Jumping on the Band Wagon!

So many people in Blogland have posted literary offerings detailing the pros and cons of the soccer world cup and the emerging phenomenon of pseudo-soccer know it alls.  As a result of a phone call I received on Friday night, I finally can throw my opinion into the... ahem, kitty.

 

A few years ago Flyboy and I met a German couple at a flying establishment in Namibia and we have since become firm friends.  Earlier this year they escaped the German winter and came and stayed with us for 10 days.  During this time we heard about how they were dreading the impending soccer world cup, just the usual concerns that locals have when there is the promise of large numbers of foreigners invading their shores.

 

However, the person who phoned me on Friday night was a far cry from the soccer fearing person who visited us in February.  I was treated to the sound of a very proud, excited German lady who, apart from the breakdown on how all the different teams were doing, oozed something that I hadn't heard in her voice before.  National pride!

 

On the occasions when they have visited us many hours have been spent discussing Germany, the politics and the post WWII guilt.  It seems that the soccer world cup has turned Germany around.  I was telephonically regaled with stories about how Germans are flying their flag proudly, how each car looks like a component of a presidential motorcade because they are all adorned with tiny flapping flags, how people are hanging the German flag out of the windows of their houses and having parties on the street with the flag featuring at a prominent guest.

 

It's hard to describe what I felt when I heard this new element in her voice, maybe I am just sentimental but it kind of brought a tear to my eye.  Maybe it's because I can identify with the way she is feeling.  Kinda like the day Francois Pienaar raised the Webb Ellis trophy above his head shortly after our first democratic election.

 

Prost Deutschland!