Getting World Cup Coverage From My Personal Foreign Correspondent – Brian’s Blog

Soccer fans all over America watched Germany defeat the United States 1-0 in World Cup action from Brazil Thursday morning. It seems that World Cup fever has seized our country. What was it like for an American teenager watching the game in Germany?

My 17-year-old daughter, Autumn, is on a month-long student exchange trip to Germany through West Valley High School.  She is staying with a German host family in the city of Gustrow. I asked her what is was like to watch the U.S.A. - Germany World Cup match in her host country.

Crazy! I was screaming for the USA... I was stared at! There were Germans of all ages there ranging from 3 to adults. It seemed rather friendly, but everyone had some sort of drink, so they could have been drunk! We all gathered for what is called a public viewing at a place called Heizhaus. Some people stared at us Americans but everyone was nice. Some Germans were actually rooting for the USA. They were all decked out in German gear like you would find at a typical football game. When they got the first goal, they were all ecstatic. They knew that that was what they needed. It was pretty much done from there. Some weren't all that interested because the game was so evenly matched and nothing exciting ever happened. Once they won it was like a quick celebration then everyone departed to go do whatever. We all figured that Germany would beat the USA by one or two.

 

I also asked her German host sister, Hilke Lubars, which was more exciting: Germany beating the United States, or just getting the win to advance in the tournament?

It was a special atmosphere because we were there, so beating the USA was O.K., but in general it would have been nice to beat anyone. Most people were actually hoping for a tie.

 

(Hilke was an exchange student here in Yakima at West Valley High School last year.)

That wraps up World Cup coverage today from my personal foreign correspondent. Next week, we'll find out what it's like for a group of Yakima Valley teenagers to celebrate America's Independence Day in another country.