Superbowl

Last night was incredible. My friends and I had been for the longest time trying to figure out what we were going to do for the Superbowl. One of my friends suggested the U.S. embassy, where they were apparently having a watching party on a big screen. So we went. I had never been to the embassy before, so I didn't know where it was or what it looked like. As my taxi began to slow, I began looking around for the embassy, and all of sudden, my eyes caught sight a huge American flag flying high above the compound. I felt so proud to see that flag, and I realized I had not seen it in over a month. It was an incredible feeling. I got out and met up with my friends, and we made our way through security. The security guards were Ecuadorians. But as we were showing our things, an American marine showed up to escort us through the compound. Walking through it was like being back in the United States. It was a beautiful embassy. We finally reached the Marine house where the party was, and inside was like a little piece of home. There was a bar where one marine was selling alcohol and pizza. American children ran around playing with each other while the American men, beers in hand, and the American women conversed about life. Some of the faces I recognized, some of them I didn't, but all were American. We all spoke english, and when Carey Underwood started the National Anthem, we all stood and put our hands to our hearts. I always knew I loved my country, but I never realized how much I loved it, or how much it was a part of who I was, until I left it.

The game itself was spectacular. There were more Saints fans than Colts fans, but still the room was fairly evenly divided. There was a variety of snacks and chips and salsa that people ate, and the men would yell at the television when something good or bad happened, as they do in the United States. The commercials we received were those specially made for U.S. soldiers abroad, which meant there were a lot of football players thanking us for our service to our country, a lot of Robert Gates talking about something, and a lot of Barack Obama talking about something. But someone had rigged another television to play the American commercials. So whenever the commercials were on, a girl would switch from one TV to the other, and we would all watch the commercials.

The Colts fans had very high morale at first, but after half time, the Saints began to comeback. After that incredible interception and touchdown, the Saints fans were on their feet, and there was no going back. All in all, it was incredible game, and an incredible time. It was like a brief return to the United States, and a welcome one at that. I love Ecuador. It is a beautiful country, and in some ways it outshines the United States. But nothing can replace the Red, White, and Blue in my heart. Nothing. God Bless the United States of America.