Ok, so I realize the World Cup has been over for a while, but I want to talk a bit about my experience going to games and also the feel of Cape Town after the World Cup. There have been loads of talks on campus about the effects of the World Cup and discussion about who "won" from the World Cup (ie, did South Africa receive more benefit from hosting than it cost to build the infrastructure, etc).
That said, the entire vibe of South Africa and Cape Town specifically (because I spent most of the World Cup in CT) was unlike anything else I've experienced since I've been here. The excitement was contagious. People from all over the world and all walks of life happily and proudly supported their teams. Flags and fan gear were everywhere. But once the games were over, the crowd disappeared.
The residue (as I have begun to call it) is still obvious. The Brazil hats and the Germany flags and Viva Espana signs and the bright orange Holland gear are still to be found, but in interesting ways. Hats still worn by locals, t-shirts, ripped off memorabilia being sold by street vendors, and other small reminders. It's as if the World Cup washed in here like a river and left South Africa damp with its influence. It's interesting.
Beyond that, the atmosphere that the World Cup created -- of unity, of passion, of the ability to overcome -- has also left its residue and impacted South Africa and its people for the better. I'm interested to see how long that lasts...
