, ostriches, and antelope. The center specializes in taking in wild animals that farmers find annoying or harmful to their fields or flocks. It was very cool to see how wild and ravenous these animals are when food is around.
A great day was capped off with plenty of alcohol and adventures in hatfield. Enough said.
The euphoric feeling after the win lingered in us the next morning as we boarded the bus to the Elephant Park in Jo-Burg. The elephant park was great, the tour had three parts, anatomy, touching and feeding. The touching was the most enjoyable three teenage african elephants were brought before us to take picture with and see them up close. The leader of the tour suggested getting a kiss from the elephant, so not fully knowing what was going to happen, I nervously volunteered to go first. The rest is a one time feeling that is hard to describe. The elephant brought its trunk up from the dirty ground and placed it on my cheek. The big mammal then sucked and blew out leaving a residue of dirt and elephant snot on my face. Now I can say that I have been kissed by an elephant. After seeing the large bull of the group we then headed to the cheetah park which was close by.
We stopped for a bite to eat at a market on the way to the cheetah park. I enjoyed a 1/4 chicken tikka which was a bit spicy and fries, which are called "chips," here. What would have been a decent meal was hard to enjoy with the churning of my stomach.
At the cheetah park we were able to pet a live full grown cheetah! The big cat was placed on a table in front of Fred, Zack, Mike and I and we nervously petted and smiled for the camera. The next part consisted of a safari vehicle ride through their camp, where we saw more cheetahs, wild dogs, ostriches, and antelope. The center specializes in taking in wild animals that farmers find annoying or harmful to their fields or flocks. It was very cool to see how wild and ravenous these animals are when food is around.
A great day was capped off with plenty of alcohol and adventures in hatfield. Enough said.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Day 15 (USA v. Algeria)
Today was going to be a good day. After the late night in Polokwane, classes were canceled and all of us got some much needed sleep. After we awoke we began to pre-game for what would be the biggest game of the tournament. Hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, beer in the phu-vuvelas (vuvuzela beer bong) this was an American pre-game.
With more people joining forum nexus our group has expanded to 20+ students, yet I still feel closest to the original crew of travelers the new arrivals bring our girl numbers up, which is nice. The walk to the stadium is maybe ten minutes from our lodge so we were able to get in early and see the players warm up.
The match was an epic one, I was seated in the noisy Algerian section with few American fans near. In the first half, The U.S. squandered an early possession in which two wide-open shots inside the box bounced right off the Algerian goalkeeper, and then Dempsey got caught offside as he put the ball in the goal. Jozy Altidore blasted a sure goal over the crossbar to end the end of the first half, it only seemed a matter of time before the U.S. found the net.
The second half battle waged on with no goals, would the U.S. flop out in the group round for the 2nd straight World Cup in an ugly draw to essentially internationally irrelevant football team Algeria? This thought was in the forethought of our minds as the seconds ticked away and regulation time ended.
5 minutes extra time was added and our spirits were low, we believed but the odds looked grim. Then, Clint Dempsey, started a counterattack in the final minute. A U.S. shot bounced off the Algerian ‘keeper in what seemed to be the final missed opportunity.
The ball sat right in front of the ‘6 yard box where the U.S. soccer hero Landon Donovan darted towards it and kicked the ball into the back of the net, and the U.S. to the next round.
Mayhem ensued, I fell over two rows of seats and had Rueven and Antonio two grown men piled on top of me, we screamed, hugged and jumped for joy! The Algerians who had been so loud for the entire game sat in their seats stunned and silent at what they had just witnessed.
The partying continued as we moved to join in on a larger section of U.S. fans. The players came rallied the crowd more, we were in a pure state of jubilation. After an hour of screaming and chanting my body was sick. The fact that I was at the most important game in U.S. soccer history is unbelievable.
With more people joining forum nexus our group has expanded to 20+ students, yet I still feel closest to the original crew of travelers the new arrivals bring our girl numbers up, which is nice. The walk to the stadium is maybe ten minutes from our lodge so we were able to get in early and see the players warm up.
The match was an epic one, I was seated in the noisy Algerian section with few American fans near. In the first half, The U.S. squandered an early possession in which two wide-open shots inside the box bounced right off the Algerian goalkeeper, and then Dempsey got caught offside as he put the ball in the goal. Jozy Altidore blasted a sure goal over the crossbar to end the end of the first half, it only seemed a matter of time before the U.S. found the net.
