For International Education Week, I attended two uniquely awesome events. I did not necessarily choose “discomfort” in attending them, but I learned in different ways from both.
I chose to attend the World Cup Watch Party, which unexpectedly felt like a “comfort” choice. Soccer culture is huge in France, and I grew up constantly surrounded by games and news, sometimes involuntarily. My father is a soccer coach, and my brother played, so attending matches and hearing about players became part of my everyday life. Soccer became such a routine part of my life that coming to Wesleyan’s less soccer-centered environment was a surprising adjustment that changed how I see the sport.
I believe soccer is a beautiful sport in many ways, and I really appreciate how passionate people can be about it, how it brings people together, and how it can be such a source of joy. That is what the event reminded me of, as the two coordinators were very passionate and excited to talk about the history of soccer and the legends of the sport. One thing I particularly appreciated was that, even though the sport is heavily male-dominated, the event was still attended by a solid number of women, and the coordinators discussed female soccer legends extensively as well. They talked about the history of sexism and the undervaluation of women on the field while still expressing admiration for players such as Marta Vieira da Silva, Aitana Bonmatí, and Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe is also known as a strong social activist, which they emphasized and celebrated.
Although I am still not much of a soccer fan, this event helped me see the sport in a new light, as a powerful resource for connection and community, as well as for social change. Their discussion of soccer being used as a platform to speak out on issues like racism, inequality, and sexism was especially impactful.
The second event I attended was the movie The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto), which made me fall even more in love with the Portuguese language and the beauty of cinema. I enjoyed watching a film with such vibrant colors and a vivid demonstration of Brazilian culture, while also showcasing artistic intention and powerful acting. I find it crucially important that Wesleyan continue to show foreign films and highlight the talent of directors from all over the world, as this can only benefit the student community by allowing us to discover new cultures through such masterpieces.
