Jack Weaver
Fans cheer as three planes make a flyover before the Kentucky vs. Missouri football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by Jack Weaver | Kentucky Kernel
When I think of the American football experience, this is exactly the picture I get: a giant place full of my romanticized American stereotypes.
As an international student coming from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I have always fantasized about being part of the crowd that composes not only a play, but also a ceremony.
The media, especially when it comes to the motion picture industry, has a huge influence on this point of view. Growing up, watching Friday Night Lights (2004) and She is the Man (2006) led a whole generation of people outside the US to develop the notion that American football symbolizes all the progress and success not seen in their own countries.
For a 10-year-old Brazilian girl, seeing a cheerleader with a perfect body, acting with impeccable timing and having the manager of the soccer team as her boyfriend was just the most perfect scenario to fantasize about. Not only did I have this fantasy, but so did several other girls who grew up with this large amount of American influence in their minds.
“Every Latino grows up watching American media and teen shows/movies that always show soccer and players and everything. I’m no exception and I’ve always wanted to go to a game for the experience,” said UK student Ariane Rodrigues Patrus Almeida.
Almeida was born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil. She said that much more than understanding the rules of the game and knowing who to root for is the idea of being part of the experience.
From my perspective, the biggest motivation for most international students is to actively participate in something so typically American. This sense of culture can be found in football and all its complementary traditions, such as the figure of the fans.
Sofia Natividad Monge Alfaro, an international student from San Jose, Costa Rica, is a big exception to other international students who are now looking to have a favorite team and specific expectations for next week’s game.
She said she doesn’t feel comfortable in a setting like an American football game. Instead, she feels like she doesn’t belong. For her, it is a cultural trait that does not hold her interest in any form.
“I prefer to avoid football games because I find them so overwhelming and boring,” Alfaro said.
On the other hand, John Hauck, another international student from Brazil, said he has always been a big soccer fan, especially during his high school career. Being involved in team performance has always been a great achievement.
“We were ranked 25th in the AP polls, so I guess we’d land somewhere in there in the final pool, too,” Hauk said. “I hope we go to the final stage of the SEC. A national championship would be the dream.”
For international students, being active in the opportunities offered by study abroad is more than essential – not only for our adjustment process, but also for creating new memories and stories. However, I still believe that it is necessary for us to remember the value of our roots.
I don’t think the American way of life, like the famous game of football, should be our only source of inspiration. I believe that every student from all different regions of the globe has a clear power of influence.
Fantasizing never hurt anyone. As a strong lover of art, I find fantasy a great refuge. But, it’s also worth adding, your experience as an international student here in the US can have the same magic by exploring other traditions from neighboring or distant countries and cultures.