The second half battle waged on with no goals, would the U.S. flop out in the group round for the 2nd straight World Cup in an ugly draw to essentially internationally irrelevant football team Algeria? This thought was in the forethought of our minds as the seconds ticked away and regulation time ended.
5 minutes extra time was added and our spirits were low, we believed but the odds looked grim. Then, Clint Dempsey, started a counterattack in the final minute. A U.S. shot bounced off the Algerian ‘keeper in what seemed to be the final missed opportunity.
The ball sat right in front of the ‘6 yard box where the U.S. soccer hero Landon Donovan darted towards it and kicked the ball into the back of the net, and the U.S. to the next round.
Mayhem ensued, I fell over two rows of seats and had Rueven and Antonio two grown men piled on top of me, we screamed, hugged and jumped for joy! The Algerians who had been so loud for the entire game sat in their seats stunned and silent at what they had just witnessed.
The partying continued as we moved to join in on a larger section of U.S. fans. The players came rallied the crowd more, we were in a pure state of jubilation. After an hour of screaming and chanting my body was sick. The fact that I was at the most important game in U.S. soccer history is unbelievable.
Day 13/14
The only notable event of day 13 was the 7-0 shelling of N. Korea at the hand of Portugal...
The next day we visited an open air museum which shows what life was like before colonization. I saw the original cow dung huts and thatch roofs which the tribes inhabited, how they produced fire and the original vuvuzela. The horn which has filled world cup games was originally used as a horn to bring in the hunters from the field.
After a look into the past of Africa it was off to the fan park to watch South Africa take on France. With the whole country collectively holding their breath to see the host nation advance to the second round, they won the game but failed to advance. At the park, there was an miniature soccer field with inflatable boundaries that some of us found quite fun. The field turned into a huge dust bowl with the scuffling of feat, to the point that dust filled our lungs. The matches were short and competitive as we took on the locals of Polokwane.
Finally the night cap Argentina vs. Greece. Our professor Hugo is from Argentina and taught us several chants for the game including the correct pronunciation of the country, ar-hen-tina.
On a cold evening all of us were anticipating the electrifying play of the best player in the world, Lionel Messi of Argentina. He failed to score but surely didn't disappoint with several long runs deep into the Greece defense and one shot off of the post. The match was all even at 0-0 until the 77th minute when Argentina finally broke through with a goal. They added on one more, to celebrate the win the Argentina fans broke our into chants that lasted for an hour after the match. The celebration actually had to be stopped by stadium police who wanted them to leave.
The night only got worse as we travelled on the bus back to Pretoria we broke down on the highway and had to wait for a replacement. The night didn't end until 6 am, so class was canceled.
The next day we visited an open air museum which shows what life was like before colonization. I saw the original cow dung huts and thatch roofs which the tribes inhabited, how they produced fire and the original vuvuzela. The horn which has filled world cup games was originally used as a horn to bring in the hunters from the field.
After a look into the past of Africa it was off to the fan park to watch South Africa take on France. With the whole country collectively holding their breath to see the host nation advance to the second round, they won the game but failed to advance. At the park, there was an miniature soccer field with inflatable boundaries that some of us found quite fun. The field turned into a huge dust bowl with the scuffling of feat, to the point that dust filled our lungs. The matches were short and competitive as we took on the locals of Polokwane.
Finally the night cap Argentina vs. Greece. Our professor Hugo is from Argentina and taught us several chants for the game including the correct pronunciation of the country, ar-hen-tina.
On a cold evening all of us were anticipating the electrifying play of the best player in the world, Lionel Messi of Argentina. He failed to score but surely didn't disappoint with several long runs deep into the Greece defense and one shot off of the post. The match was all even at 0-0 until the 77th minute when Argentina finally broke through with a goal. They added on one more, to celebrate the win the Argentina fans broke our into chants that lasted for an hour after the match. The celebration actually had to be stopped by stadium police who wanted them to leave.
The night only got worse as we travelled on the bus back to Pretoria we broke down on the highway and had to wait for a replacement. The night didn't end until 6 am, so class was canceled.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day 12
A day marked purely with adventure, Zack, Nick, Spencer, Phil and I decided we wanted to go to the Brazil Ivory Coast match in Soccer City Jo-burg. The rest of the group had gone out to tour some caves for the day and we were free to pursue our own endeavors.
