Monday, July 10, 2006

World Cup Lounging



Aaah, the World Cup. Last night was one of the times that reminded me how blessed I am. I’m in Afghanistan, I’ve got great friends and family and we have fun.

Oh, and my team won after Zidane lost his mind. I just picked Italy for this match – I was supporting the U.S. and Brazil but they crashed and burned early in the tournament.

My friend, H, put out an Afghan rug and cushions in her yard, set up a white sheet against the wall and my cousin, H, set up the projector. We watched the game outside in the cool, night air. I fell asleep during the first half.

We saw flares in the distance but my cousin, the expert, stated that they were flares used as firecrackers. I don't know about that but I didn't have the energy to figure out anything during the game.

I lounged on the rug, argued with my cousins about the game (it was not a foul) and who was taking up too much space on the rug (he was), laughed, ate way too much, hooted and hollered during the game.

Yay, fun.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah, the World Cup. I'm glad you got to watch it, and in such style, too! Projectors and big screens. My man will be jealous. But, oh, Zidane. He was one of my favorite players and then it was just... total meltdown. I was soooo disappointed in that behavior. But I'm happy for Italy. They looked overjoyed.

Anonymous said...

P.S. I love your blog.

Anonymous said...

Yes, your man would be super duper jealous. Yeah dude, Zidane was the reason that I considered rooting for France but...wow.

O, if you would start your blog - I would love it too! And thanks. :)

Unknown said...

Ok, I would normally lurk in here, read, enjoy, and that would be the end of it. But this time around I feel like opining, because I think Zidane may be misunderstood.
Let it be known, I am an ever bigger fan of the bald maestro after his infamous headbutt. No, not for any love of violence or sensationalism. I think what he did was a grave mistake and it may have cost France the cup.

What Zidane did was that in one mighty sweep he brushed aside all the hyperboly and hysteria of those who had endowed him with a near-divine stature in recent days. And I say -with such drama! in the last minutes of the last game of his career.

He may have disappointed many, but it is precisely by showing his flaws that he took away the myth of perfection that so many have obsessessed about. By exhibiting on stage both his tragic flaw (with his history of headbutts and fouls I think we can safely say that) and his deep knowledge of the underlying absurdity of football (and life, and celebrity status) he is someone both Camus and Sophocles would be proud of. Only now we can celebrate his heroism safely. There will come other football players of equal and surpassing brilliance and skill on the pitch, and there will be those who foul and headbutt. But we will not see the equal of Zidane for a long time to come.
It was a pleasant surprise to see FIFA look beyond the obvious and ignore the sensationalism about his 'madness' and bestow the honor of the best player on him.

.ok, reading this over I see why they tell me I tend of over-intellectualize, but there it is..from where I stand.

Anonymous said...

So, Hamesha, would you say that Zidane is your archetypical hero with a fatal flaw? Because then he has in fact, increased the drama? The public loves drama and he has given it to them?

(glad that Zidane has brought you out of lurkdom)

Anonymous said...

i just caught up on your blog, happy to see you are writing more frequently. i just ate mcdonalds for lunch and i am not feeling so hot. so tell me, in what ways would you say Afghanistan and the United States are alike? certainly we must have something in common...

Anonymous said...

Kofi, your questions is for another post...I'll think about it and let you know. I think about it. I hvae alot of promised posts, don't I?

Anonymous said...

Now, would you really drop him? Because I would talk about his mom in response and then beat him up after the game...

Update your blog General Sahib. And aren't you Kofi? I'm so confused.

Anonymous said...

Very pretty design! Keep up the good work. Thanks.
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