With the Euro 2008 underway, it is a common sight to see flags hanging everywhere, shops, from balconies, car windows etc. Because Mannheim is a highly international city, there are many people from other European countries especially from Italy and Turkey living here. The more 'politcally correct' people, as Johanna says, will hang their own country flag as well as the German flag.
Anyway tonight Germany will play against Poland at 8.45pm German time (2.45am Singapore time). I was at Johanna's place yesterday and she was telling me that in her heart although she hopes that Poland will win (she's Polish), the chances are very low. Nevertheless she is still going to a Polish pub to support Poland, although she knows that it will be very dangerous on the way back. Its really admirable to observe how people are so passionate about their country even though they have been living abroad for so long, or they're not even born in Germany. The Turks are one such example, the third generation are born here and they have the German citizenship but on the streets yesterday you could see Turkish kids all over the place with the flags tied to their backs. And when the German reporters interviewed some Swiss fans yesterday after they lost 1-0 to Czech Republic and asked a 5 year old girl how she felt about the match, she broke down into tears in front of the screen.
Expecting to see riots as well as drunkards everywhere later in the evening. The sentiment here is that most people want Germany to win. It has been a long time since they produced results. Moreover, there are practical reasons to support Germany, even if one does not like the German team. This is because most of us here have bought the German Bahn25 card Euro 2008 edition, which is a card which is issued by the deutsche Bahn, the German national railway. With this card one is entitled to 25% off on travel on rail and public transport in Germany, and for every match Germany wins in the Euro, the card's validity will be extended for 1 more month.
The last time when I was in Germany was 2006, during the World Cup period. However I returned to Singapore on the 2nd day of the World Cup. This time I am typing this entry on the 2nd day of the Euro and I am glad I am in Europe following the Euro till the end, although I will be travelling for much of the later matches.
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