FIFA 2009 Egypt 4 - Italy 2

Soccer!

Had a great time at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup Soccer match last night, Thursday October 1, 2009 under an almost full moon. Where to start?

The four Fifth Grade boys came with us and they are so adorable, smart, personable, . . . and full of beans!! All the other teachers are jealous as they should be . . After meeting at a Kentucky Fried Chicken (of all places!) in Ma'adi we got into the 15 passenger bus and were off. Traffic was thick but we eventually arrived at the stadium and parked - the parking was only half full when we arrived and there were no lines at the gates. Of course, the men go in one line to have their bags checked and the women go in the other line to have theirs checked by a woman. We have to wait as they need to find a female guard to check ours. When we say no problem (mafeesh mish mishkayla) they still refuse. So we wait. Good thing, as we realize that we are at the wrong gate. The kids have already gone through -darn! - we suck at chaperoning. Seems like we should get them back with us, but the turnstyles only turn one way so we send some adults through and they get some guards to escort them from one side of the entrance way to the other (through four wraught-iron gates). Whew! We are all together again, we WON'T get fired!

The stadium is BIG and of course there is a frieze/decoration along the top of all the ancient pharonic sites. But a stadium is a stadium and I feel very much at home. Everyone is pleasant and smiling. There is no alchohol so there is no drunken mis-behavior either - nice! But I would LOVE a cold one - oh well.

There are so MANY children here. Mind you we arrive at 7:00 in order to get good seats - about 20 rows above the 30 yard line! The seats are sold by section only so first come first served. A son of one of my co-workers has taken us under his wings, ordered our tickets, spoke to the driver constantly on the phone to get us to the correct gate, helps us find out seats, and later even treats myself and the kids to sodas and chips etc.. This is all very Egyptian - he is so nice! To us adults and especially to the children. But, back to the children at the stadium - the Egypt vs. italy game STARTS at 9:30 pm and there are plenty of little kids - toddlers etc.. Everyone - I mean everyone helps the children. As they go up and down the stairs and get their seats complete strangers automatically give a hand or advice as children walk by and need direction. I observe this all night and actually, everywhere I go in Egypt. What I am trying to say is that everyone is well behaved. (Except later I find out some guys in back of us were swearing all night and the boys asked an Egyptian teacher if we should ask the men to stop swearing but they were told to leave it alone. I think I would have asked if I had known.) Actually the boys feel very free to speak with any and all adults in front of them. At first I feel like they are too bold and I have the urge to tell them not to talk with strangers. For instance, they tell the first two groups of men that sit in front of them that they are too tall and that the boys cannot see (all unbeknownst to me since it is in Arabic). So . . . they move to other seats!! yeah, THAT would happen at Foxboro! Finally, as the stadium fills, and there is little option to have the people in front of us move their seats, a group of older men sit down and do not move. OK, we allow the boys to stand.

The game is awesome. First we see Nigeria beat poor Tahiti 4 zip. Fancy footwork to be seen! Then we see Egypt beat Italy 4-2. Some questionable calls but really a clean game - only one? yellow card I think? I am so glad that I have brought binoculars even though we have awesome seats! (VERY handsome boys playing). So interesting to see all the facial expressions and SWEAT! on the players/ref/and the very enthusiastc fans. The Egyptian star is Afroto # 11 and is 18? I think. The second best player is # 9 but I forget his name. Afroto is talented but completely shut down by Italy. Two players score two goals each VERY exciting. One scores in less than a minute after replacing Afroto - his name is Bogy and scores off a tussle in front of the goal - makes it look easy.

Any Italy throw-in or penalty shot near the Egypt goal causes a strange, painful, and amazing crowd effect. All 65, 000 fans whistle (two fingers in the mouth whistle) loudly. It is PAINful!! Awesome. Seems to work as none were successful and the Italians were talented at getting a good amount of them. Overall the chanting, drumming, singing by the crowd is amazing. Of course, when they sing the national anthem EVERYone sings loudly and boisterously. Lots of pride to be had. And we have lots of fun doing the wave! In the middle of one of the cheers one of the American teachers and I look at each other and simultaneously realize that Inshallah! is in the middle of the cheer! Inshallah means "God willing". We laugh at the strangeness!

There is very little in the way of concessions. There are a couple of items being sold but there is no yelling such as "Get your hot dog heah!". Actually, I knew I was not in Kansas any more when I saw a tray of tea cups! going by! So, when they want to get your attention they make a kissing noise like you would make talking with a bird!! As unlikely as that seems to be able to work it does! And the guys think nothing of walking THROUGH a row! pardon me, pardon me, pardon me, pardon me . . . . all the way down! hmmmm.

Going to the snack stand was interesting. Four deep with people all holding money out and asking for one of the 8 items sold. And sweaty guys on the other side going as fast as they can handing out water (bottle caps removed for safety), soda, snacks etc. I take two of the boys to get snacks and all of a sudden I realize I am the only female there!! Go for it little M. I will wait here. He does and even though he is shorter than the counter he makes it back with the snack. While I stand nearby waiting for him one man goes by and says "take care, it is VERY BIG in there!" Warning me away from the large throng. I smile in acknowledgement! Oh yeah, I'm not going in there - I am right there with ya - buddy. Later, after the game is over I bump into this same man. He says, "OK?" and I nod yes. Who needs to speak the language??

So, of course, there is a guy dressed up as King Tut or Rhamses or someone. Once I teach the Social Studies class I will know. He has a trumpet and a kid playing a drum. I get some video of him and also ask to have a photo with him!! He asks if I am here for Egypt or Italy!! Yikes! Where is my Egyptian flag when I need it?? He's happy to hear I am all for Egypt!

We have a great time on the ride home. People are waving flags out their windows and beeping and in general being crazier than usual. I see a car next to our van with two woman in Hajabbs in the front seats. I usually do not make eye contact with these women> Of course, the boys are yelling Misr! (Egypt!) out the window and I am just about to tell them not to do so (Out of fear of some sort of negative interaction) when the women all of a sudden smile and wave and beep and totally connect with us. Their two teen aged kids sitting in the back seat climb out and sit on the window openings while holding onto the roof and waving their flags. It all sees a little risky but tame enough for me in the stop-and-go parking lot traffic. We are all so surprised and happy to make this connection with these women! We did not expect that they would continue to pull up beside us for the next 20 minutes or so as we travel along home. This includes driving on the highway at - 50?60? miles per hour? with the kids STILL sitting OUTside the car!! yeah, Egypt!

We get home late after dropping everyone off first. I give our driver and co-pilot a pack of Malborros each! Shokran!!