Satellite TV Makes Home Not So Far For Expat Sports Fans
As we approach the second decade of the 21st century, it seems that traveling and living abroad are becoming more and more popular for young Americans. As the economy continues to suffer and jobs for young college graduates are scarce, many people have taken these sour circumstances and turned them around. As a 23 year old, living and working in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I fall into this category.
The majority of the time, I could not be happier living abroad. Being able to live in a huge metropolitan city, and survive on an ESL teachers wage is something I probably could never experience in the US. But, there have definitely been times when I have wished for the good ol' USA, especially when my best friend from high school was playing in the NCAA women's soccer finals last month. In a country where appreciation for women's soccer or women's sports of any kind, for that matter, is almost nonexistent, I was worried I wouldn't be able to see the game.
A few minutes before the game began, my friend and I decided to walk to a local American sports bar. My friend tried to convince me that they might have access to the game. I was reluctant to believe her, but figured it was my last option, as I had spent about an hour attempting to access the game online, and if the bar wouldn't show the game, we were at least going to the bar. It's not like we were walking to the library on a Friday evening. I've never had cable, therefore I have never become a huge fan of the tube. Satellite TV has never meant anything to me, because I never took the time to realize what it was... until last month, when the bartender told me they could stream the game. I couldn't believe it! I was watching my best friend play soccer on ESPN 2, in an Argentine sports bar. Argentines love sports, and they love soccer, but they love men's soccer. To see a college women's soccer game in Argentina, and in high definition, was quite exciting!
I wouldn't call myself a diehard American sports fan, but I have met many here in Argentina. Lucky for them, with the wonders of satellite TV, they never miss a game! With numerous sports bars that cater to these crazed sports fans (mainly diehard NFL fans), it's almost as good as being at the game... well not quite... but it is as good, or even better than being at an American sports bar watching the game, Something about being so far from home and uniting with like-minded sports fans makes people seem to go even crazier as they root for their teams. Jersey-clad fans drool at the HD screens in all directions as they cheer, drown themselves in pitchers of cheep beer and hug the fan next to them whom they've probably never met.
Living abroad is about meeting new people and experiencing new things. That's what I try to spend the majority of my time doing. But sometimes, you just need your dose of American life, and with the technological advancements of satellite TV, and the beauty exposed by high definition, sometimes home doesn't seem so far away.
The majority of the time, I could not be happier living abroad. Being able to live in a huge metropolitan city, and survive on an ESL teachers wage is something I probably could never experience in the US. But, there have definitely been times when I have wished for the good ol' USA, especially when my best friend from high school was playing in the NCAA women's soccer finals last month. In a country where appreciation for women's soccer or women's sports of any kind, for that matter, is almost nonexistent, I was worried I wouldn't be able to see the game.
A few minutes before the game began, my friend and I decided to walk to a local American sports bar. My friend tried to convince me that they might have access to the game. I was reluctant to believe her, but figured it was my last option, as I had spent about an hour attempting to access the game online, and if the bar wouldn't show the game, we were at least going to the bar. It's not like we were walking to the library on a Friday evening. I've never had cable, therefore I have never become a huge fan of the tube. Satellite TV has never meant anything to me, because I never took the time to realize what it was... until last month, when the bartender told me they could stream the game. I couldn't believe it! I was watching my best friend play soccer on ESPN 2, in an Argentine sports bar. Argentines love sports, and they love soccer, but they love men's soccer. To see a college women's soccer game in Argentina, and in high definition, was quite exciting!
I wouldn't call myself a diehard American sports fan, but I have met many here in Argentina. Lucky for them, with the wonders of satellite TV, they never miss a game! With numerous sports bars that cater to these crazed sports fans (mainly diehard NFL fans), it's almost as good as being at the game... well not quite... but it is as good, or even better than being at an American sports bar watching the game, Something about being so far from home and uniting with like-minded sports fans makes people seem to go even crazier as they root for their teams. Jersey-clad fans drool at the HD screens in all directions as they cheer, drown themselves in pitchers of cheep beer and hug the fan next to them whom they've probably never met.
Living abroad is about meeting new people and experiencing new things. That's what I try to spend the majority of my time doing. But sometimes, you just need your dose of American life, and with the technological advancements of satellite TV, and the beauty exposed by high definition, sometimes home doesn't seem so far away.
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