Getting there we split a cab ride to Bosman station where we hopped on the 5:30 pm train to Soccer City. On the the two hour trip we got to talking to Samuel a policeman assigned to our car for safety. He told us of his job as a police officer and how crime in South Africa has been a ride full of progression digression. Sam was very friendly and answered all of our questions about South Africa and even gave us his number for an non tourist view of Pretoria.
Arriving in Jo-burg excited by the orange and yellow glow of Soccer City, we ventured to the stadium to scalp for the big game. The next hour and a half were spent pacing up and down the side walks chatting up individuals for extra tickets. We found buyers but their prices were so inflated no one purchased any tickets. That is except for Spencer who found one ten minutes before the game started for R1,000.
Nick, Zack and I were shit out of luck. There were no bars or stores anywhere near the station and no trains leaving until after the game, we were stuck out in the cold. Luckily our disgruntled personal bus driver Seddick, made the 1 1/2 hour trip to save us from our stranded state. An epic fail of World Cup proportions.
Getting there we split a cab ride to Bosman station where we hopped on the 5:30 pm train to Soccer City. On the the two hour trip we got to talking to Samuel a policeman assigned to our car for safety. He told us of his job as a police officer and how crime in South Africa has been a ride full of progression digression. Sam was very friendly and answered all of our questions about South Africa and even gave us his number for an non tourist view of Pretoria.
Arriving in Jo-burg excited by the orange and yellow glow of Soccer City, we ventured to the stadium to scalp for the big game. The next hour and a half were spent pacing up and down the side walks chatting up individuals for extra tickets. We found buyers but their prices were so inflated no one purchased any tickets. That is except for Spencer who found one ten minutes before the game started for R1,000.
Nick, Zack and I were shit out of luck. There were no bars or stores anywhere near the station and no trains leaving until after the game, we were stuck out in the cold. Luckily our disgruntled personal bus driver Seddick, made the 1 1/2 hour trip to save us from our stranded state. An epic fail of World Cup proportions.
Day 11 (Soweto/ Apartheid)
Today I took my first real glimpse into the "real" South Africa, by visiting the Apartheid Museum and the slum of Soweto.
The museum was a portrait into the not too distant past, when the Apartheid ruled in South Africa and racial segregation lines defined society. With Apartheid being abolished in 1991 many South Africans don't want to visit the museum because of proximity of the ruthless rule. Rising in 1948 the Apartheid Afrikaners minority ruled the majority colored or "NIE WHITES" using a race classification system to make them inferior to others.
This rule was met with resistance by the African National Congress headed by the nations savior the Nelson Mandela. A passionate black South African who wanted equality for all south African people. Mandela spoke out against the racial travesties occurring in his country and was sentenced in 1962 to 28 years on Robben Island, the South African equivalent of Alcatraz. These years would help sculpt his vision and determination to one day lead South Africa out of the darkness of the Apartheid.
Arising from these chains of slavery Mandela became South Africas first black president in 1994 and served one 4 year term. A stint which saw many positive changes to the quality of life racial infrastructure of the nation. Mandela is an incredible human being who accomplished great things through almost insurmountable odds and is an inspiration to all.
Now to Soweto, one of the poorest areas in South Africa. Till this visit we had only seen the well developed university area of Pretoria and the city of Johannesburg. Both are a far cry from the impoverished conditions which grip most of the country.
The bus ride in saw a dramatic change in scenery from tall buildings and gated communities to tin/wood shacks stretched out for miles.
Getting off the bus we hesitantly brought out our cameras and strolled through the dirt path to a the middle of the village. We were greeted by children who probably owned nothing more than the clothes on their backs. They were incredibly friendly and asked us where we were from while accompanying us on the road. Most of the children had seen foreigners and weren't hesitant to ask each of us for rand.
One story I recall is a boy named John who wanted rand to help feed his grandmother. The story cut deep into my heart but I regrettably hadn't brought any cash with me. Feeling guilty we took pictures of the children which was to their enjoyment, they screamed "let me see, let me see" after every one, we played and put them on our shoulders which made them briefly happy.
Our tour ended with a viewing of the living conditions of a single shack. We entered through a metal fence protected with barbed wire into a shack 5' by 20' inside was a grandmother and her grandson, who told us that she had been living in this shack for 16 years. She cooked cleaned and slept in the same one room without any electricity or running water. She shared this one area with 6 others 3 of which were babies or toddlers.
These images have been weighing heavy on my heart and more thankful for my blessings.
