World Cup

World Cup Final

Posted on Leave a Comment

World Cup, originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

Despite our distance from the city, lack of constant electricity and news access, World Cup fever definitely hit Puerto Alegria this summer. Even though Peru was not represented in the 2010 games, I think I have had or heard a conversation about the event at least every day, especially on those days when I wear one of my World Cup t-shirts (thanks to Saga Falabella in Lima).

While we have not been able to see many of the games for the 2010 championship, we of course were able to watch the final match between Spain and Holland. The generator was turned on for the big event and everybody headed down to the maloca where we set the television on a table and lounged on the floor or hammocks.

After the new antenna was properly connected and we had somewhat of a clear picture, the entire group fell somewhat silent for the following 2 hours of the game, intently watching the every move of the ball, groaning when either team (especially Spain) missed a goal, and whispering about what would happen if the entire game passed without one goal from either team.

Happily for us, Iniesta scored a goal and victory went to Spain.

We watched for a few more minutes of programming after the game ended before the generator was turned off, and it was back to normal life in Puerto Alegria.


World Cup, originally uploaded by katherinebruder.

World Cup Fever

Posted on 1 Comment

The 2010 World Cup began today and it has taken Peru by storm. Despite Peru will not be represented in this year’s competition, fútbol is fútbol regardless of who is playing (just as long as it isn’t your team’s arch-rival; Alianza and U in Lima, Real Madrid and Barça in Spain, the list goes on).

During the time I spent in Lima, I saw countdown clocks til the first game, advertisements every commercial break, posters all over the city, and entire sections of department stores like Saga Falabella converted to World Cup fever. Even Wong, one of the grocery stores has promotional posters and life-size cutouts of soccer players hanging from the ceiling.

So, despite being away from the city and outside the reach of traditional electricity from Iquitos, I doubt I’ll miss very many of the games.

Case in point, we went into Iquitos today with all 40 boys to see one of the first games – Uruguay vs. France. Unfortunately it was not a very spectacular game, neither team scored a goal, but it was fun to go to a restaurant and watch the game, and just to be away from the house for a bit.

Hopefully we will be able to watch a few more games over the next month!

Here’s a commercial that I see almost every time I walk past a television.