MY FIRST SOCCER GAME
Of all the the things I’ve done in life, and of all the experiences I have had in my almost 30 years on this planet, I have never in my life attended a professional soccer game. Been on a soccer team (in grade 3) and gone to practice, sure. I’ve even been to see my friend’s brother play in his peewee league once or twice. I’ve seen soccer on tv, but don’t think I’ve ever watched a whole game. But I have never attended pro game. This is somehow weird to me.
So, in the interest of try everything in life at least once and expanding the breadth of life experiences and yadda yadda yadda, I jumped at the opportunity to go see a soccer game in Guatemala City a couple of nights ago. In a “field trip” organized by my Spanish school, we were to go as a group to the game in scary Guate City (I say scary because the city has quite a bad reputation for violence and I have been advised in low, hushed voices to not go there by myself). The price of the field trip was pretty steep- 200 quetzales, which is about $25 USD- for someone (me) who is currently unemployed and has not more than a fleeting interest in fútbol, but I threw caution to the wind and said what the heck and ponied up the cash for my ticket, because hey! I’m in Guatemala, and you only live one, and ¿por que no?.
Hence, I went, and enjoyed myself once there, but there were a few events that took place before the game that made me think that I should have just stayed home:
#1: I WAS WAYYY TOO EXHAUSTED. If you read my last post, you’ll know that I ran a great deal (12 kilometres!) in the morning before hopping in the minivan at 4pm to go to the game in Guatemala City. 14 (!) of us piled into the minivan that can probably only comfortably seat 11. There was no room to relax. There was too much talking and exitement to try to sleep.
#2: THE TRAFFIC. Guatemala City is a 45 minute ride on the highway from Antigua when there is no traffic. Because it was rush hour, I expected it to take a bit longer, but no longer than 2 hours. IT TOOK US 3.5 HOURS. WITH 14 PEOPLE IN A CRAMPED MINIVAN. It was not fun. If I had known it would have taken so long to get there, I probably never would have gone because I always feel car sick in moving vehicles, particularly when the ride is bumpy, hot, cramped, and involves the ridiculous amount of starting and stopping that is typically characteristic of being stuck in a traffic jam. Which brings me to:
#3: THE NAUSEA INDUCING RIDE AND EVENTS TAKING PLACE DURING THE RIDE. I usually feel car-sick (nauseous, dizzy, and headache-y) but never in life have actually thrown up from car-sickness (though I always make sure to walk with a plastic bag just in case). Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for another girl in the car. When we got in and she, another guy, and myself got stuck in a row in the back, she only complained of a headache. I was nursing one of my own so I commiserated with her and told her I wasn’t feeling so hot either. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep a bit; next thing I know, she’s barfing into a plastic bag that has a hole in the bottom. Lovely. I felt terrible for her, I really did, but almost secretely glad that it wasn’t me. Does that make me a bad person? I guess I got my punishment because the contents of her stomach that leaked out of the bag actually was all over the ground near my feet- and of course nobody had napkins to clean it up, yuck!- so I had to keep my legs hoisted up for the remaining 2.5 hours in the car. As I am grossed out by vomit I really don’t know how I made it through the ride!! Of course, she moved up to the front seat so she could get more air and left us in the back to deal with her upchuck. *shudder* Is anybody else grossed out by vomit? I think I have a slight phobia of it, whether it be my own or somebody else’s. Anybody else out there afflicted by motion sickness?
#4 THE GIANT RIP-OFF: Okay, so I understand that my Spanish school had to organize the trip and everything so they are entitled to charge us a bit more to go than what the ticket actually costs, but I still am feeling ripped off. Why? Us students paid 200 quetazles ($25 USD) for the excursion. I figured that we were paying a bit for transportation and whatnot, but imagine my shock when we got to the stadium and I realized that the actually ticket for the game only cost 10, yes TEN quetzales (not even $2 USD)!!! Not cool.
