I’m not much on soccer, but it seems the rest of the world is. As I write this, America is covered up with folks who like soccer so much; they’ve bought plane tickets and hotel rooms so they can be here to see it.

Many of the people who are here are from Europe. Specifically, Britain, even though most of the soccer is played back where they live.

I guess the first point of order is to highlight the fact that what we call soccer, the rest of the world calls football. Except, a lot of them spell it futball. But that’s another discussion.

I’ve watched more soccer in the last few weeks than I did when my son played little league back in the 80s. And I watched a lot back then.

His soccer games were the reason we bought a camcorder the size of a small Buick. I’m not sure how much soccer, played by six-year-olds, we need, but I have plenty if you’re interested.

But the biggest enjoyment I’ve had so far, is watching the social media posts that our guests have shared in regard to three things: our friendliness, food, and our country’s beauty.

Particularly, Southern friendliness.

Southerners know nothing other than to be friendly. But this seems foreign to the foreigners. One Brit discussed this in a video he posted.

He said that eye contact among strangers back where he lives in the UK is cause for alarm. There, they would consider calling the police. The same is true in L.A., Detroit, and D.C. But not in Texas, Arkansas, and the rest of the South.

This British fella described going into a convenience store in Arkansas, where he was approached by a woman who insisted that his travels and dining experiences weren’t complete until he’d had a moon pie and an RC Cola. So, she bought him one of each.

He couldn’t believe that a complete stranger would talk to him and be friendly, much less provide him lunch.

For the record, a moon pie and an RC Cola are acceptable for breakfast, dinner, or supper. For readers above the Mason Dixon, that’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Two other guys from England, who are traveling game-to-game in the States, are making BBQ part of their stops. To watch these fellas salivate over ribs, brisket, and smoked turkey and ham, prepared by the South’s finest, is about as rewarding as watching Nolan Ryan pummel Robin Ventura.

There have been several videos posted of Brits, Scotsmen, and other Europeans, trying biscuits and gravy for the first time. Most begin with comments about how this Southern delicacy looks. But they’re quickly silenced when they take a bite. Which leads to another, then another, until they’re sopping the plate with their last biscuit.

Many of the same guests who’ve come to America also comment about how big our country is, and its beauty.

This is one area where we have failed our children. We do have an expansive and beautiful nation. And we should make sure that we teach our kids this. There’s a song called, America The Beautiful, so it isn’t as if we didn’t already know it.

Other comments I’ve heard in their videos are about how their perception of America before arriving was based on how our own media portrays our country. They thought we were all hateful to each other and our visitors.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and I’m glad they’re seeing this for themselves. One man said he couldn’t believe how friendly everyone is, how generous we are, and just how big everything is.

Another video post discussed how he could drive through France, England, and many other European countries, and it would take less time than driving through Texas.

It’s difficult to see things differently than you already do, especially if you buy anything our national media says. Because the truth is, we are a great country, we are friendly, our food is exceptional, and by and large, we get along.

If you’re a visitor and are reading this, if you haven’t tried biscuits and gravy or a moon pie and RC Cola, give me a shout and I’ll meet up with you and rectify that.

I can’t have you coming all the way over here and not experiencing them. While you’re eating, I’ll teach you how to spell football the right way.

 

©2026 John Moore

John’s, ”Puns for Groan People” and two volumes about growing up in the South called, ”Write of Passage,” are available at TheCountryWriter.com. Write a note to him at John@TheCountryWriter.com.