Cammi's Blog from South Africa.
This is my last blog.
Read my first blog here
Lessons from Africa
As this adventure comes to a close, I just wanted to write down some lessons I've learned on this trip.
1) Always Believe!
In two games, the US had goals called back (and the calls were certainly questionable). While only one game outcome was affected, a player must always believe you can recover from calls like those. The US/Slovenia game ended in a tie which hurt their chances of advancing from their group. With some luck, they made it to the Round of 16.
One can apply this lesson to everyday situations. When work or school has got you down... Or whatever the situation... When you feel like everything's going against you, believe that there will be an end... Know that you can overcome the problem.
2) Life can be Cruel Sometimes
While the US advanced to the Round of 16, they were eliminated from the World Cup when they lost to Ghana. At the end of the day, the US had the chances to win the game. So did Ghana. The difference was Ghana put theirs away; the US did not. Soccer can be cruel and you can lose games. Just remember that tomorrow is a new day.
Life can be very much like this. You can do poorly on an exam or lose a job. Stuff happens. Know you can get through the bad times. The sun will rise and break the darkness of the night.
3) The Company Makes All the Difference
While going to the World Cup in South Africa was an absolutely amazing experience, it would not have been worth it traveling without my bros. The people I met were super cool and took the trip to a whole new level. We visited several sites but some of the fondest memories I leave with involve playing games with the people there. Spoons was a bloody mess of fun! Just kidding, but if you don't get injured playing Spoons, you're not playing right. The game Taps and 30 Seconds are only fun when you play with others who have a passion for life. If you invest in people, life is not only more enjoyable but also helps when the tough times arrive. Relationships last longer than any thing you have.
4) Patience
Ok, I think it's safe to say the flight back to the US was a nightmare. We get to the airport a two to three hours before our flight. We stood in line for twenty minutes only to learn we were not in the international line. Staff members told us which lines to go to and we followed their instructions. After weighing our bags and standing in line for another twenty minutes, we were informed that we were yet again in the wrong line. Another twenty minutes later, we have our tickets are heading to security. After getting through security, I picked up some snacks from a store for the flight including bottles of Coke and Sprite. I needed something to drink to take some medicine before the flight. Well, unknown to us, they had security at the gate... And they made us choose between throwing out our sealed drinks or chugging them. Having no desire to down my drink, I put my drink aside and went through security. I decided to find a drinking fountain to take my medicine... Except I found out I had to go through the security check again. Frustrated at this point, I took my medicine and stood in the security line another ten minutes. The person at the counter urged us to board because many others had already boarded. Rushing to board, we were only met with a long line and a closed door. Fifteen minutes later, we were let on the plane and we sat down. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7:45PM. At 7:40PM, the captain informed us that we were waiting for a couple passengers and he didn't think that the delay would affect our landing time. After nine hours of sitting, we landed in Dakar to refuel. Once we landed, the flight attendants told us that we had to remain sitting while another security check was conducted. They also told us that we would be on the ground for one hour and the bathroom would be locked for the duration of our grounding. After nine hours and no sleep, this is the last thing I wanted to hear. After the layover, we landed in New York seven hours later. As much of a nightmare as this particular experience was, we made it home. Sometimes, you just need to practice patience and learn to laugh at ridiculous situations.
5) Things are Replaceable
After losing my wallet and an hour on the phone canceling credit cards, I was hit with the realization that everything in there is replaceable. While it is frustrating not having immediate access to my money and replacing all of the cards, I still was able to get home, eat and be with people I care about. Things break or get lost... It happens. Don't let it ruin your day!
Free traveling advice: When your bag tips over on a shuttle bus, check to make sure you have the essential items.
More free traveling advice: Put some case in your suitcase in the unlikely event that your wallet ends up missing.
6) Vuvuzelas are not as bad as screaming girls
OK, so maybe this one wasn't exactly from Africa but it is still something I learned. We were watching the Argentina/Germany massacre... I mean game and this girl was cheering for Argentina. Her screeches were more obnoxious than all of my experiences with vuvuzelas. Of all the annoying fans we ran into, she was definitely the worst. The only moment I can seriously laugh at was when she cheered for Michael Ballack (who was supporting his German team) thinking he was an Argentinian player. Not the brightest bulb in the closet.
7) Enjoy the Ride
On our second to last day, we went to a lion park. African highways and towns are not as simply laid out as in America. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking gravel roads with no stop lights. But many of the residents have to look at maps or use GPS to get to destinations that are 30 minutes away. Well, the lion park was about 90 minutes away. After consulting the web sites for directions and analyzing a map of South Africa, we took off. After 30 minutes, we pulled over to make sure we were going the right direction. We then set off again only to pull over 20 minutes later to figure out which direction we had to go on the highway. At an hour into the trip, we realized the directions from the website were wrong. We then called for directions. The girl gave us incorrect directions and only realized this after we got lost and called her a second time. She gave the phone to someone else who then gave us directions that were difficult to understand. We decided to head towards the city the lion park was near and hope for signs. Our trip lasted two hours. While I know the driver was frustrated, it was an interesting ride and one I won't forget. It was an opportunity to talk, get to know each other and learn about cultural differences.
8) Lions are majestic creatures. They are larger than you ever imagine. If you ever get the opportunity to visit a lion park, do it! On the tour I learned many cool things. If you notice lions that are lying down, one paw is turned upwards. They do this because they are more ready to strike and defend themselves. On a similar note, with one swipe, an adult lion can break a human's neck. Lion cubs that are 2-3 months old are slightly bigger than a socker spaniel. At 4-5 months, they are a little bigger than a labrador retriever and are more stout. At 6-12 months, they are larger than German Shepherds and much stronger. Finally, full grown females are slightly bigger than mastiff's and are much stronger. Adult males are even bigger and stronger than that! They are enormous! Another interesting fact... when lions mate, they generally have around 40 sessions in the span of a day with each session lasting 15-20 seconds. These creatures are amazing!
9) If you ever get the chance to go to the World Cup, DO IT! Enough said.
10) There's no place like home
While this trip was a blast, I was ready to come home. I got to go to the World Cup! How awesome is that!? But at some point, I realized that I missed some things. I missed my own bed... I missed the Arizona heat (no, I'm not being sarcastic)... I missed being able to drive... I missed Mexican food... I missed my friends and family... I missed my girls... I realized how blessed I am to have those things in my life. I wouldn't trade my experience for anything and am so grateful for those that made it possible. There should be some good games still to come and hopefully people are still keeping track even though the US is out. Enjoy the rest of the World Cup! Cheers!
Cammi Kellar
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