the [american] football experience.
The SuperBowl is a big thing back home (duhhhh), in fact, American football is a big thing in general; it's like Europe's rugby or actual football obsession. We are obsessed with our football, and basketball at that.
So, the SuperBowl came around about a week ago, and I wanted to watch it - not that I've been following football this year, because the time difference means the games start really late here and I usually have class really early. Anyhow, I decided I was going to watch it, whether or not we had class. Due to luck, really, our Professor was still sick and cancelled Monday class, so I really was going to watch it and not worry about it.
I wanted to watch it with friends, and I don't really have American friends - the one American I was friendly with went back home in December, but some of my European/UK friends were keen. First, we were going to go to Herriot-Watt's student union to watch it, but then we decided we'd just watch it on Ducky's TV in his student halls as he had a TV and we wouldn't have to trek far out for it.
First, Fenna and Fran and I had some dinner and chips and then headed over. We had some drinks (including someone's non-alcoholic beer that tasted really gross), and tuned into BBC to watch it.
I had worn the only football shirt I have, which is an old homecoming one, but my friends all appreciated the effort: "Aw, that's cool you are wearing a football shirt." ...etc.
So, they opened with some songs and the questions began. Never have I realized how it is watching something with people who never watch it, more or less how much I really knew about football than I did watching this game. It started with the singers...
Who is that? Miranda Lambert
Who is she? A country singer.
Who is that? Kelly Clarkson.
What is this? Our national anthem.
Why aren't you standing? ....
Then the game began. Of course, I was watching it intently while being peppered with questions.
Why are they stopping already?
What's the purpose of a down?
There are four of them?
This is boring. You guys find this exciting? yes.
And I learned that:
You may be excited, but they won't understand why.
Sometimes, growing up on something makes all the difference.
Our refs call penalties dramatically. (Why did it throw up the flag like that? What are those hand moves, is he dancing?)
I know way more about calls than I remember.
There are no commercials in the UK. Therefore, one of the better parts was lost on them.
In the end, they may have enjoyed it, but still don't quite understand why we love it so much.
It's okay. I still had fun watching it, and didn't mind explaining it. Plus, NY won. :)
So, the SuperBowl came around about a week ago, and I wanted to watch it - not that I've been following football this year, because the time difference means the games start really late here and I usually have class really early. Anyhow, I decided I was going to watch it, whether or not we had class. Due to luck, really, our Professor was still sick and cancelled Monday class, so I really was going to watch it and not worry about it.
I wanted to watch it with friends, and I don't really have American friends - the one American I was friendly with went back home in December, but some of my European/UK friends were keen. First, we were going to go to Herriot-Watt's student union to watch it, but then we decided we'd just watch it on Ducky's TV in his student halls as he had a TV and we wouldn't have to trek far out for it.
First, Fenna and Fran and I had some dinner and chips and then headed over. We had some drinks (including someone's non-alcoholic beer that tasted really gross), and tuned into BBC to watch it.
I had worn the only football shirt I have, which is an old homecoming one, but my friends all appreciated the effort: "Aw, that's cool you are wearing a football shirt." ...etc.
So, they opened with some songs and the questions began. Never have I realized how it is watching something with people who never watch it, more or less how much I really knew about football than I did watching this game. It started with the singers...
Who is that? Miranda Lambert
Who is she? A country singer.
Who is that? Kelly Clarkson.
What is this? Our national anthem.
Why aren't you standing? ....
Then the game began. Of course, I was watching it intently while being peppered with questions.
Why are they stopping already?
What's the purpose of a down?
There are four of them?
This is boring. You guys find this exciting? yes.
And I learned that:
You may be excited, but they won't understand why.
Sometimes, growing up on something makes all the difference.
Our refs call penalties dramatically. (Why did it throw up the flag like that? What are those hand moves, is he dancing?)
I know way more about calls than I remember.
There are no commercials in the UK. Therefore, one of the better parts was lost on them.
In the end, they may have enjoyed it, but still don't quite understand why we love it so much.
It's okay. I still had fun watching it, and didn't mind explaining it. Plus, NY won. :)