Culmination of a once in a lifetime Experience

The last two days of the trip we were lucky enough to see two more matches. On Tuesday night we saw Brazil play. After watching Brazil play on Tuesday night I now understand why they call soccer the beautiful game. Brazil passed the ball around so effortlessly it was amazing. For any soccer fan to watch Brazil live is a treat and is something a soccer fan will never forget. The Brazilian fans were also some of the top supporters of their World Cup team just behind South Africa. The Brazilian fans brought in a drum and saxaphone during the game and sang and danced throughout the game which angered security. Security at the stadiums throughout the World Cup was pretty atrocious. I mean the World Cup is a global event and for security to neglect using the metal detectors and not checking bags was dangerous. Security, at last what we saw of it was not up to par. Many things needed to be done better. On a brighter note the last day of the trip we toured around the city of Tshwane and Pretoria. This was a pretty good end of the trip experience because we all walked around as a group scanning the marketplace for last minute gifts and kind of reminiscing about the trip as a whole. At the same time this was a sad day to say goodbye to South Africa we got to see Bafana Bafana play one more time. Despite the vuvuzela's and tough play South Africa lost to Uruguay. This loss almost makes it certain South Africa will not advance to the next round. In response to this I felt honored to watch South Africa play their hearts out for their country and watch the fans give all they had to cheer on their team. It was great and I will never forget the sea of green and yellow at the South African games.

I am writing this last post on American soil, and yes all of us made it back safe and sound despite some minor bus trouble a couple miles away from WNEC. Overall this trip was the best travel experience of my life. I think all of us took home some very valuable cultural and social aspects from the gracious way we were treated in South Africa. We didn't feel like foreigners we felt like guests in someone's home. We never faced any animosity, the South African people loved us and were always engaging in conversation. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on the trip for making it such a great experience, Dr. Covell and Professor Hamakawa for allowing me the opportunity to take part in this trip, our drive Mpho was excellent as well, and all the parents for funding for this trip we all greatly appreciate it.

Dear South Africa,
Thank you for a remarkable global soccer experience on the biggest stage. I had a blast and would love to stay longer. I will miss Bafana Bafana and the Bafana supporters you were one in a million. The trip was unforgetable.

Thank you,
David Quackenbush