The museum was a portrait into the not too distant past, when the Apartheid ruled in South Africa and racial segregation lines defined society. With Apartheid being abolished in 1991 many South Africans don't want to visit the museum because of proximity of the ruthless rule. Rising in 1948 the Apartheid Afrikaners minority ruled the majority colored or "NIE WHITES" using a race classification system to make them inferior to others.
This rule was met with resistance by the African National Congress headed by the nations savior the Nelson Mandela. A passionate black South African who wanted equality for all south African people. Mandela spoke out against the racial travesties occurring in his country and was sentenced in 1962 to 28 years on Robben Island, the South African equivalent of Alcatraz. These years would help sculpt his vision and determination to one day lead South Africa out of the darkness of the Apartheid.
Arising from these chains of slavery Mandela became South Africas first black president in 1994 and served one 4 year term. A stint which saw many positive changes to the quality of life racial infrastructure of the nation. Mandela is an incredible human being who accomplished great things through almost insurmountable odds and is an inspiration to all.
Now to Soweto, one of the poorest areas in South Africa. Till this visit we had only seen the well developed university area of Pretoria and the city of Johannesburg. Both are a far cry from the impoverished conditions which grip most of the country.
The bus ride in saw a dramatic change in scenery from tall buildings and gated communities to tin/wood shacks stretched out for miles.
Getting off the bus we hesitantly brought out our cameras and strolled through the dirt path to a the middle of the village. We were greeted by children who probably owned nothing more than the clothes on their backs. They were incredibly friendly and asked us where we were from while accompanying us on the road. Most of the children had seen foreigners and weren't hesitant to ask each of us for rand.
One story I recall is a boy named John who wanted rand to help feed his grandmother. The story cut deep into my heart but I regrettably hadn't brought any cash with me. Feeling guilty we took pictures of the children which was to their enjoyment, they screamed "let me see, let me see" after every one, we played and put them on our shoulders which made them briefly happy.
Our tour ended with a viewing of the living conditions of a single shack. We entered through a metal fence protected with barbed wire into a shack 5' by 20' inside was a grandmother and her grandson, who told us that she had been living in this shack for 16 years. She cooked cleaned and slept in the same one room without any electricity or running water. She shared this one area with 6 others 3 of which were babies or toddlers.
These images have been weighing heavy on my heart and more thankful for my blessings.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Day 10 (USA vs. Slovenia)
Class resumed on schedule today but our minds were elsewhere, the 2nd group play match between the USA and Slovenia was today. We traveled by bus into the heart of Jo-burg to Ellis Park Stadium, the down town area was full of city dwellers walking the streets and lots of USA supporters. Some of us purchased a USA flag for R50, flag selling is a very popular business at every street corner in town.
Every bus ride with Professor Hugo Hervitz (DJ Hugo) is an amazing one! Picture this a 60 year old Jewish Argentinian swaying his arms back and forth dancing up and down the rows of our bus to the tune of K'naan's waving flag...priceless
After an hour long ride with plenty of beers on board. We managed to stop at a local community group which was sponsoring a face painting station for all the fans. To show their loyalty Spencer and Zack both got their entire colored in red white and blue. Next to we frequented a hole in the wall pub on the main thoroughfare which was bustling with soccer fans. New Zealanders, Slovenians, locals and plenty of Americans. The volume level of the place went up several decibels when our Born in the USA chants began. Our chants don't have much to do with soccer but they are songs of our nation that we all know well so why not sing God Bless America and our National Anthem. Pathetic but it gets the job done.
The stadium is a glorious piece of architecture, it stands as the oldest stadium in Jo-burg with breathtaking views of the city from my seats in the upper level. Conveniently I was sitting amongst several others from my program, Americans made up the majority of the fan base once again.
The 2 first half goals by Slovenia put us on edge, wondering just how good our USA team was and if they had a second half comeback in the cards. Sure enough in the 47th minute Landon Donovan struck a laser into the top net striking fear into the eyes of the keeper. Our confidence increasing exponentially our team started to play with more energy and and a sense of urgency to the game.
And in the 81st minute we finally broke through for the equalizing goal on a ball crossed in off of a header by Altidore Bradley snuck in for a sliding goal into back of the net. MAYHEM ENSUED. Cheering louder than we have before we had put away all disbelief and were now tied! Every American was very much satisfied with a tie seeing how we were down early. The suspense builds for their next battle with Algeria which will surely decide their fate.
