KE NAKO........I simply COULD NOT let an event of this magnitude, which happened right on our door-step, go by without an entry in my blog!
We South Africans have been anticipating this since we were announced as the Host Nation in 2006. There were many who thought we could never do it, and certainly there were a few hiccups along the way, but 11 June arrived and we were READY!!!
The build-up was amazing: this whole year we have had 'Football Friday' where every Friday people go to work/school wearing a yellow shirt in support of our National Team - Bafana Bafana. A few days before the Opening Ceremony, there was parade of our Soccer Team through the streets of Sandton where an estimated 150 000 people came out to cheer on our team! Perhaps one of the biggest differences between us and other Host Nations, is that we never really expected to win, we were just all so jolly proud to be having it here and to welcome all the visitors to our beautiful country!
Also, as the time drew near, homes, shops, roads and businesses decorated themselves with flags/balls whatever to get into the spirit!
Finally the BIG DAY came and the country was electric with excitement! We had my whole family over to watch, which is a fair crowd! We were wearing yellow and blowing our Vuvuzela's. Anyone who does not know what a vuvuzela is, where have you been for the past 4 weeks?? It is a long trumpet type thing that sounds like the droning of angry bees during the matches, and individually are so loud they can wake you from 
your sleep! The Opening Ceremony was fabulous, and when Bafana scored their first goal, the Vuvuzela's in the whole neighbourhood went wild! Even here in the normally quiet and sedate Northern Suburbs of JHB, where it is usually rugby that people watch, not soccer! I can safely say that there has NEVER been such a spirit of excitement, community and camaraderie in this City! Hosting the World Cup had so much less to do with the actual Soccer, than about the feeling of Pride and togetherness that has never been felt before. Everyone of us was PROUDLY South African - Black, White, Indian and other! No money in the world could buy what this world cup has done for us as a Nation, and I think the foreigners felt that.
Carl was privileged enough to be invited down to Cape Town to watch the Quarter-final between Argentina and Germany. He said that it was an amazing atmosphere, but in truth, you get a better view of the game on Telly in your own (warm and cosy) home. I think he was just saying that to make me feel not so envious!
However, we had our own fun and we went a Fan Park at Innesfree Park in Sandton, where there was a huge screen and thousands of people. It was one of the free venues, and quite close to Alex, so I did have my doubts about going, but t
he security was excellent and the vibe was awesome! It did help that we were supporting Germany, not Argentina (unlike Carl - ha ha!!), so it made it a very exciting match!
Because we had such fun at the Fan Park, we went again in the evening (yes, BRRRRRR!!!) for the semi-final between Netherlands and Uruguay. Of course we were supporting Netherlands, and happily they won!
One of our favorite places to take the kids is Sci-Bono in Newtown. They put on a Soccer Theme so we all went and enjoyed all the activities/displays there. They also had displays of a Lego competition for some schools where they had to build a Stadium out of Lego. Some were very impressive! 
The build-up was amazing: this whole year we have had 'Football Friday' where every Friday people go to work/school wearing a yellow shirt in support of our National Team - Bafana Bafana. A few days before the Opening Ceremony, there was parade of our Soccer Team through the streets of Sandton where an estimated 150 000 people came out to cheer on our team! Perhaps one of the biggest differences between us and other Host Nations, is that we never really expected to win, we were just all so jolly proud to be having it here and to welcome all the visitors to our beautiful country!
Also, as the time drew near, homes, shops, roads and businesses decorated themselves with flags/balls whatever to get into the spirit!
Finally the BIG DAY came and the country was electric with excitement! We had my whole family over to watch, which is a fair crowd! We were wearing yellow and blowing our Vuvuzela's. Anyone who does not know what a vuvuzela is, where have you been for the past 4 weeks?? It is a long trumpet type thing that sounds like the droning of angry bees during the matches, and individually are so loud they can wake you from your sleep! The Opening Ceremony was fabulous, and when Bafana scored their first goal, the Vuvuzela's in the whole neighbourhood went wild! Even here in the normally quiet and sedate Northern Suburbs of JHB, where it is usually rugby that people watch, not soccer! I can safely say that there has NEVER been such a spirit of excitement, community and camaraderie in this City! Hosting the World Cup had so much less to do with the actual Soccer, than about the feeling of Pride and togetherness that has never been felt before. Everyone of us was PROUDLY South African - Black, White, Indian and other! No money in the world could buy what this world cup has done for us as a Nation, and I think the foreigners felt that.I honestly had no idea of the magnitude of this event, and how much it would grip us all, and I really regret not getting any tickets to watch a match live.
Carl was privileged enough to be invited down to Cape Town to watch the Quarter-final between Argentina and Germany. He said that it was an amazing atmosphere, but in truth, you get a better view of the game on Telly in your own (warm and cosy) home. I think he was just saying that to make me feel not so envious! 
However, we had our own fun and we went a Fan Park at Innesfree Park in Sandton, where there was a huge screen and thousands of people. It was one of the free venues, and quite close to Alex, so I did have my doubts about going, but t
he security was excellent and the vibe was awesome! It did help that we were supporting Germany, not Argentina (unlike Carl - ha ha!!), so it made it a very exciting match!
Because we had such fun at the Fan Park, we went again in the evening (yes, BRRRRRR!!!) for the semi-final between Netherlands and Uruguay. Of course we were supporting Netherlands, and happily they won!
One of our favorite places to take the kids is Sci-Bono in Newtown. They put on a Soccer Theme so we all went and enjoyed all the activities/displays there. They also had displays of a Lego competition for some schools where they had to build a Stadium out of Lego. Some were very impressive! 
For the Closing Ceremony and the Final Match, we opted to have the whole family over again and enjoy the match in the cosiness of our lounge with the big-screen TV and a fire. With Soup & Rolls for supper.
We are all feeling somewhat bereft now that it is over - like someone has died! Many of us still have our flags on our cars/homes but gradually they will disappear. No longer are there flag/scarf/mirror sock sellers at every traffic light. Being here, in SA, for this, was something to be cherished and remembered, and something we will tell our grandchildren about one day!
So, while life returns to normal, each one of us who was here is somehow changed.
So, while life returns to normal, each one of us who was here is somehow changed.
Now that's AYOBA!!!
Megs and Ali really enjoyed the company of the other kids. We skied for 3 full days and had a blast. Megan and Hannah were ski-buddies, and Ali and Samuel spent a lot of time having snow-ball fights! We ate like kings (pigs actually!), but with all the physical activity of skiing, we were allowed to!
Lesotho has become a favourite annual Pilgrimage for our family and we love it! We're already planning out next trip!
