What happened to me?

For the last few weeks I've felt not quite myself: overwhelmed and more of a half-empty outlook compared with my normal half-full perspective. Some of this feeling I attributed to the Fifa 2010 World Cup mayhem and foolishness and I wanted nothing to do with it. "Soccer's not my game" I've said over and over. So what happened today, hours before kick-off, that got me so excited: tweeting posting googling sharing whooping and giddy? I've always called myself a Proud South African and I guess today my 'gees' is based on the fact (it is now a fact) that we're pulling off a feat many people, other Saffas included, didn't think we could pull off. Dang those stadia look good and the Gautrain runs and the airports are impressive and the weather is sunshiny.

We still have issues of slow development, poverty, lack of service delivery, crime, potholes, litter and really bad road driving habits. So today I'm going to again adopt a half-full perspective and state that maybe this showcase of national spirit and unity may be a surge to solving these issues sustainably.

Maybe I get to have this spirit-filled attitude because I decided weeks ago to stay out of public areas and off the roads today. A good decision that was too, considering how Wits has become the Jozi Soccer Central - hosting 2 teams training camps, an international media centre and park-and-ride facilities. All this to the exclusion of the PG students and staff who have not taken (cannot take) vacation time to revel in the celebrations or get away from the busy-ness. Well if I can't work because of these restrictions I may as well blog.

Whoa! it's here - I'm feeling it. We'll start a new count down at 16:00 today: counting down until this all ends and we can return to a life forever changed and hopefully more normal. Welcome WC2010! I'll say it while I feel it - it may only last a moment.