By Susan Dromey Heeter, Joyful Musings
There are people who are purists, who delight in getting in on the ground floor, who do their due diligence and bask in the statement, “I knew them when…” Today I muse joyfully on being a showboater, on arriving after the party has been set up, the homework done by others, the candles lit. And this, dear Joyful Musers, is how I am entirely about the World Cup.
I honestly do not know how teams make it to the final 32. What I do know is that this most incredible event – for both men and women, is the Academy Awards, the Haley’s Comet, the Winning Lottery Ticket – every four years. The Final is slated for Sunday, the 18th of December. The World Cup is the most watched sporting event in the world, boasting that over half this planet’s population will be watching, listening, waiting to see which country wins.
And my students and I have been watching since the event began, the 20th of November. Each student chose a country to represent and have been following their progress. Yesterday, when Croatia and Brazil sat across from one another, I was concerned of the tension, the potential antagonism. “Watch your knees!” I told Croatia. And we laughed. It’s good for my cherubs to know of events beyond, across the world. And I cannot wait to see Croatia on Monday, after they won in a penalty shoot out against Brazil. Stunning.
As we work on verb conjugations and vocabulary, I’ve had the games on in Spanish. We hear the announcers rattle on and on and the best part? The Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool singsong of the announcers. My students mimic this incredibly long word and I laugh, knowing that mimicry really is what learning a language is all about, we repeat what we hear. “Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool” is a great word.
But of course, there has been controversy in Qatar. What event is without the drama of behind the scenes? What scenario is remiss of lies and corruption? I muse joyfully on the conversations being had, the discussions taking place that allow not only for discourse but for global realizations, cultural insights, 21st century learning. It’s all important, diverse, and an opportunity for growth.
So, dear musers, if you’re not watching the World Cup, now is a great time to start. It’s the beautiful game, an incredible time, amazing insight into what a game can be and do. Let’s play.
