Where were you when...

the South Africa FIFA World Cup 2010 (arguably the best World Cup the planet has seen) was going on?

I was in South Africa.

The other day I randomly came across a book titled "Where were you when…?" and I stood there for a long time, going through each year since 1988, reading about the single event that marked the history of the year.

I feel blessed that I can say that I was here in South Africa, the place of the world's largest event that took place from June 11-July 11.

I stayed in Cape Town for other reasons than the World Cup, but it's not to say that a huge chunk of my life these last few weeks were structured around the greatest sports' tournament. Keeping up with the scores, the games, the upsets; reading the summary reviews, interviews, what/who to look for in this next match; what to do after work; where to go to watch the matches…

It's the day after the World Cup, and for the last few days it's been pressed in my mind the question of what would happen after it's over. It's a vague, extremely general question. The answer is complex and can't be really answered. But it is interesting to be here in this time, to physically be part of the experience that I can't help but ponder and ask myself this question. To be honest, I'm anxious, excited...emotional about the World Cup coming to a close.

The morning after Spain won their first ever World Cup title, I took some time to read a few articles about the World Cup, two of which I want to share…

1) The first is titled "South Africa titled with emptiness to fill." It talks about the sadness that South Africa will consequently have following the final match.  Being here since March, I could not help but feel sad and nostalgic as well. I, as the writer mentioned in his article, "dreaded" this time in a way. And last night, when Spain won, and all was said and done, i looked around thinking, "Wow, I'm going to seriously miss this…" I'll miss the atmosphere, the random vuvuzelas, the waving flags, the cheers, the nationalism, the conversations with people from all over the world about the recent matches and who's supporting who…I'll miss it a lot, and it's so crazy to me to think that first the World Cup in Africa has closed its curtain--was it not just yesterday that we were excited about the games starting? I am not from South African, yet I definitely feel the quiet sadness in the air. I have a "football shaped hole" in my heart that no experience can ever replace.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/columns/story?id=807915&cc=3888&ver=global

2) The second article gives the high's and low's of the World Cup, according to Soccernet's finest writers. To be able to read their opinions and think "Oh yeah, that was awesome/crazy, etc" or "I remember that, it sucked, and I was pissed/sad/devastated, etc." But in addition to remembering that moment in a match, I am able to recall where I was when…Bradley scored that goal to tie the US with Slovenia or when Suárez hand-blocked that goal or…I read a lot of the writers' highs and lows of the tournament, and I have a clear image of where I was, who I was with, etc. If you didn't already know, I'm basically attached to my camera. I have taken hundreds of pictures and recorded many videos of crazy fanatic times that only come in moments of World Cup fever.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/columns/story?id=807390&cc=3888&ver=global

So as sad as I may be that the World Cup is over, I can also be extremely grateful for having been able to physically partake in the atmosphere, the energy, the vibrancy of South Africa (Africa's for that matter) when it hosted the best show in the world these last five weeks. Yes, I'll miss it, but thankfully, I can look back, smile, close my eyes, and if I want to, hear the vuvuzelas buzzing like music to my ears.

My high's and low's and where I was when...

High:

• Starting a dance party in a huge mass of people the middle of the Adderley street the night before the World Cup. There was a huge circle, and we all went in at least once. Every time someone went in, there was cheering and yelling. the best dancers were the ones from South Africa and Spain.
• South Africa scoring the first goal of the World Cup. Being in the packed FIFA FanFest Park in Cape Town. We went nuts. The following Fanwalk to the first match in Cape Town. Thousands of people running wild and cheering throughout the streets.
• When Landon Donovon scored the goal in the 92nd minute of the U.S. v Algeria game, meaning the U.S. would go on to the Round of 16. Watched this incredibly tense game in a bar in the middle of the city. It was packed full of Americans, and we all went crazy when Bradley scored.

Low:

• *France v. Uruguay match was uneventful and anti-climactic, after having done the first ever FanWalk and celebrating Bafana's first game just prior to the match
• *When the U.S. lost to Ghana. The game wasn't the best game the U.S. had played, and Ghana winning I considered to be another joyous victory. Yet, after the U.S. lost, I was pretty devastated. Sat on a table and didn't really talk for a while.
• *Ghana's lost to Uruguay in the quarter-finals. Was in the FIFA FanFest park among thousands of viewers, mostly South African. When the game ended, thousands walked out silently. Others stood there in silence of the shock was just happened. Devastating atmosphere.

In my mind and with my senses, I can re-create the atmosphere that was really once-in-a-lifetime for me. Though I may attend a World Cup match in the future (and I hope to God that I do), it will not be the same, because unless the World Cup is in the Philippines (and I doubt that will ever happen as virtually no one in the Philippines plays the sport), I will not have the same connection with the place. I love South Africa, as it has been my home for the last three and half months. Yes, I may have a football-shaped hole in my heart, but that's just because the season of constant football has passed. But even when I leave South Africa, I will leave a part of my heart here. At the same time though, I will bring the heart and spirit of South Africa with me back to the U.S. and wherever I go.

Words to describe the World Cup? unforgettable and incredible.
Words to describe being in South Africa? unfathomable and indescribable.

Where was I when….

the South Africa FIFA World Cup 2010 was going on?

I was home.