This is How Dreams Come True

As most of you already know, since I was born I have moved to different countries every 3 years of my life. As much as I look back now and think everything has been amazing, moving is kind of hard. Really hard actually. And it only gets harder as you get older. That’s why when people ask me if I’m going to follow my mother’s huge footsteps and become a Diplomat, I’ve always said NO WAY, without even thinking twice.

Well. I take it back. And this is why:

I came to South Africa not only for the amazing internship opportunity, but also to get a glimpse of the World Cup. After my first game, I was in awe – one of the best experiences EVER. Then I got to go to another game, and we won both these games! So then I started thinking how in the hell I was going to get $1,500 to go to the World Cup Final. I debated about it, thought of everything, but decided I needed to go.

Until Brasil lost.

There was no way I was paying that much money to see 2 other teams from the nosebleeds. I was already so privileged; I mean how many people dream of watching a World Cup game live??? And I did it when I was 20!

So I watched the semifinals at the Melrose Arch Fan Park, which was hectic and packed and loads of fun, and decided that for the final I was going to do something chill with my cousin, maybe a bar. At 2:00 PM on Sunday my cousin gets a call asking him if he had tickets to watch the game, he said no, and his friend offered him a free ticket. So I took him to his friend’s hotel, felt happy for him, and went home to cook and make plans to watch the game with some friends from here.

4:30 PM I’m still lazy at home, relaxing and I get a call from my cousin. They had another ticket, someone didn’t know up. It was mine if I could make it to the stadium on time. Did I want it?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! I’ve never gotten dressed and left the house so quickly. I knew there was going to be crazy traffic, but who cares- I drove all the way to the end of the world to make it to Soccer City on time.

After some traffic, I met up with my cousin outside the stadium around 6:00 PM. We grabbed our beers and watched the most amazing closing ceremony! It was surreal. And then we started to go down the stairs to our seats – we were Category 1, the first section. I looked at my ticket and stopped at JJ, thinking this was too good to be true! The seats were so close! Until my cousin said “Maria, you’re in J, not JJ.” EVEN CLOSER! I was right behind the goal, about 5 rows up.
Honestly, I don’t care that the game was shit. I could care less. It was the most amazing experience EVER.

So what does this have to do with me reconsidering my career choice?!

Well originally Lula (Brasilian President) was going to the game, since the next World Cup is in Brasil. But since Brasil wasn’t in the finals, he left South Africa early to go home. Therefore, all the Ministers and government people took his VIP tickets. And since my cousin is a diplomat and works for Lula, he knew all the people who were there, and ended up with the 2 extra tickets.

Therefore, being a diplomat = 2 5th Row tickets for the World Cup Final.

This weekend, on to the next one: I’m road-tripping to Durban tomorrow for the annual Sardine Run + Cage Diving + Beaching. The weather in Joburg this weekend is going to be in the negatives, while Durban is 28! (Celcius of course)

Peaaaaaace Out!