emilyonearth

I don’t even know where to begin. Today was an experience that I’ll always remember. Football isn’t necessarily my thing, but it’s pretty hard not to get excited about it when you experience a day like today.

I went with Juan and a couple of his friends to watch the game in a park – there were big screens put up in various places around the city, which is an idea that I love. Such a community-focused way to watch a game, and people really made the most of being able to share the experience.

The game was intense, and people did not hold back with their emotions. The tension in the air going into the extra time was something else. The poor girl in front of me covered her eyes anytime France got the ball anywhere close to their goal. There were tears. There were hugs between strangers. There was foam. I got quite sunburnt.

After the game, people headed to the centre of the city. According to the news, over 1 million people gathered around the Buenos Aires obelisk alone. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. People were climbing whatever they could find: traffic light, bus stops, vehicles, even the actual obelisk later in the evening. People danced and sang, and made noise however they could – a stick on a rubbish bin, slapping a water cooler bottle… anything goes, apparently!

I found it quite nice how the game managed to bring everyone together like it did. People were so passionate, so real with their emotions, and there was a strong sense of togetherness. Someone said to me whilst among the crowd, “football unites us,” and it was so true – everyone was out there, and no matter who they were, they were all there for the same reason.