The Ravens
Their sports facilities and games
The 20th and the 21st September was the first weekend we spent in America together with our host families, all of us used the time to get to know the host families, and many students of our group were also invited to amazing activities at this weekend. I was very surprised about what my host family prepared for me.
First of all on Saturday, not much happened in the morning except for me and my host brother Jeremy playing Nintendo Wii downstairs. The house of my host family is very huge and there were many different things to do like playing table tennis or swimming in the pool in the garden. But playing Wii was also fun.
At around lunch time the students out teachers arrived at the house, because later we could go to a very interesting place: the facilities and the practise fields of the Baltimore Ravens, the football team of Baltimore. This trip was made possible by my host dad who is the team's pastor. He also led us through the buildings and explained many things, for example he told us that he gives bible study for the football players once or twice a week, this often motivates them for the next game. There are also large football pitches on the facilities, one of these is inside the building and three or four are outside. In the photo one can see a part of our group and one of the fields in the background. Finally, when the tour reached its end, all of us got a cap, these were a really nice present. Next we left the building and drove back to the Hairstons' house, my host family. There we all ate ice cream and talked about everything we have done and seen so far. This so-called 'ice-cream party' took some hours, but then all others left our house.
On Sunday all got up rather early, at about eight in the morning, and then we drove to a school where church was held. Church in America is very different from ours in Germany. As I already mentioned, they didn't have a real church but a hall in a school. And also there was much more music, and there were less visitors than there usually are in Germany. But going to church was very interesting.
Additionally on Sunday it was Jeremy's 13th birthday and he got many present such as a big LEGO Star Wars ship, and also a Star Wars game for Nintendo Wii, so we tried it instantly. After lunch Maya, Jeremy, their dad and I went to the M&T Bank Stadium, the football stadium of the Baltimore Ravens, because I was invited to watching the game there: Baltimore was about to play Cleveland that day. Of course I wore my new Ravens cap in the stadium, but other fans of the Ravens had much more merchandising with them such as small flags or jerseys. Though I didn't know many football rules it was fun to watch the game. Especially the show that was held for the players, for example flames rose out of the ground when the single players entered the field was impressive.
Baltimore won the game and everyone celebrated. There were hardly any fans of Cleveland there because it's far away from Baltimore. But for me the day wasn't over yet, Maya's dad led us to the players' changing rooms after the match and I got to know one of Baltimore star players, Victor Flacco. I was really excited about this.
Markus Sch., 10e