hyper bowl monday

experiencing one of the most american events in a foreign country is quite fun. it makes you appreciate them all that much more. i had the pleasure of being in aix for the super bowl. unfortunately for us, the game started at 12 am on a monday. the bar that we were all supposed to watch the game at got denied the permit to stay open until four so that we could watch the game. we then all met up at o'shannon, another bar that televises sports. i ended up going by myself because the two guys that live nearby felt that it was either too late or too cold to go out. tear.

you usually find a fair amount of americans at o'shannon, but this was a little ridiculous. i found some friends, ordered some a few pints (stella happens to be the house draft), and made new american friends. there was a projector showing soccer highlights in the main room full of rowdy americans. only until about 2 minutes before kickoff did they change the tv to the game. then we got to watch football with french commentary. awesome. for about two seconds.

at about 2:20, the bar turned on all the lights, turned off the tv, told us they weren't serving beer anymore. us americans, born dissenters, started singing the national anthem. it was a little sloppy, but we did our best. many people left, but a few of us stood outside the bar for a bit. all of a sudden, an english guy, james, that was befriended by a few of the girls in the program, offered up his place to finish watching the game. forward ho! about a dozen of us began to follow james, who walks at quite a brisk pace. we all assumed when he offered up his place that he lived nearby. false. it turns out that james lives about a mile outside the city, in a dorm. a dorm? but santi, aren't dorm rooms small and cramped? quite right. there were 15 of us in a single watching the superbowl on a 12 screen with rabbit ears, eating top ramen and chicken sandwiches that james so graciously prepared for us on his george forman grill. wine and the most extraordinary boxed sangria that i have ever tasted was also served. ha. james got a few angry texts and neighbors pounding on the wall, but he didn't mind. the game came to a disappointing finish for those of use who wanted the cards (or reds, if you're james) to win but it was entertaining, nonetheless.

then came time to leave which ended up being the most ridiculous part of the night, believe it or not. it proves useful to mention that i had no idea where we were. i just knew that we walked about a mile east or southeast of the center of town. everyone else went back towards the center, i on the other hand, not wanting to backtrack since i live directly south, decided that i would find a way to find my way home from the dorm. all i needed to do was head southwest. in the rain. at 4 in the morning. in a town that i don't know. easy.

i ended up jogging for about half an hour, up and down streets, down alleys and through parks. i could not find one single landmark or sign that could direct me anywhere familiar. i decided that it was now time to call a cab. i waited for twenty minutes and then came to the conclusion that i did not want to spend between 5 and 20 euro on a cab, depending on where i was, so i started jogging again.

turns out, i was 5 minutes away from my house.

and that's how we do the superbowl in france. i just wish wings were involved.