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Missing home is totally normal, but there are ways to bring home closer to you. For me, part of the missing home was not being able to hear the Fox NFL theme music ring throughout the house on Sundays followed by the sportscasters with deep voices announcing that day's matchup. I missed sitting on the couch in front of the TV cheering, but admittedly also getting frustrated with the 49ers, especially Jimmy, sorry Jimmy. It was something that I cherished but didn’t fully realize until I came to a country where when the word football was spoken everyone assumed you were talking about soccer. Don’t get me wrong, soccer games are super fun, and I love cheering for Man City, but it just wasn’t the same. So, I decided to do something about it.
I extensively researched where to watch NFL in London, and admittedly, it wasn’t easy. I ended up choosing Empire Casino. When 6 o’clock rolled around, a few friends and I took the tube to Leicester Square and found our way to the sports bar. I was shocked at the sight. Everywhere I looked there were tons of fans wearing a jersey for every team that exists, ever. I thought I had stumbled into a big group of Americans, maybe this was where they congregated every Sunday. I was wrong, but not mad about it. These fans, although their allegiance didn’t lie with the teams associated with their home, were as rowdy as any.
My friends and I squeezed into some bar seats and ordered some barbeque wings and a pint of cider. We wanted to look like we were drinking beer without having to cringe every time we took a sip. We felt so American. NFL Red Zone was on, so every team was represented, and every time something special occurred, no matter the team, everyone in the bar roared with excitement. It didn’t particularly matter if they were wearing a Rams or a Panthers Jersey, if the Giants scored a touchdown, they were cheering. It was wonderful.
I was curious about how everyone picked the team their jersey represented, so I decided to ask. I asked the man sitting next to us, who was wearing a Commander's jersey and hat, why he decided to be a fan. He responded by telling me about a trip he went on with his parents when he was six years old. They went to Washington and caught a game, and he had so much fun. The memory must have been a fond one because this man was forty-plus years old and still as loyal of a fan as when he took that trip with his parents. I couldn’t muster up the courage to interview anyone else in the bar, but I would like to assume that they all had a similar heartwarming backstory as to how they picked their American Football team.
It was definitely a different experience, but it was close enough to remind me of my home, and I finally had the satisfaction of listening to whistles being blown and the NFL theme song that I so craved. So, if football is what you desire to bring you back to the states, the Empire Casino certainly helped me.
Bella Manes
Bella is a first year in Liberal Studies, hoping to major in economics (maybe) ? She absolutely adores going to the movie theaters and criticizing new movies. She also loves eating food, watching/ playing sports, and going out!
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