Tuesday 19 January 2010

World Cup stuff

For those of you who live underneath a rock, 2010 in South Africa is synonymous with the FIFA World Cup. It's been the topic of conversation for what feels like forever, with people debating safety issues, whether or not the stadia will be ready, if small businesses will benefit from the event at all, how to get hold of tickets etc...

And I have been wishing that I could disappear to anywhere else in the world for the period because everyone keeps telling us how bad the traffic will be, that prices will skyrocket on everything from airplane flights to toilet paper and that we'll be stopped by daft tourists wearing socks and sandals every five minutes to ask us why there are no elephants wandering the streets with them or where they can get a stab-proof vest.

But, since we listed our spare room on an accomodation website and have started getting some interest and even a booking or two, the World Cup is beginning to feel more real to me and like something I would like to be a part of. No, I am not a soccer fan and yes, it's true that I have little faith in our own team, but it is actually pretty cool that our country is kicking off the new decade with such a big, exciting event that is getting people thinking positively about SA (except the Brits marketing those stab-proof vests, that is).

Hosting people will be a way of being part of the event and I'm looking forward to showing a few visitors a little bit of this awesome country and its culture, whether that means having a braai with some boerewors or taking them to see some lion cubs at the Rhino and Lion Park.

Now if I can figure out this ticket application process we might even get to go to a game!

8 comments:

sarah said...

I AM SO JEALOUS YOU GET TO GO!

hahahahaha tamara i DREAM of tourists asking me stupid questions. i get it a bit here, and i love love love it like you wouldnt believe. i think its hysterical to lie.

2010 is south africa`s year. you get to experience it!

plus you get to see that giant phallic building with the soccer ball on it EVERy day ahahah. that thing was ridiculous

Janine / Being Brazen said...

I was just reading about that stab-proof vest....

Im glad our country is going to be in the spotlight this year :)

Damaria Senne said...

Thanks for highlighting the stab-proof vest. I almost keeled over laughing. Surely tourists will know better than to be scammed like that?

Shayne said...

I must admit that i'm beginning to feel the excitement myself.

I just HOPE that our power provider does not let us down.

Can you imagine the mayhem?

Anonymous said...

I am so over 2010. I'm just hoping it will go by quickly. Hurrah 2011.

No excitement for me. Sadly, I haven't quite gotten over my teen angst yet. LOL. :P

But I think meeting people from other countries is terribly exciting.

Slyde said...

i am SO american. we just dont get the world cup hoo-ha.

NiKolaS said...

I am no football or people fan so i shall be in the group trying to get as far away from the madness that is World cup. Have fun with the hosting!

AngelConradie said...

I can honestly say I have no interest in the World Cup, or soccer for that matter.
I am fed up with the businesses who are making a mint out of suckers because of our crime reputation, and I'm fed up because I had to postpone my wedding date by a month because of the World Cup.