Jaqui Hernandez-Martinez, Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) Seminar/Field Trip Summer 2024
Boom- booboom! Scrapes, blood, sweat and tears. The scurry of size 13 bare feet on muddy roads. Loud giggles that let out a squealing of curse words. Two brick side by side in the middle of the road, and judging by their placement, they make a goal. Futebol is the sport that runs through their blood, and anxious to win, everyone pours out their heart and soul into the game. Brazil, the country of soccer. The stereotypes exist inside and outside of the country. In Santarém, everything seems to be put on hold just to enjoy what seems to be a simple game of soccer. The city carries the red and black stripes of the team Flamengo with honor. The sport brings everyone together for an hour to watch a game. Soccer here is a democratic sport. The first time I heard that phrase, I found myself confused in trying to understand what exactly that meant. Perhaps the political term threw me off. What it really means is that ANYONE can play the game! The native sport does not discriminate against skin color, it has no bias of social status, and it has no physical barriers that could impede someone from playing. The democratic sport sets no limits, and it could range from all ages. In my host family, soccer means eating farofa and yelling palavrão at the TV. Words that seem to have no effect on the outcome of the game but are extremely important for the cultural experience of assitendo futebol.
In Brazil, there are words that can convey the urgency of being present in the moment, such is the case when people talk about watching or rather asisting, the game. Contrary to the way other languages communicate, Brazilian Portuguese demands urgency and importance in doing something in the moment. The word assitendo can convey more of the need to watch the soccer game. The direct translation to English is assisting, which means you must be presently there, whereas watching has less pressure of fully Understanding what we are seeing. In many ways, the language here demands the culture to be more present with their actions and behaviors.
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