So as our midterms are nearing (they’re this coming week in fact) our classes have begun reviewing for them. Getting us ready for what’ll be on them and answering any question we might have (like if we can use a dictionary…we can! Thank goodness).
Our German Pop Culture class was supposed to meet this past Friday from 12-2pm, generally guessing it’d be a review class, but we used it a bit differently and ended up going to a Fußball (soccer) game! It was Hertha BSC (Berlin) vs FC Ingolstadt 04 (Bavaria). The game was held at the Olympiastadion, built for the 1936 Summer Olympics.
The game was pretty evenly matched, but we definitely had more…hits on goal? I don’t know how to put it. I don’t know anything about soccer so I’m just applying my field hockey knowledge. Hertha’s defense was super solid and our goalie barely had to do any work. We almost made a goal so many times, but the Ingolstadt goalie was always there to stop it. In the end it was 0-0. Kind of anti-climactic, but definitely a worth-while event.
I really enjoyed it. I’d definitely go again actually. I loved watching people react to what was happening. And, as opposed to our football games where there’s just a constant hiss os fans screaming in the background, these fans cheered in synchrony for the entire hour and a half. I don’t think they ever stopped chanting and singing and cheering. I also loved watching them scream and yell and throw their arms up in frustration when a call they didn’t agree with was made or when the Ingolstadt goalie did his job correctly. I loved it. I wish I had videos of entire sections of people rising up to yell. I don’t know it’s so fascinating to me, but it is.
I also remembered something cultural that I learned last year with my German professor (which I hope is accurate): Germans whistle when they’re upset. Instead of a slew of “boo”s being throw out, and incredible chorus of high-pitched whistling will fill the stadium. And that’s how they’d boo the other team.
I feel like seeing a soccer game in most places, especially Latin American or European countries, will be a much more exciting experience than in the US. I highly suggest going to one. Even if you don’t know anything about soccer, like me, it’s fun to get into the game and root for a team.
