African Heritage Event & Werder Bremen Game

Hey!
This week was rather eventful. The final paper craziness officially started (which I loathe), I went to an African Heritage event, and to a Werder Bremen game.

The African Heritage event was the main event of African Heritage week. It was a presentation that featured a fashion show, several examples of singing and dancing from different regions, a skit, and a poem. It ended with some good food from different African countries (though my suspicion that I do not like anchovies was confirmed). I liked learning about this continent that I do not know too much about.

Tuesday Günther called and invited me to the Werder Bremen football (soccer) game. It was the semi-final for the UEFA Championship which was a big deal. What was a bigger deal was that Werder Bremen was playing Hamburger SV, Hamburg’s team, which is Werder Bremen’s big rival. I agreed to go to the game and am very glad I did. Unfortunately I forgot my camera though so there are no pictures to share.

The Werder Bremen adventure started off with Bernhard, a guy in my Asian History class, who was going to the game also asked if I knew where I was going (and I didn't of course). He said, "You will come with us" meaning him and his girlfriend who was in the play with me and is from China. We caught the train to downtown Bremen and it was a crazy ride – the Werder Bremen fans were out in force already. From the train to an overcrowded strassenbahn then a walk to the stadium where we saw riot cops escorting the big group of Hamburger fans and a fight still almost broke out. It was seriously more cops than I have ever seen at one time before.

I found Günther and discovered that we were sitting in the VIP clubhouse and was very excited – I've never been to anything like! I still have my special VIP bracelet on (but that's because I was too tired to cut it off last night). However I'm very impressed with my bracelet – it’s specialized for last night's game and fabric as opposed to something that should be thrown away. The VIP section had lots of free food, but I only got to try different types of brötchen (bread with different fillings). I have no idea what was in these bread-twisty things, but it was really good so I ate those for dinner. Then Günther showed me where the TV studio is, where the retired players sit, etc. and then we went to the special box where we sat with eight other people. There was more food laid out, a glass screen you could put up and down depending on if you were chilled or not, and a TV. A waiter comes and brings you drinks and cokes kept appearing.

It was fun to watch the crazy fans. The Hamburgers were very sophisticated in the cheering – they got a whole block of people do choreographed movements, they jumped up and down (which looked cool), and set off fireworks (that just seemed dangerous). The Werder fans just had big flags and they sang sometimes. Unfortunately Werder lost the game. We did say that Werder would have won if my cousin Ben (who is an excellent football/soccer player) had been playing for them.

Afterwards, Günther drove me home which I was very grateful for. I was not looking forward to riding the train back with the crazy, drunken disappointed fans. Once back in Vegesack Günther stopped and talked to the döner guys, who recognized me, and then talked to Günther about me. The only phrase I understood was "meine cousine" (“my cousin”). I am very curious to know what was said. Günther did say the döners are lecker (delicious) there. While he ordered the döner, I ran upstairs and got the book & calendar Uncle Bernie sent for him which Günther loved. Günther then told me how glad he was to see me and headed back home. It was a really great night and I’m glad I went.

So that was this past week. Tomorrow is Derby Day in Kentucky which I am missing very much. I’m not sure what all is happening this coming week. I’m going to a BBQ tomorrow for the Blue House. We’ll find out though!

I hope all is going great with you!

Love,
Elizabeth








Lyazzat & Maria getting ready for the African Heritage Event













The African Choir sang some very cool songs














Yummy food! (except the anchovies)