LIGA

I never understood soccer. Between Conemaugh Valley not having a team and me, never playing in a league or really even watching it, I simply don't know the rules. Here in Quito, however, soccer or "fútbol" is SO popular and everyone knows the game. Last semester, I was looking through some of my friends photos who were here and I saw a few from a Liga game. They all had jerseys on and were there cheering for a team that they didn't know anything about until then. I couldn't wait to do the same thing.

My friend Brian made a post about going to a Liga game and in no time, people were responding saying that they were wanting to go. I think there were 19 of us who each gave him a whopping $7 to buy us all a ticket. I told Papa Galo that I was going and he said that I needed to buy a jersey. Pablo and Mae, however root for Barcelona and they were less impressed at the idea of me going to the game.

My friends, Elizabeth, Hilary and Nicole decided to head down to Mariscal for a while before the game to grab lunch. I had already eaten so I just got and Oreo milkshake and it was d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s. I was tempted to buy another one but held myself back in case I wanted something at the game. Our waiter was really nice and offered to take our picture. He put up with our Spanglish pretty well actually.

 

After an extremely interesting bus ride, we finally made it to the stadium. This game was the opening game for the season and there were people everywhere. We were told to buy a shirt outside of the stadium, because they were nearly $30 cheaper, and so we did. Hooray!

 

 

 

Some of our  group arrived late so we had to split into two groups and sit in different areas; there was no way we could save 19 seats on the opening night. One older lady that was sitting next to us was trying her best to teach us the cheers when we would get a goal but it was a long cheer that the entire stadium would do and it was just too hard to catch on, so we pretended and laughed at ourselves.

Everyone was so enthusiastic about the game, the players made a Gangnam Style video that was played on the big screen, one player was taken out on a stretcher, I declined a chocolate bar that would cost $2, and we learned that not all bathrooms have toilet paper(?). We really did have a great time cheering for our new favorite team.

 

 

 

I know it doesn't look like there were a lot of people from these pictures but this was before the game started.

 

 

 

Liga won their first game beating Aucas 3 to 1! We realized after the game that trying to find a taxi would take FOREVER. Hilary, Nicole, Elizabeth, Keith (another BCAer that lives 1 minute from my house) and I decided to go get something to eat at the bakery until the crowd died down a bit :). We finally did get a taxi, the 4 of them all squeezed in the back, and I was lucky enough to get the front seat, hah.

When I got home, Papa Galo was still awake and was so happy with my Liga shirt purchase that he had me go upstairs to Mama Paty's room to show her (don't worry, she was still awake too). Pablo and Mae, on the other hand, weren't as excited when they found out but that's okay because it was a lot of fun and I will be ready to go for the next game. :)