Every bus ride with Professor Hugo Hervitz (DJ Hugo) is an amazing one! Picture this a 60 year old Jewish Argentinian swaying his arms back and forth dancing up and down the rows of our bus to the tune of K'naan's waving flag...priceless
After an hour long ride with plenty of beers on board. We managed to stop at a local community group which was sponsoring a face painting station for all the fans. To show their loyalty Spencer and Zack both got their entire colored in red white and blue. Next to we frequented a hole in the wall pub on the main thoroughfare which was bustling with soccer fans. New Zealanders, Slovenians, locals and plenty of Americans. The volume level of the place went up several decibels when our Born in the USA chants began. Our chants don't have much to do with soccer but they are songs of our nation that we all know well so why not sing God Bless America and our National Anthem. Pathetic but it gets the job done.
The stadium is a glorious piece of architecture, it stands as the oldest stadium in Jo-burg with breathtaking views of the city from my seats in the upper level. Conveniently I was sitting amongst several others from my program, Americans made up the majority of the fan base once again.
The 2 first half goals by Slovenia put us on edge, wondering just how good our USA team was and if they had a second half comeback in the cards. Sure enough in the 47th minute Landon Donovan struck a laser into the top net striking fear into the eyes of the keeper. Our confidence increasing exponentially our team started to play with more energy and and a sense of urgency to the game.
And in the 81st minute we finally broke through for the equalizing goal on a ball crossed in off of a header by Altidore Bradley snuck in for a sliding goal into back of the net. MAYHEM ENSUED. Cheering louder than we have before we had put away all disbelief and were now tied! Every American was very much satisfied with a tie seeing how we were down early. The suspense builds for their next battle with Algeria which will surely decide their fate.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Day 8
The morning was a rather normal one, sitting in class participating and fighting off a hangover. The afternoon had two very good games first chile vs. honduras then the shocker of the tournament a 1-0 Swiss defeat of the heavily favored spanish. Their defense was impenetrable, the Spanish must have had 3 times more opportunities at goal but were unable to put one in.
I am very excited to see Spain lose and my only hope is that they will play better and advance as the 2 seed. Why?! I have tickets to the match which features 1G and 2H later this month, a possible Brazil vs. Spain matchup wooooo.
For the South Africa match versus Uruguay I headed out with the boys (fred, josh, danny and mike) to the square. We have become regulars at a bar there called Wellington Vo, there are flat screens and tables to watch the game at. Starting the night with a jagerbomb was a sure tale sign for a night of excess. As the game waged on the consumption continued mostly Castle beer which is a very popular beverage here and any shot put before me lol.
Dancing flirting and enjoying the night unfortunately the bafana bafana (a term meaning those boys) lost but the night would live in infamy for the drunken shenanigans back at the lodge. Needless to say today is my first real day of rest since I arrive. We are going out to dinner tonight and resting for the BIG USA game tomorrow yay.
I am very excited to see Spain lose and my only hope is that they will play better and advance as the 2 seed. Why?! I have tickets to the match which features 1G and 2H later this month, a possible Brazil vs. Spain matchup wooooo.
For the South Africa match versus Uruguay I headed out with the boys (fred, josh, danny and mike) to the square. We have become regulars at a bar there called Wellington Vo, there are flat screens and tables to watch the game at. Starting the night with a jagerbomb was a sure tale sign for a night of excess. As the game waged on the consumption continued mostly Castle beer which is a very popular beverage here and any shot put before me lol.
Dancing flirting and enjoying the night unfortunately the bafana bafana (a term meaning those boys) lost but the night would live in infamy for the drunken shenanigans back at the lodge. Needless to say today is my first real day of rest since I arrive. We are going out to dinner tonight and resting for the BIG USA game tomorrow yay.
Day 7
Being in South Africa for a week now I can finally say I have adjusted to the time change associated with Jet lag. But with the long nights, absurd amounts of drinking and 4 hours of class every morning, its making for a rather strange everyday routine.
Today was a frigid one, with temperatures dropping to around 5 degrees Celsius brrrrr. Coming from the Northern Hemisphere where the months or june and july mean summer sun, I under-packed. But the days are always sunny and bright so its all good.This was a great day for futbol it is the beginning of Group G (Group of Death) play. I enjoyed the Portugal ivory coast tie in the comforts of the Varsity lodge with a few others and then ventured out to Hatfield square to watch the Brazil North Korea game.
The atmosphere in the square is so dynamic, there are fans from all over the globe most with some elaborate clothing, hat or flag to show their support. For the most part everyone I have met has been really friendly, with the friendliest being the dutch and their goofy oranje attire. The algerians are really well represented down here and in the few encounters I've had they seem a bit odd. Then there are the locals with their damn vuvuzelas, once enjoyable but now rather annoying these horns have been playing in the streets since my arrival.
