Homeruns & Touchdowns

All American Sports

In August, I did some further research into American culture by attending a baseball and football game.

First, the BASEBALL game.

Prior research: Before moving to the US, my knowledge about baseball was based on The Simpsons (remember the one where Homer becomes the mascot?). I heard rumors that the game is boring and takes too long but that the idea of going to a ballgame is relaxing with friends while chewing on hotdogs, cracker jacks and drinking beer.

Experiment: We gathered some friends, skipped lunch and

headed towards the Citifield ballpark near Flushing Meadows, Queens for a game NY Mets vs. Colorado Rockies.

The rules? Basically, the guy with the bat needs to hit the wooden ball hard and the guy with the glove needs to catch it - depending on who succeeds, the other guys can start running or not. Of course, it's much more complicated, but as the stereotype woman I am, this is as far as my attention span goes.

Observations: The rumors are true as far as the food is concerned: hotdogs, corndogs, beer, ice cream, fries, fried dough, popcorn, smoked ribs, pulled pork and even burgers from Shake Shack. Another healthy day in New York! The rumors as far as the game itself concerned, well... The game is not too hard to follow and is actually pretty exciting. The Mets scored two homeruns, including a grand slam, and won the game (which is apparently not normal as the Mets are having a very weak season/decade).

During the innings, they keep you entertained with games, cameras, songs and trivia, time's flying!

What I learned: The words to the following very old song which everyone sings during the

"seventh inning stretch" : "Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd, Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks, I don't care if I never get back. Let's root root root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame, For it's one, two three strikes you're out, At the old ballgame!"

The verdict? I actually enjoyed watching it!

Second, the FOOTBALL game and I'm not talking about soccer, the popular game from Europe but its more violent American counterpart.

Prior research: Before moving to the US, my knowledge about football was based on Married With Children (remember the one showing Al Bundy's only glorious moment in life, the touchdown at highschool?). I am sceptical since watching the super bowl wasn't a big success (see my earlier post in February 2009). But I heard rumors that the live game is exciting and much more interesting than baseball, although the types of food available at the stadium are less exciting.

Experiment: We gathered some friends, had a big late lunch and headed towards the Giants stadium in New Jersey for a game New York Jets vs. St-Louis Rams.

The rules? Basically, big guys (and I mean, really really big guys) fighting each other to get a strange looking ball to the other side of the field. Of course, there's much more to it, but as the stereotype woman I am, that's as far as my attention span goes.

Observations: The rumors are true as far as the food is concerned. Hot dogs or philly cheesesteaks, if you don't like either, you're in bad luck. The rumors as far as the game concerned, well... First thing I notice is the huge number of players warming up on the field (in total about 50 per team!). Since football requires different "specialized" players (offense, defense, etc) and the tackles take their toll, about every 2 minutes the players on the field are changed. Of course, next to the players, there are also cheerleaders whose only role is looking good, jumping around and cheering. The actual game is hard to follow: the players only play about 1, maximum 2 minutes and then there's a break. It's hard to see where the ball is as it's mostly covered by a pile of big guys. There was one exciting moment, when one of the big guys was able to run from one end of the field to the other end and score a touchdown (but don't ask me which team).

What I learned? Euhm... a good way to make time pass faster, is trying to count the number of players on the field.

The verdict? Honestly, I tried but this game is just damn right boring! Which means, I'll never become a true American since this is the most popular game out there (even women like it and spend their weekends following the games *gasp*). Oh well, you can't win them all, huh?

Amazingly Graceful and Cheerful

Sunday in Harlem

One month since my last post which can only mean that I have so much more to tell you!

I'll start with my most recent New York experience: a gospel ceremony at a Baptist church in Harlem. I expected a colorful and cheerful sight but this was simply amazing. If only Catholic church would take an example, more people would spend their Sundays in Belgian churches!

First of all, people dress up to go to church: nice clothes, big hats, lots of color and more importantly, a big smile! If I think about Catholic church, I see grey, tired, sad and bored people dragging themselves to church "because they have to". Although we were are bit hesitant at first (you do stand out as a white tourist in a Harlem church), we were invited in very quickly with a big smile. The music is simply amazing, upbeat with drums, organ, piano and gospel choir. You can't resist to sing along... The ceremony lasts three hours but you don't get bored. One part of the ceremony is dedicated to welcoming the tourists and visitors to church (meaning you have to stand up and the regulars sing a song for you). People are not expected to sit there quietly and listen, but rather to shout out their praise and they sure aren't shy. Three times during church you are asked to give offerings (money, duh), which according to the ceremony booklet should be 10% of you monthly wages. And the sermon... well, let's just say that it was the first time in my life I heard the beginning, the middle and the end of a sermon. The minister was very very convincing, almost going in trance, and starting to sing at the end ("Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!"). I am not saying I'm converted but I finally understand why some people enjoy going to church and actually get something out of it.

Finally, I would like to apologize for the other tourists in the church... never have I been so embarrassed to be a visitor. I already feel a bit weird going to church to "have the experience" and barging in on other people's traditions, but at least I try to do it with respect. Other tourists... not so much. We were kindly asked not to disturb the celebration by taking pictures (only normal, it's not a zoo!), but 50% of the ignorant tourists just ignored the request and flashed away ("look look, we went to Harlem and saw a bunch of black people sing..."). If reminded of the "no pictures please", they nodded but a few seconds later, took out their cameras again. The tourists came in and went as they pleased (you should at least stay an hour). One guy was even drinking a coke. Grrrr, I sound like a true New Yorker now, but at that moment I really hated tourists! So people please, if you want to participate to a Baptist ceremony in Harlem, please do but remember Aretha's song: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T, a little respect (just a little bit) (just a little bit)"

Keeping Cool in the City

Office with a View

This is the view from my new office... not bad, huh?


In the meanwhile, New York has gotten extremely hot. These last weeks temperatures didn't go below 30°C, with an average humidity of more than 70%... I spent most of my time indoors (in the heavenly, but sometimes too cold, airco) but the few times I go outside, I start sweating instantly even if I don't go into the sun. The worst are the subway stations which feel like big saunas (and during the commute in the morning, you can get stuck there for what seems like an eternity). Once in a while we have a storm passing over, cooling the city down for a few hours (like the one two days ago, which destroyed a lot of trees in Central Park - NY1 report). Unfortunately, the day after, the heat strikes again...

But not to worry, in a few days we are leaving for Hawaii which has a much more pleasant climate. And if I didn't make you jealous with that last statement, we're staying for two whole weeks! :-D