The World Cup Starts Soon: Some Genuine Advice From an American
So I've been seeing a lot of people online talking about the World Cup starting soon, and there seems to be a lot more bickering about things that may not matter than helping. I've seen a lot of that on tik tok where people are just making fun of each other for being different or not knowing things and that sucks because this is a big thing that brings a lot of people together.
I'm not a big soccer (football) fan, but I am a young woman who lives in America and has to travel around the country for work. There are things that have surprised me even going a few states over and I want to help people be a bit less surprised and more prepared for what they might encounter. Some things may not be uniquely American and some things may on apply to some part of America, the country is massive.
Feel free to add anything you want, and please stay kind. This can be an incredible event and time to meet people who can are different from you at a time when everything feels very divided.
To start: The Politics of it all
There's no ignoring the politics of the situation. FIFA is kind of a shady organization from what I understand and the current federal administration is a major problem so here's some things to look out for:
Deportation: Please keep your passport and visa with you. I know its crazy to say this, but if you are stopped on the streets by an ICE agent and can't prove you're here legally they could arrest you. Not only that, if they deport you, they may not send you back to the correct country. You could be sent to a facility or a detention center.
Guns: Depending on the state you are in, people around you may very casually have guns on them and concealed. It freaks me out and it's important to remember because you do want to remember if you are engaging in arguments or conflicts in public that its possible the other guy has a gun.
Infrastructure: It does not seem like the US government and FIFA have properly planned these games. Some stadiums across the country don't have public transportation to them, and some stadiums are being advertised as being in cities they aren't in. Please check a map and travel guides for what specific games you're attending to make sure you understand how to get to the game safely.
Now that the bummers are out of the way, here's just some more interesting things to know.
Thunderstorms: I didn't know until recently that thunderstorms weren't common across the planet, but they happen here and they're in season. In Maryland this time of year, a day with a thunderstorm means sunny all day and then getting suddenly very dark before the skies open up. If you are driving and it starts getting dark very suddenly get to the far right lane and be ready to pull over because the rain can fall so fast in such great amounts you can't see through it. Also most pools in America will require you to get out of the water for an hour from the last heard thunder roll.
Tornadoes: I think its early for Tornado season, but they can still happen. They're most frequent in a region actually known as Tornado valley in the mid west (google it and a map will come up). Shelter from a tornado depending on where you are. Some buildings have tornado shelters or emergency shelter rooms to go to. In a building that doesn't have this get to the basement or ground floor and away from the windows. Outside get out of your car and to low ground in a ditch or something and lay as flat on the ground as possible. DO NOT GET UNDER AN OVERPASS. THIS IS A MOVIE TROPE AND CAN GET YOU KILLED. And crack the windows of the building you are in to prevent a pressure buildup that could break the walls.
Tornado Watch means the weather conditions in your area could make a tornado
Tornado Warning means a tornado has been spotted and is occurring. This doesn't mean it touched the ground, but it could, and you should seek shelter immediately
Tornado Siren Testing A lot of towns do a test of their sirens the first Wednesday of the month at noon. This would be July 2nd at noon. If sirens go off, its sunny, and locals aren't reacting its likely the test that day.
Fires: Wild fires in America have been rather intense the past few summers, but again I think its early in the year for them. This is much bigger problem on the west coast and I have never been taught what to do for them so if someone else knows that please share. I do know at one point the air quality here was bad enough it was recommended to wear a mask at all times outside and the sky was orange for 2 days.
Heat: The intensity of the summer really depends on where you are here. Please drink water, they'll give it to you free at almost every restaurant. It gets humid enough in some places that your sweat will no longer be able to evaporate, which means you are not cooling off that way anymore. If you start to feel cold on a hot day, or dizzy, get into a cooler place immediately. This could be heat stroke, it can be very common in some parts of the US.
Try the fast food! This isn't a joke. My cousins from England and Iran have come to America and fallen in love with Taco Bell. Is it authentic? No. But is it delicious? Yes. Its a fun treat I think most people should try. In a similar vein, Waffle House or a Chilli's late at night is a very fun energy.
Groceries: If you're looking for groceries, I typically recommend an Aldi's if there's one nearby. Its the least expensive typically but it doesn't carry specialty foods. If you're deep in a city, finding groceries can be pretty difficult. 7/11, CVS, Walgreens and Targets do have grocery sections. They're small but if you're looking for microwave meals, cereal or bread they'll have them.
Texas Roadhouse: If you are somewhere near a Texas Roadhouse, please go to one. The rolls are amazing, they're food is very good and consistent location to location. Tell them its someone's birthday for a special treat ;)
The 4th of July does fall during the world cup. There will be fireworks leading up that week and a few days after. They're loud and can be rather triggering for some people. If you're going to light your own fireworks please be incredibly careful with them and check the laws in the state and city you're in about the legality of the fireworks.
There's also a chance the 4th of July this year might get a bit unsafe depending on where you are given the amount of political unrest in the country. I wouldn't recommend attending DC celebrations especially.
Cicadas: Totally harmless but loud bigger bugs that come out this time of year in parts of America. You'll mainly just hear a buzzing noise (I didn't know these guys weren't global)
Fireflies: These guys light up at night, they're much more common on the east coast I think and this time of year they're densest in the central east coast. Find a field and catch some, its so fun.
Scorpions and Alligators: I'm not going to lie, I do not know about these guys, I'm a north east to north west girl, but they exist. Scorpions are mainly in Texas and the surrounding states and alligators are a Florida and nearby states thing. if you're going to those regions please read up on them from someone else, I can't help here.
Deer: These bitches will jump in the road. If you are driving through the woods early morning or at night please watch the side of the road for them. They do not understand cars and will break your windshield.
Please share more thoughts! I just felt like so much information was getting lost in the arguing that people might really not know certain weird things about coming here. Enjoy the games!