The culture differences are very noticeable in the language (afrikaans) demeanor and food. The place where we are staying is really nice and is quite comparable to a nice suburb in the states. I can't wait to go visit the townships and see the inglorious but real parts of town.
Today was a frigid one, with temperatures dropping to around 5 degrees Celsius brrrrr. Coming from the Northern Hemisphere where the months or june and july mean summer sun, I under-packed. But the days are always sunny and bright so its all good.This was a great day for futbol it is the beginning of Group G (Group of Death) play. I enjoyed the Portugal ivory coast tie in the comforts of the Varsity lodge with a few others and then ventured out to Hatfield square to watch the Brazil North Korea game.
The atmosphere in the square is so dynamic, there are fans from all over the globe most with some elaborate clothing, hat or flag to show their support. For the most part everyone I have met has been really friendly, with the friendliest being the dutch and their goofy oranje attire. The algerians are really well represented down here and in the few encounters I've had they seem a bit odd. Then there are the locals with their damn vuvuzelas, once enjoyable but now rather annoying these horns have been playing in the streets since my arrival.
The culture differences are very noticeable in the language (afrikaans) demeanor and food. The place where we are staying is really nice and is quite comparable to a nice suburb in the states. I can't wait to go visit the townships and see the inglorious but real parts of town.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Day 6
Today was the first official day of classes for the trip. Our block sections run from 9 am to 11: 15 and 11:30 till 1:00. I am taking Intro to Africa and South Africa in the morning alongside a Cultural Business Management class in the later class.
The basic history of the continent, colonization and geography were covered in the morning while introducing cultural concepts in the afternoon. For each class we are assigned outside readings which act as discussion points for the class.
After class it was off to the market to pick up some groceries for the week. South Africa is very modern and there are shopping centers and stores much like in America. The country is considered a 1st world third world country. This is in part because the majority of the continents nations are third world and among these South Africa has seen the most advancement in business and politics.
One of the members of a our group is Italian so a few of us went down to Hatfield square to watch the Italy v. Paraguay game. Hatfield has become a favorite for all of us for its large screens, bars, young night life, and proximity to our lodge. We watched as the game finished in a tie and die hard fans from Holland, Argentina and Algeria danced and cheered into the night.
The basic history of the continent, colonization and geography were covered in the morning while introducing cultural concepts in the afternoon. For each class we are assigned outside readings which act as discussion points for the class.
After class it was off to the market to pick up some groceries for the week. South Africa is very modern and there are shopping centers and stores much like in America. The country is considered a 1st world third world country. This is in part because the majority of the continents nations are third world and among these South Africa has seen the most advancement in business and politics.
One of the members of a our group is Italian so a few of us went down to Hatfield square to watch the Italy v. Paraguay game. Hatfield has become a favorite for all of us for its large screens, bars, young night life, and proximity to our lodge. We watched as the game finished in a tie and die hard fans from Holland, Argentina and Algeria danced and cheered into the night.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Day 5
With last nights incredible festivities taking its emotional toll, and the meticulous destruction of our livers, we were slow to rise on the morning of June 13th. The day began for most around 1:00 p.m. I took a nice run through the college campus and Tshwane stadium nearby to sweat out some alcohol. The area is truly beautiful and fans were in the streets for the Ghana Serbia match later that day.
At 3 pm we ventured by bus to Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City Jo-burg. The area was surprisingly commercialized, not what you expect when traveling in South Africa. The mall happens to be the biggest in all of Africa and has many high end department stores. The place was full of locals and foreigners (each wearing their countries memorabilia) to watch the Ghana vs. Serbia match and the Germany vs. Australia.
After splurging on a few items for ourselves and our loved ones the group sat down to a lovely Thai meal. The restaurant was very chic and expensive, much to our dismay but what the heck.
A side note we all have been having difficulty controlling the spending of our Rand. The exchange rate for the dollar is 7.5R per 1$ amazing right!? This "Monopoly money" as some of us call it is very easy to spend, a little too easy for college kids who are used to living on a tight budget.
The meal was consumed and enjoyed as we watched the Ghana Serbia match unfold with Ghana winning it on an amazing penalty kick. To watch the second game we split into smaller groups. Fred Craig III Zac Levandov and I enjoyed it in a quiet and comfortable coffee shop while the others frequented a bar. These guys are great, I'm happy to be traveling with such quality gents. Germany killed and our trip home came shortly after.
