Soccer

So I'm pretty lucky because I speak the Universal language of soccer. It is huge here and it is all that people talk about. Nick and I are both huge soccer fans and people are so suprised that we are Americans and know whats going on in the soccer world.

Ghanains are quick to remind us that Ghana beat the US in the 2006 World Cup 2-1 in group play. They love to tease us about it. Guys at work love bringing it up. I just say, that its the reason I came to Ghana.

Nick and I play soccer all the time here. From our first day in Accra staying at the International students Hostel:



to playing soccer on the beach:



And I play almost everyday after work with guys from work and some local kids. We play against the kids (all of which are like 5 feet tall at the most) and they school us, no jokes. These kids have probably played every day after school for years and are sooooooo good. They play well with eachother and although they are smaller and slower than us they pass around us like its nothing.

Also everyone is gearing up for the world cup. It is getting intense. I'm sure people will be taking off of work/watching the games at work :P

Last weekend some other Abrunis came to visit us in Mampong and we watched the champions league final betweenthe team I grew up watching in Germany, Bayern Munich against Inter Milan an Italian team. Everybody here was against Bayern because they never have any African players. Makes sense. I internally showed my support because everyone at the place we were at was an inter fan.

The funniest thing ever:
My friend, Co-worker, and fellow University of Michigan student Nick Burtch gets called out all the time here because they think he looks like Michael Ballack, the captain of the German national team. Honestly he is getting celebrity treatment. People yell "Ballack!" at him all the time as we pass through markets and stuff. The other day this guy asked to take a picture with him. And last weekend the guy pasted us talking on the phone, stopped and said, "I have to call you back I've just seen Michael Ballack!" and after he hung up he took a picture with us and got Nick's impersonation of Michael Ballacks autograph. We all couldn't stop laughing.

You decide for yourself:


Nick
&
Michael Ballack





















I don't know how true it is, but its hilarious either way.


till next time. Thanks to everyone whose sent me messages. Its great to hear about whats going on with you at home. I miss you all.

Alex