I was in Serbia for the summer during the 2006 World Cup. You can see how I had World Cup fever then: here. It’s always more fun to be abroad for the World Cup. Football/soccer just isn’t America’s sport.
Tonight was a good example. I watched the U.S.-Algeria match at Cheers Pub in the Cinnamon Grand. We had the England-Slovenia game on one t.v. and the U.S.-Algeria game on the other. The England fans outnumbered the American fans by a lot. A lot, a lot. The staff wouldn’t even play the audio for the U.S. game because there were so many England supporters. It makes sense because of England’s colonial ties to Sri Lanka, but come on! The Australians were just confused, with some supporting the U.S. and some supporting England.
Towards the end of the match, we started to feel like most of the American fans they were showing on t.v.–that all was lost and the U.S. was out for good this year. Until, SCORE! And we went crazy. Especially because we then placed higher than England. USA, USA!
And then, not 15 minutes later, I ran into Salman Khan, one of Bollywood’s mega stars. He’s filming his new film, Ready, in Sri Lanka. Rumor has it they need “European” extras.
Some friends and I were able to snag a picture with him, which he was very gracious about taking, but rats, wouldn’t you know it, my eyes are closed. I guess that’s what happens with two glasses of wine and a U.S. victory.
Adventures in Serendipity 
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