At 3 pm we ventured by bus to Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City Jo-burg. The area was surprisingly commercialized, not what you expect when traveling in South Africa. The mall happens to be the biggest in all of Africa and has many high end department stores. The place was full of locals and foreigners (each wearing their countries memorabilia) to watch the Ghana vs. Serbia match and the Germany vs. Australia.
After splurging on a few items for ourselves and our loved ones the group sat down to a lovely Thai meal. The restaurant was very chic and expensive, much to our dismay but what the heck.
A side note we all have been having difficulty controlling the spending of our Rand. The exchange rate for the dollar is 7.5R per 1$ amazing right!? This "Monopoly money" as some of us call it is very easy to spend, a little too easy for college kids who are used to living on a tight budget.
The meal was consumed and enjoyed as we watched the Ghana Serbia match unfold with Ghana winning it on an amazing penalty kick. To watch the second game we split into smaller groups. Fred Craig III Zac Levandov and I enjoyed it in a quiet and comfortable coffee shop while the others frequented a bar. These guys are great, I'm happy to be traveling with such quality gents. Germany killed and our trip home came shortly after.
Day 4 (USA vs ENGLAND)
Thus far the most exciting day was among us young American students, USA vs. ENGLAND was finally here. The excitement was surmounting during our morning classes, each person wearing their red white and blue was mentally preparing for the duel later that evening. The match was held in Rustenburg a solid 2 hour drive from our residence. And due to some drunken mishaps of one of my favorite people there was no drinking allowed.
Arriving in Rustenburg, there seemed to only be one bar and it was chalked full of English fans. Nonetheless we swallowed our pride and entered the venue. The first sign of the difference in football culture came when our group, waving American flags and yelling U—S— A chants, walked into an all English bar before the game. A slew of songs about football and the Queen of England seemed like a foreign language to us. Of course, our comments and chants about Landon Donovan and the red, white and blue were met with looks of confusion by the British. However, by the end our time at the bar, after some friendly conversations and banter, respect was granted by the fans of the football giant, England.
A side note the bar was completely out of draft beer after the shindig and the owner admitted to never serving so many people all in one day.
Liquored up and ready to cheer we headed to the beautiful stadium and took our seats. The 46,000 seats were full of red white and blue compassionate fans but I must say that there were far more English fans than Americans.
When U.S. striker / midfielder Clint Dempsey, loved more by the English than the U.S. for his spectacular play for the English club Everton, equalized the score near the end of the first half, many of us stood and screamed, “We’re here!!!!!” And indeed, in one of the biggest games in U.S. soccer history, the U.S. had risen to the occasion at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The whistle sounded and a 1-1 draw went into the books, the English fans, hoping to trash the Americans on the football field, were stunned with blank faces. Meanwhile, U.S. fans, cheering constantly and hoping not to get slashed by a very talented English team, smiled with joy at the 1 point result.
Afterwards, U.S. fans met with fellow U.S. fans at the stadiums entrance and danced in a circle to the tuned chant of “Zombie Nation.” English fans, no longer enthusiastic about giving the U.S. some well-deserved respect, scoffed but we continued dancing because we knew our feisty crew had battled the faces of the greatest sport in the world to a wash.
What a day
Arriving in Rustenburg, there seemed to only be one bar and it was chalked full of English fans. Nonetheless we swallowed our pride and entered the venue. The first sign of the difference in football culture came when our group, waving American flags and yelling U—S— A chants, walked into an all English bar before the game. A slew of songs about football and the Queen of England seemed like a foreign language to us. Of course, our comments and chants about Landon Donovan and the red, white and blue were met with looks of confusion by the British. However, by the end our time at the bar, after some friendly conversations and banter, respect was granted by the fans of the football giant, England.
A side note the bar was completely out of draft beer after the shindig and the owner admitted to never serving so many people all in one day.
Liquored up and ready to cheer we headed to the beautiful stadium and took our seats. The 46,000 seats were full of red white and blue compassionate fans but I must say that there were far more English fans than Americans.
When U.S. striker / midfielder Clint Dempsey, loved more by the English than the U.S. for his spectacular play for the English club Everton, equalized the score near the end of the first half, many of us stood and screamed, “We’re here!!!!!” And indeed, in one of the biggest games in U.S. soccer history, the U.S. had risen to the occasion at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The whistle sounded and a 1-1 draw went into the books, the English fans, hoping to trash the Americans on the football field, were stunned with blank faces. Meanwhile, U.S. fans, cheering constantly and hoping not to get slashed by a very talented English team, smiled with joy at the 1 point result.