Anyway, once we actually got there, we had a great time. The ambiance was great, the fans crazy, the air crisp and nearly cold. The Guatemalan team, the Cremas, won, and I had a great time listening to people cheer and curse loudly in Spanish and learned a whole bunch of new Spanish swear words. Which are probably most important words in any language. Yes, it was a pretty darn good time overall.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I don't think there's anything wrong with asking to switch instructors – you came to get an effective learning experience, not to do charity work
Maybe her asking about money is a cultural thing? It certainly is here in Korea – people ask about each other's spending habits all the time and don't blink an eye. When I got a payraise, my boss even announced the exact amount to the office and OPENLY CONGRATULATED ME. It was only mildly mortifying….
Don't feel bad for switching instructors. You paid your money and you have an expectation and besides you are a teacher yourself!! You know what to expect.
I too believe asking about money is a cultural thing, but also it is a way of "sizing you up." When I was in Panama certain people would ask me that all the time, and those were the ones who, in the end, asked me to borrow money.
I am glad you went to the soccer match and enjoyed it. I love soccer.
Cuidate, chica.
soccer and I are just on different angles. I just cannot seat through to watch the game.
I want to learn Spanish too, guess I would have to move to a Spanish speaking country to understand the language better.
Do not feel bad about switching instructors, you have to get the value for your money.
*raises hand when it comes to motion sickness*
I definitely have it and I hate it!! Motion sickness can really ruin a great time. Last year me and my best friend were flying back from Miami when we had some MAJOR turbulence. The plane kept going up and down and my stomach was churning and everything!! *ugggh* I'm proud to say that my motion sickness has never caused me to vomit, but it always leaves me with a bad headache and an achy stomach.
I now carry a bottle of motion sickness pills where ever I go.
@Naomi: That's really interesting about Korea- I never had that happen in HK! I would think that that sort of thing would create tension in the workplace between those getting paid a lot and those getting paid only a little, no?
@kvowels: I guess I feel bad because I know that at the end of the day she really needs the money! But you're right that I should have an expectation as to the learning environment. And yes, I feel like asking/knowing how much money someone has sets them up to be lenders of money! So awkward…
@'Lara: I'm far from a soccer fan but it is probably the only sport I find mildly entertaining to watch, lol. Which sports do you prefer?
@ButterflyKisses: Ooh! Which ones do you take? Please tell! I am allergic to Gravol and Dramamine so basically considered myself doomed to never be able to take motion sickness pills. Please share!
Vomit totally grosses me out – although mostly the idea of vomiting is what I am not a fan of! Eww, but having someone else's throw up on my feet, yeah that wouldn't have made me a happy girl.
And I totally would have switched to. If you told her what you needed and then she still didn't step up her game, then it's TOTALLY fair to switch. The only thing I can think of for her asking how much things cost was to let you practice saying numbers?
Oh no! That super sucks!! I take dramamine because it works best for me. I do know that ginger works really well for dizziness and motion sickness. When I'm on long a flight, I make sure to ask (demand) a can of ginger ale from the steward. There is also the motion sickness patch that you place behind your ears. Have you ever tried that before?
@Deidre: I am paralyzed with fear at the thought of upchucking, too! Liebling actually thinks I kind of have a mental OCD thing about it. I looked it up online and it's a legit phobia called emetophobia. Crazy, eh? About the teacher, you're sooo right. But I just feel bad because I know she needs the money.. argh..
@ButterflyKisses: I find that ginger ale and coke really help to settle my stomach, but have never tried the patch! Do I need a prescription? Will look into it!
Nope! No prescription is needed!! I know they give them out on cruise ships and I'm pretty sure I've seen them at the corner drugstore. They should be right next to the other motion sickness remedies. I hope they help!!
@Butterfly Kisses: YAY!!! Thanks for the info!
Might be past due, or so blindingly obvious as to be insulting, but if your former teacher calls you on on switching you could always cop out. You're a language instructor so it's only natural that you would like to see different styles of language instruction. Nothing personal. No comment of her methodology. Nothing to do with her prodding about money.
As for football. Never been. Last Boxing Day I was threatened with a match in Leeds, in the snow, but when it was revealed that my interest would primarily be a sociological one the father of my friend thought it was perhaps too expensive for my mucking about.
I walked around the suburbs of Leeds instead and talked to cows. Perfect for me.