I decided, when I moved at the beginning of June, that I would not blog... since this isn't really trip, it's just my new life in NYC. Everyday life isn't really exciting enough for me to blog about, especially now (with the CPA exams coming up). But since I've been up here, many have asked when I would start blogging.... I kept saying that I wouldn't, until today.... Why today? Because I've spent the past two days sick to my stomach in nerves, because I teared up on the subway on my way to Chinatown, and because I raced through crowds all over the city today in search for a flag and a sky blue jersey. No.... I'm not crazy... at least not crazier than before. It's just that today Uruguay plays England in the world cup... and... my sister is at the stadium to watch it.
Many of you probably will stop reading right now, since you couldn't care less about soccer or the world cup, but for those who won't stop, let me try to share my rationalization for my madness these past few days. Excuse my rambling, but as I get ready to go watch the game, I want to capture what I'm feeling right now. The next post will be a recap of my experience.
Uruguay... oh Uruguay. 3.5 million people... It's not a patriotic country, and I would go as far as to say that it isn't a very proud country. But I am very proud of it. 4 years ago, I sat with around 30 of our friends in Oxford, Mississippi... screaming, crying, complaining loudly as Uruguay shocked us all and placed 4th in the world cup. We just expected them to win one game. All I really wanted was for people to recognize "Uruguay," when I said where I was from... I just wanted Uruguay to have a name for itself amongst people that are otherwise not geographically conscious. After the world cup, I found that this was exactly the effect that La Celeste had... I attended countless leadership conferences around the country for accounting, and everywhere I would introduce myself and when Uruguay was mentioned they would mention either Forlan or Suarez's handball. To be honest, it was the most wonderful feeling, to know that people knew a little bit about where I came from.... It might sound dumb, but after being gone for so many years, it's nice to find any sort of connection that takes you back.
Since the world cup, Uruguay has been all over the news. Legalizing marijuana, legalizing gay marriage, having a president that donates his salary, accepting released prisoners from Guantanamo, and much more. Every time we are in the news a friend sends me an article. It's amazing, both because there is an article and because my friends continue to think of me when they see anything about Uruguay. Sooooo... why care today? why lose sleep? why continually tear up with nerves?
Well, the most obvious reasons:
- Maia is at the game and I know it would mean the world to her to see a good match and a happy crowd and a triumphant Celeste!
- It is finally Suarez's time. He has been hated, booed, and hated some more. As a kid, he fought to become good enough to play in Uruguay so he could chase the girl of his dreams to Spain. He succeeded, they are married, and they have two kids. He has continually proven himself by becoming the highest scorer in the European leagues (even though he was suspended for a LOT of his games). This was his shot to become the star... and then... he had knee surgery. No one thought he would play.. and he watched with tears in his eyes as Uruguay fell to Costa Rica. Today... he will play. Today, he will get to play for the first time since surgery. I want him to have his time to shine.... but I'm scared he'll get hurt. I'm nervous it's not worth risking his knee... I'm scared he'll be disappointed... when really this was his year!
- I worry the team will be crushed. They have been such a shining example of charity for Uruguay, that I want them to get something back. They have led by example and dedicated much of their time as a team to helping others. These are not guys that came from fancy challenge teams and played the big bucks for the best coaches. These are guys who got here from nothing. They grew up in no name towns in a tiny country. They had nothing and they worked soooo hard to get here. I'm not saying other countries and other players didn't... but this is my home and I've seen many struggle there... working hard and never getting recognized. So I want them to... I want them to get their time together and enjoy as a team.
- Most importantly, I know that there are over 3 million people suffering with me. Worrying about how their children will feel if we lose, trying to keep the hopes up... At this point, I'm sure the majority of you are thinking that I've completely lost my mind... after all it's just a soccer game, right?!? Well... for Uruguay, it's a time to unite together and root for the same things. In a country that is divided by socioeconomic conditions, by local soccer teams, by politics, and much more... it's nice to unite and fight to cheer as a whole. There's no baseball or hockey or anything else to distract anyone. EVERYONE will be watching. EVERYONE will be hoping. And I don't want these people to lose their smiles and fall back into the pessimistic views we had before the last world cup. WE. I don't want Uruguay to stop feeling like a unified WE.
Now I have other reasons that might make even less sense to you guys... Especially if you're from the states. Patriotism is natural here and runs rampant. But it's not like that in Uruguay. And I didn't grow up with that... so it's hard for me to explain why I'm so proud of my little country, especially to people who only think of it as this 3rd world country in the middle of nowhere. The truth is... that this little country is the reason I'm alive and the reason my mom's alive. If it weren't for this little country... my grandmother's family would have probably been killed by the Nazis. So it seems silly that I struggle to put into words why I love it so much. The world cup gives me a reason to share my love for the country that saved my family with friends that are removed from that part of my life.
My family is soooo lucky to have the most incredible friends all around the world. And during these games I feel them incredibly close, because they all reach out to send their well wishes. No matter their nationalities, no matter their loyalties. Soccer brings us together. At my house today, there will be americans, Germans, Venezuelans, Portuguese, Brazilians, Spanish, and who knows what else... all coming together with mom and dad to root for Uruguay. Maia... in the middle of the stadium found a friend of dad's from Uruguay. He approached her and said, "remember me?." Me in the middle of New York city will head to Queens to watch in the Uruguayan bar, accompanied by two of my best friends (Americans). We have friends wishing us luck from Germany, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, you name it.... It doesn't matter today. They are friends, and they know that it matters to us. And that is what la Celeste does in my life... It brings me closer to people that are so far and so near. It makes me realize how lucky I am... Win or lose, I will have friends that would have never watched a soccer game before, watch nervously and text me constantly. They care... for 90 minutes, they care about my little country as if it were their own. And for that... I am so grateful. That is what makes me tear up... It's the realization of what 11 people with a soccer ball can do for people's lives... So today, as I sit nervously on the subway to Queens... I'm grateful for La Celeste and I'm nervous because I want them to have the happiness that they bring me. Win or lose, I'm so proud of our little country.
I know you want to be a CPA- but I think you'd make it writing a book, I'm glad your blogging again. Go Uruguay!
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