Super Bowl Saturday?
So, unfortunately for my regular viewers, I will not be able to pass along any tales of exciting locales in this entry. You see, I have spent this weekend not cruising the German countryside in a bullet train, but instead taking naps and drinking orange juice by the liter. That's right, I've been battling a cold; and oh, what fun it has been. And while I am a little bummed that I've had to miss out on a trip to Köln and Trier, I must say that the weekend has not been a total loss. I've had an opportunity to walk around Hobuch (the neighborhood of Reutlingen where the Hochschule is located) and just see the sights that are a bit closer to home. I also ran into another American who mistook me for a German...that was pretty cool actually. He was coming into my building at the same time as me and I held the door open for him. He said "Danke" with a clearly American accent. I replied with "Bitte" in my own American accent. Then, on the elevator ride, I asked him--in English--where he was from. With some surprise, he answered "Los Angeles". After telling him I was from Ohio, he replied with, "Oh, wow...I thought you were from here in Germany." So, how about that! Chalk one up for blending in--at least in the eyes of other Americans.The high point of the weekend, however, happened this evening when I wandered down to the kitchen on my floor to make some dinner. It was going to be a sandwich and salad night for me, mostly because I didn't feel like cooking any more than that! I entered the kitchen (which also serves as the floor lounge) in time to hear the French National Anthem sound from the television set. Thomas, one of the guys who lives on the floor, was watching a match from the World Cup of Handball (called "Team Handball" in the U.S.) The world cup is taking place right now in Germany and the match that was on tonight was a group-play match between France and the host country. I asked Thomas, who is a French native but has been studyin here in Reutlingen for the past three years, which team he would be supporting. He told me that he liked to root for Germany, because they had a such a good goalkeeper. But, with a smile, he said that when France was playing he had to root for France. They came before all others. This made me a bit reminiscent of my own allegiances during, say, March Madness for example. While I enjoy seeing my own alma matter succeed--my true loyalty will always be draped in Scarlet and Grey. So Thomas and I watched this handball match. And I began to learn from him (a handballer since age 9) all of the ins and outs of the sport. And I must say--Americans would love handball. It has the pace of basketball and the physicality of hockey along with scoring that can drift into the neighborhood of football. Not a bad mix!
The fun really began, though, in the 22nd minute of the match. This was when five more people showed up with snacks to join us and watch the match. Unlike my earlier experience in the elevator, my lack of German betrayed my nationality quite quickly to these new folks. And while I may not have been always in the conversation, I was still a part of the event. And, when it was all said and done, the Germans were able to defend their home court with a 29-26 victory. But for Thomas, at least, there was some consolation--the French were down 14-9 at halftime, and were giving up too many easy goals early (according to him...I couldn't really tell which goals were easy and which were more well-earned.)
And now, as I reflect upon how this weekend--one that had the potential to be a "throw away and forget it weekend"--has gone so far, I must say that I continue to have an absolutely amazing experience. I just spent my evening eating junk food with a group of folks who took me in, even if I had to apologize every time a question came my way in German. And we cheered at goals and booed at bad calls (I kind of followed the crowd on this one...I still don't understand the fouls in handball.) And we did it together. And all of it--the people, the food, the sport--all on a winter evening gathered around a television set, seemed to bring me home. Sure, the Super Bowl is next weekend back in the U.S., but as for me...I've already had the experience. And it was just as fun here as it is back home.
Ok...maybe I still miss the ads...
Peace.
posted by John D. Nevergall @ 15:20
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