Afterwards, U.S. fans met with fellow U.S. fans at the stadiums entrance and danced in a circle to the tuned chant of “Zombie Nation.” English fans, no longer enthusiastic about giving the U.S. some well-deserved respect, scoffed but we continued dancing because we knew our feisty crew had battled the faces of the greatest sport in the world to a wash.
What a day
Friday, June 11, 2010
Day 3
Last night we took a trip to the FIFA World Cup Kick Off Concert hosted by FIFA at the Orlando Stadium in Sowetto about an hour from Pretoria and Johannesburg. By the time we got off the bus staggering a little we saw artists Shakira, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Black Eyed Peas, and many African favorites as well as the anthems of the FIFA World Cup. This truly set the tone for the next month to come. This concert was absolutely insane. Fireworks and all that jazz.
The nation of South Africa has done a very good job welcoming tons of different nations around the world to their country. Furthermore, South Africa is in a frenzy right now as it's the first time the continent of Africa has ever hosted a World Cup, its purely an historic event. The streets are flooded and all your hear is chants screaming "Bafana, Bafana," South Africa's chant for their team meaning, "The boys, the boys" and everyone is Vuvuzelas(blowing horns) and waiving flags. This is certainly one of the best things that has happened to the country of South Africa.
Today it is off to the Fifa fan park for the opening ceremony and the opening match South Africa vs. Mexico!
The nation of South Africa has done a very good job welcoming tons of different nations around the world to their country. Furthermore, South Africa is in a frenzy right now as it's the first time the continent of Africa has ever hosted a World Cup, its purely an historic event. The streets are flooded and all your hear is chants screaming "Bafana, Bafana," South Africa's chant for their team meaning, "The boys, the boys" and everyone is Vuvuzelas(blowing horns) and waiving flags. This is certainly one of the best things that has happened to the country of South Africa.
Today it is off to the Fifa fan park for the opening ceremony and the opening match South Africa vs. Mexico!
Day 2
Today was marked with adventure, I went with Carl out to north eastern Pretoria to see the cradle of humankind. The exhibit featured a museum showing the amazing discoveries made in South Africa most notably the discovery of Mrs. Ples a 2.15 million distant relative of us humans. We also explored the limestone caves where miners excavated during the 20th century.
The day finished with a long drive to my hotel in Pretoria.This villa has about 5 bedrooms with 4 people in each room, a community kitchen, living area, and general public area with storage, washer and dryer, and balconies over seeing the beautiful city of Pretoria, only a 4 block walk to the stadium. We have a bus reserved 24 hours a day with a driver who stays in the villa with us, a personal security guard, and personal maids. I have a met everyone in the program and they seem very cool, this should be a fun trip!
The day finished with a long drive to my hotel in Pretoria.This villa has about 5 bedrooms with 4 people in each room, a community kitchen, living area, and general public area with storage, washer and dryer, and balconies over seeing the beautiful city of Pretoria, only a 4 block walk to the stadium. We have a bus reserved 24 hours a day with a driver who stays in the villa with us, a personal security guard, and personal maids. I have a met everyone in the program and they seem very cool, this should be a fun trip!
Arrival
I arrived in Johannesburg and was met by carl at the airport.
Walking through the terminals it was evident the amount of work and
promotion behind this years world cup. South Africans are very fired up to be hosting the event. New roads and international
flags alongside the highways were two noticeable changes according to
Carl. We drove to his home in Southwestern Pretoria and ventured
through their large private reserve. They collectively own 8 zebras,
blessbok's impalas and the national animal the springbok. They treated me to a traditional South African Braai (Barbeque) for dinner where we grilled assortments of red meat, biltong and finished with South African deserts and a glass of red wine from Durban. A great start to my trip.
Walking through the terminals it was evident the amount of work and
promotion behind this years world cup. South Africans are very fired up to be hosting the event. New roads and international
flags alongside the highways were two noticeable changes according to
Carl. We drove to his home in Southwestern Pretoria and ventured
through their large private reserve. They collectively own 8 zebras,
blessbok's impalas and the national animal the springbok. They treated me to a traditional South African Braai (Barbeque) for dinner where we grilled assortments of red meat, biltong and finished with South African deserts and a glass of red wine from Durban. A great start to my trip.
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