Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

September 9, 2007

Day 5:

This is me with a balloon before the U.S. v. Brazil soccer game at Ruby Tuesdays (sometimes I need a taste of home…even if it’s over-processed almost fast food). I was smiling because I just knew my team was going to win. We didn’t. We lost 4-2, but for some reason I’m not sad. Futbol (soccer), is one of my top three passions in life. It ranks right up there with my husband and photography…actually probably surpassing them both (kidding, mi amor!). Nothing gets me more riled up than when the U.S. plays a high quality futbol match (although the Chilean team is quite likely to light a fire under my butt as well).

Today nobody expected the U.S. to win (except for me, because I’m always down with false hope!) but we played a spectacular game. The U.S. actually was the first one to put the ball in the back of the net and I couldn’t believe it! They scored off of a corner kick and I went nuts! Jumping up and down and screaming like a mad woman, you would’ve thought I’d just discovered that somebody built a pool filled with chocolate pudding in my backyard. I’m pretty sure I scared our roommates too, they still haven’t come out of their room.

Anyways, Brazil was pretty quick to even the score and then go ahead, but the U.S. team never stopped playing to win. In a game against one of the greatest teams in the history of the sport, when you are playing against a player who is currently ranked #1 in the world (Kaka) and a player who has quite possibly the most amazing Nike commercial ever made and is also a two time FIFA player of the year (Ronaldinho), it’s easy to focus way too much on defense and just sit back and let them bombard you. The U.S. really made me proud the way they didn’t let themselves be intimidated.

I love when the U.S. plays well because it gives me a reason to talk and brag about my country. With the Bush government I’ve had more than enough reasons to pretend I’m from Canada. Futbol is a language Chileans understand and respect. When I tell them, we scored first on Brazil, that is something I know they will tip their hats to and I love that. If I say I’m so sad that we lost and that if it weren’t for a few calls that didn’t go our way we could have managed a tie or even a win, they’ll have a whole lot more sympathy for my country than if I tell them I’m sad that U.S. soldiers are being killed in Iraq.

And even if nobody is sympathetic you can still find a common ground by making fun of the Brazilian’s playing names. Kaka is pronounced like kah-kah (Spanish word for sh**) and they have another guy named Elano which is pronounced, El Ah-no (Spanish for the anus). Seriously, they make it too easy.

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7 Comments

I was in Mexico for the world cup 2002. There was a game with the u.s and Mexico and so Edgard and I decided that if Mexico made a goal he would have a shot of tequila and if the U.S. made a goal then I would have a shot. He had two shots for two goals and I had a celebratory shot after the U.S. kicked a—-well you know what. Great memories.

Comment by Rachel — September 10, 2007 @ 11:12 am

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>>>pretend I’m from Canada.

That’s bullshit. I went to West Bank territories, refugee camps in Palestine and told everybody I was from the United States. Fuck Canada. Be proud of where you’re from.

I hope to God you never told a Chilean you’re from Canada out of fear, that’d be so silly if the worst that happened was an angry cab driver asked “America, WTF?” yelled for 3 minutes then let us talk and explain ourselves. And if you’re worried about being kidnapped, I’d say play it super-safe and tell people you’re from South Korea.

Anyway, you’d have screwed yourself by saying Canada here because now, thanks to this global, unifying, pacifying force called “soccer” (no! Football!), Canadian police have proven themselves next-to-genocidal.

>>>Kaka is pronounced like kah-kah (Spanish word for sh**)

That’s racist why can you write “shit” in Spanish but not in English?

Comment by Chileno — September 10, 2007 @ 5:24 pm

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Jeez Chileno don’t get your panties in a bunch. I haven’t ever told anybody I’m from Canada, it was a joke…and even if I do want to go around saying I’m Canadian I don’t have to answer to you for it.

And yes, of course I’m extremely racist. You should know that by now.

What do you want me to do, bleep out his name?

Comment by mamacita chilena — September 10, 2007 @ 8:28 pm

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Never said you were racist just that the use of profanity in Spanish and avoidance of it in English could imply that those who speak that foreign language are less worthy of the respectfulness implied by not using profanity, because it’s just Spanish.

Your case is actually borderline because you never wrote “caca” but rather the pronunciation so that English speakers could get the joke. I’ll let you off with a warning.

TBH, what most hurt my feelings was that “shit” got the short end of the stick, halfway crossed out what’d that word ever do to you!

Comment by Chileno — September 10, 2007 @ 9:34 pm

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I wrote a player’s name and the pronounciation in Spanish. In English I just crossed out two letters.

People know what it means in both languages even though I didn’t specifically swear in either.

The word has actually been quite good to me but I must protect my readers’ delicate ears

Comment by mamacita chilena — September 10, 2007 @ 9:41 pm

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Hey Mr. perfect Chile, like we say in Mexico City “ya le cayo caca a el pastel”
A word of advice: you should keep your annoying self out of these blogs. You have to listen to yourself to understand that you don’t make sense.

Comment by edgard — September 10, 2007 @ 10:43 pm

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>>>You have to listen to yourself to understand that you don’t make sense.

Boy, if that isn’t the epitome of articulateness. What, may I ask you, doesn’t make sense about what I write? I’m willing to accept that I’m not clear, and more than willing to explain to you any little thing you please. But I would expect a little extra measure of clarity from someone so intent to achieve it as you appear to be.

Take a cue from my friend Kyle, she defended herself quite artfully because she addressed my arguments. Let me ask you something: in Mexico city is it okay for a woman to be smarter than a man?

Edgard, your worthless drivel amounts to nothing but mindless sloganizing. I would say “listen to yourself” but I’m only miffed, not angry: I wouldn’t wish you the real torture that introspection would ring out of you.

>>>out of these blogs

Again, clear as a bell. What are you referring to?

Comment by Chileno — September 11, 2007 @ 2:15 am

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