By Adam Stewart
From the Newsroom
I’m not a soccer fan. It’s way down the list of sports I would watch, somewhere below bowling and above cross-country skiing. So the ongoing World Cup doesn’t interest me much.
My favorite World Cup memory is the 2010 draw between the U.S. and England teams in the group stage, entirely because it gave us the greatest tabloid headline ever, “USA wins 1-1: Greatest tie against the British since Bunker Hill,” from the New York Post.
While I’m not interested in the soccer and will probably watch at most a few minutes of highlights from the World Cup, I do enjoy stories about other teams’ and their fans’ experiences with American hospitality. Scottish and Haitian fans being treated to an American-style tailgate before their game Saturday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Alexandria, Virginia, throwing a festival in honor of the Croatian team making its World Cup base camp in the city, and many other stories of American communities making guests feel welcome.
The story of that kind that has resonated the most with me is about Lawrence and the Algerian National Team. Lawrence and the University of Kansas have welcomed the Algerian team and its fans with cheers of “Rock Chalk Algeria.” Lawrence-based artist Stan Herd created earthwork art of the Algerian flag. What really put it over the top for me was learning that a KU band learned the Algerian national anthem, “Kassaman,” to play at the national team’s open practice last Thursday.
As a lifelong Wildcat, I don’t like to say this too often, but I have to hand it to KU. That is going beyond being a gracious host. That’s the kind of hospitality that builds long-lasting connections and memories.
It has been 32 years since the last time the U.S. hosted the men’s World Cup. If the U.S. hosts again in another 32 years, I’m sure there will be soccer fans from Lawrence telling their kids about this experience with the Algerian team.
There’s something so satisfying about strangers going the extra mile to make you feel welcome, and it works both ways. Giving the extra effort to welcome strangers has a way of lifting your spirits.
It doesn’t have to be as big as spending days creating artwork or learning a national anthem. Small acts of hospitality and kindness to strangers matter, too, and they are as good for you as for the recipient.
Adam Stewart is the assistant news editor of The Hutchinson Tribune. He can be reached at adam@hutchtribune.com.