Go Team!

So today was the USA-UK soccer game,* and while I didn’t watch it, I showed my support for grand old America in other ways.

First I went to the Centre Pompidou and saw American greats like Jackson Pollock’s paint-splattered masterpieces. And I also took some touristy photos at the top of the escalator, blocking traffic and causing mumbling among the non-tourists, like all great Americans do.

Worth it.

And then I had dinner at a place called Breakfast in America, whose tagline is “an American diner in Paris.” While I sat at the bar and chomped on ketchup-drenched fries and a cheeseburger (which I did not cut up with a fork), I read the New York Times conveniently left next to the salt and pepper shakers. Amidst all the stories about bombings and child molestation, I came across a gem featuring rising hip-hop star Drake, or as he is known to me, Jimmy the angsty basketball player-turned-wheelchair-ridden (of course) star of Canadian teenage soap opera Degrassi.

Give up already.

Drake’s road to hip-hop stardom has been a rocky one, for he’s had to work through all the problems that sprung up when he quit the show – like how he’s really bad with names now because he worked with 50 bajillion costars and could never keep who was who straight.

See? 50 bajillion wasn't that much of an over estimate.

And nothing could be more American than a story like that, proving that if anyone works hard enough they can achieve the American dream. Even Canadians.

And when I got home, I spent a few minutes in the common room watching a dubbed-over episode of THE greatest American sitcom of the past few decades, Friends. I didn’t think Chandler could get anymore uppity and condescending until I saw him speaking French.*

And while I wasn’t brave enough to wear it out in public, I’m going to sleep tonight in my all-American Steve Miller Band t-shirt, also known as the most obnoxious shirt ever made.

Why yes, those are bubble letters. Shooting out of a guitar-shaped rocket.

And all I have left to say is: USA! USA! USA!

*I wrote this post yesterday, so if USA won I'd like to take some of the credit.

* Kidding!