The End...for now

4.8.08 11:26

Hello everyone. The IIPES program officially ended last night and the US Men's National Soccer Team officially begins their bid for Olympic Gold in 3 days. Talk about bitter sweet! I mention that because the US soccer team has been a huge source of American pride while I've been here. I knew that as an American soccer player, I would stick out to the internationals as not the normal American. And this was very true. The first time we played soccer here, everyone was surprised when I showed some skill on the ball and a nice shot (though it's still rusty). I have had tons of conversations with guys about football (which now sounds more normal to me than soccer) since I've been here. If you are not a fan of football, then you aren't aware of the tremendous respect shown by players after games. Unless nations are bitter rivals (US v Mexico; England v Scotland) each major game is followed by an exchange of jerseys. It's a cool thing to see. In the football community, respect grows with continuing success, which is something kind of foreign to American football, with the exception of 2002. Football is an area where the US is completely and totally catching up to the world, but we are getting there. I have never been more proud to support US soccer. Football has once again proven to be a connector of people. I played with a Kosovar, a Lebanese (Karim, the goal scoring machine!!!), Egyptians, Americans, Serbians, Israeli's and Greeks. But on the pitch, we're all just playing.

I saw a Nike commercial online yesterday. It shows US soccer players, a couple goals and the fan group, Sam's Army. The commercial ends with this: America. The world no longer looks forward to playing you.

The last two nights of IIPES were the essence of bitter sweet. I have delayed my good-byes with any excuse I can make, but I have said many and will say more this afternoon. After our test on Saturday morning, we all went downtown to hang out with Sarantis. He had to leave early to attend a 4-day conference in Italy, but I will see him again in Athens. That evening, we went to a really nice seafood restaurant on the harbor. We were all a little glum, missing Sarantis already, but decided to head out afterward anyways, as it was our last available night. So to Mambo club we went...at 1 AM!!!!!! I was dead tired, but it was a lot of fun.

It was so much fun, in fact, that waking up the following morning at 9 for a 4-hour guest lecture panel was not fun at all. But we made it through, enjoyed an afternoon nap, and went to the graduation ceremonies. This graduation was truly amazing. My best man Mohamed, gave one of the best speeches I have ever heard. He finished to a standing ovation. He was followed by Nungari, from Kenya. She struggled to detail how a club owner would not let her in until she walked in with a white person. Yet the next night, she is able to talk of love and hope because the coming generation has less racism and more acceptance than the last. And then came Tal, from Israel. This one got to me a bit.

There is a row of flags of the countries that participated in IIPES hanging in one of the courtyards here. It has been a neat site the past three weeks. But as Tal walked past it last night before graduation, he noticed that the Israeli flag had been torn down. The white base of the flag still hung with small blue tatters from the felt. He decided to give a speech, telling us all about the situation. He talked to us about his conflict of emotions, whether to be upset, or to look forward. He related this to attacks between nations when they are trying to negotiate. "When Israel is attacked, it is our decision; do we stop negotians, or do we accelerate them." His message was clear, and it is a message that many of us from IIPES will take home. Love conquers all, and hope is the root of that love. If 80 students from countries who actively fight each other can become such a tight knit group, than maybe there is hope for my grandkids.

So if I have learned anything from the past 3 weeks, it is that we are all, when it comes down to the basics, very similar. Many of our nations are at conflict, but individually, we love football, we love food, we love dancing, we love drinking, we love beautiful sights and sounds, and we now love each other. I'm going to stop know, and a last afternoon with my new friends before heading to Santorini, Athens and London with Colin. Thanks for reading, and thanks for the comments. I'll see you all soon I hope.

Alec