Even before I had children, I knew I'd like my kids to learn certain things in the old-fashioned way, before computers were part of our daily lives and did most everything.
I wanted my kids to learn things the way I learned and then use modern technology as a way to make them easier. As I watch my first World Cup as a mom, I can't help to think of the many lessons they could learn from it, like I did. Even a most important one to me - to be Brazilian.
I grew up Brazilian, in Brazil. As you can probably guess, this means I grew up sitting in front of the TV with my family and friends every 4 years and cheering for Brazil. But more than that! It means a lot of my life during those days was populated by World Cup imagery, props and themes. Which means that a lot of my learning was done with World Cup imagery, props and themes.
Take geography, for instance. I learned country names and flags thanks to the little plastic flags that Nestle put inside their power milk cans (very popular Brazilian pantry item). I remember sitting at the kitchen table after my grandma got home from the grocery store and searching for the new flag with the country name on it. England is the one I can still see in my mind.
When I was 10, I learned that Rome was the capital of Italy and that the country was shaped like a boot and the island of Sicily was the boot's soccer ball.
Oh, and Math. I learned a little of logic and probability at 10 years old figuring out the World Cup schedule. Sitting in front of an empty chart at the dining room table, I figured how to fill out the Round of 16, Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, and Final games slots. What would happen if any two teams were tied for points? I had to figure such things out if were to fill that chart with probabilities.
I also learned about lamination. ... Well, yeah, my World Cup game chart was too precious. Folding and refolding was taking a toll on it, and I could not let it fall apart, could I? I laminated the whole thing with scotch tape just to learn I could have some kind of clear sticky paper bought at the office supplies store... The more you know.
Then civics... I learned to sing the national anthem, and learned what each color and symbol in our flag meant, I learned which were the northern-most and southern-most places in Brazil, I learned that in the 60s, when Brazil and Pele enchanted the world, we had a population of 90 million. All of that thanks to World Cup jingles. And that being a patriot meant getting together in front of that TV, dressed in yellow and green, waving the flag, cheering, and doing fireworks at every goal we scored. (Yes, We. The Selection and us, the 12th player)
And of course, love. I learned Argentina's flag and color scheme all too well, as they were the ones that broke my heart for the first time.
Some language lessons as well. New vocab words, such as rivalry. Writing skills, such as irony. I still remember my tears dropping on the white and blue striped bed sheet, the same colors of the team that had just shattered my dream as a 10-year-old.
Today neither the World Cup nor Selection Brazil have the magical effect on me that it once did. Why? Oh, maybe because since 1998 I just stopped believing that the World Cup was a candid tournament in which teams play soccer to show who's best, and began to wonder if it is all a show put up to fulfill political-commercial agreements made behind closed doors.
Today the magic is gone. My heart doesn't beat faster when the ball rolls into the penalty box, my mind isn't taken by soccer every minute of the World Cup year, I don't go to bed and dream I am holding the cup. Not anymore. I know... it's sad.
But somehow I still find myself turning on the TV at the time of the game. It's a family and friends gettogether. More than that. It's a civic duty. Somehow it feels as my civic duty to sit in front of that TV for every Brazil game with family and friends, popcorn, cheese bread, and soda. And I hope my children will learn that too.
So Go, Brazil! To the Hexa!
