The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini | The Fiction Review by RJ Ananthi | The Book Show
9m 2s
The speaker, a Spanish reporter, concludes their World Cup coverage in the United States after 26 days, 7 cities, and 11 games. They reflect on the experience as rewarding yet exhausting, emphasizing the joy of cultural exchange and meeting people from diverse backgrounds. However, they express strong dissatisfaction with the France vs. Paraguay match in Philadelphia, citing extreme heat (42°C) and what they call disgraceful refereeing—Paraguay allegedly used aggressive tactics without receiving yellow cards, undermining fairness. Their Fourth of July experience in Philadelphia also left them troubled. They encountered what they describe as ultra-nationalism, with Americans claiming their country is the best and that all nations should celebrate U.S. independence. The speaker criticizes this arrogance, noting many such individuals have never traveled abroad. They also point out the irony of anti-immigration rhetoric in a nation built by immigrants, observing that immigrant workers run many local establishments. A personal medical visit costing $175 for a brief consultation further highlights their critique of U.S. healthcare. Despite these criticisms, the speaker acknowledges the U.S. has many brilliant and kind people, and they are grateful for the World Cup experience. They advocate for celebrating cultural differences rather than believing in national superiority, and hope Spain reaches the final.
Hello, Revis Tabirálica fans. This is my last video in the World Cup. I'm leaving today. I'm going back to Spain. It's been 26 days in the States. I've been 7 cities. I've covered 11 games in World Cup 16 different national teams. It's been fun. It's been fun. It's been challenging. It's been exhausting. But the World Cup is one of those experiences that a reporter like really enjoys. It's different from anything else. Again, it's challenging. It's exhausting. But if you love this job, you really love it. It's about meeting people from all over the world. It's about exchanging cultures. It's about watching different approaches to the game. It's about interviewing protagonists. It's about meeting new people in the world of football. Yesterday, it was my last game in Philadelphia. It was France against Padagway. I haven't mixed feeling about that. It was not the best game I've covered, not at all. Obviously, the heat played a big part. I'm sure. It was very, very, very difficult to be in that stadium at 5pm. It was 38 degrees Celsius. The temperature between the humidity and the big sun. It was like something like 42. It was on my phone. You cannot play football at 42 degrees Celsius. Then Padagway's approach. I understand why they do it. We've seen that. That would be proud of some of those players. That game cannot end with three yellow cards for France and not a single yellow card for Padagway. That's not why referees are there. Referees need to be fair. They need to do justice on the pitch. He didn't do that. It was disgraceful. I was there in the stadium. The tactics were very clear. Just a kick here. A push here. Pull them out of the game. That's when we have a chance. Do that. The referee needs to understand what's going on and to act accordingly. That didn't happen. Shameful refereeing. I'm very upset when that happens in Aliga. I'm upset when it happens in the World Cup, too. Moreover, I was in Philadelphia and it was 4th of July. Don't get me wrong here. I've had an amazing time. The United States has amazing people. It's an amazing country. It's huge. There's a lot of variety. What I saw here in Philadelphia, July the 4th, that was ultra-nationalism because they were 250 years old, only 250 years old. If you compare that to a lot of nations in the world, you'll realize how young this country is. Still, when I was going out in the streets, I wanted to record a colour piece interviewing Americans how they leave this day. Still, knowing that I would get some sort of explanations, reactions, answers, when actually standing there and listening to some of those people, you realize why we are where we are right now. Because a lot of them was telling me the whole humanity should celebrate this day. Every single country in the world should thank us. We are the best country in the world because of the freedom, the democracy. That's a blatant lie. What are you talking about? One, the best country in the world doesn't exist. I understand that you feel your country is the best country in the world. But your attitude, your arrogance of going everywhere in the world. Still believing that you are the best country in the world. Most of them haven't not ever travelled outside the United States by the way, so they have nothing to compare it with. And that is what they have been told throughout their lives. You are lucky. You live in the best country in the world. We need to spread our message. We need everyone in this planet to understand what we are. And that is pure arrogance. I was having breakfast in the market here in Philadelphia. Very good and interesting market. A lot of places, different foods, exchange of cultures. Again, that is what I love. And suddenly I saw on the news a message from Donald Trump saying how good his job has been, what he's done and fighting immigration is the key. And while saying that, I just looked around. And there was this Filipino bar, the Chinese bar, a Mexican Puerto Rican. Everybody working there. So my ex-question was, if that plan of stopping immigration in a country that was built by immigrants, succeed, nobody would be working there. And this phenomenon is happening everywhere in the world. It's warning is concerning. Again, I've loved the experience. I love the United States. But just being here in a day like that, listening to those kinds of messages, there was one guy that because of my accent when interviewing him told me, "I'm just sorry for you lot. You just lost the greatest country in the world." He thought I was English. My dad's English, I'm Spanish. But I was like, "What are you talking about?" I don't know. I have a mixed feeling now. I understand things. I know what's going on. But all this feeling of we are the saviors. We are the best from people that have only left their homes to go to the big mall supermarket, the church, and then go back home. It's complicated. I just wanted to say this. I've had an amazing experience. There's a lot of great people in this country. Don't get me wrong. I've had lots of very interesting exchanges of opinions. There's brilliant people here. Smart. I admire a lot of things from the United States. But I had a medical issue, for example. So I had to go urgently to a clinic. So I called my insurance in Spain. I said, "I need to do this." I'm traveling. It cannot wait for you to give me an appointment somewhere. You just screwed if you don't have that. I think it was a four minute review from a doctor. Not a four minute review. He attended me for four minutes in a small room. It was 175 dollars. 175 dollars. If you come to Spain, you go to the hospital. If you need it, you'll be treated. That's for sure. But yeah, again, I'm really grateful to be here. It's been an amazing experience, an amazing World Cup. I hope Spain reaches the final. I've seen some bits and bats. I thought France were clear favorites. Yesterday it was a bit disappointing. Again, weather and paraguay didn't help. We'll see how they do against Morocco. But I just wanted to share my thoughts about the World Cup, about the United States, and about the Fourth of July. Every country is the best country in the world. Let's celebrate our differences. Let's exchange and let's never believe that we are better than the rest because of simply what we were told. Enjoy the rest of the World Cup. Bye bye.
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
The speaker is a reporter leaving the U.S. after covering 11 World Cup games across 7 cities over 26 days, describing the experience as fun, challenging, and exhausting.
They criticize the France vs. Paraguay match in Philadelphia for poor refereeing, which allowed aggressive tactics without proper penalties, exacerbated by extreme heat (42°C).
They express discomfort with U.S. Fourth of July ultra-nationalism, noting that many Americans claim their country is the best without having traveled abroad, and reject the idea of any nation being superior.
They highlight a contradiction in U.S. immigration policy, observing that immigrants run many local businesses while political messages oppose immigration.
They share a personal negative experience with the U.S. healthcare system, paying $175 for a four-minute medical consultation.
Despite criticisms, they acknowledge the U.S. has amazing people and they are grateful for the overall experience, including cultural exchanges and the World Cup.
Summary:
The speaker, a Spanish reporter, concludes their World Cup coverage in the United States after 26 days, 7 cities, and 11 games. They reflect on the experience as rewarding yet exhausting, emphasizing the joy of cultural exchange and meeting people from diverse backgrounds. However, they express strong dissatisfaction with the France vs.
Paraguay match in Philadelphia, citing extreme heat (42°C) and what they call disgraceful refereeing—Paraguay allegedly used aggressive tactics without receiving yellow cards, undermining fairness. Their Fourth of July experience in Philadelphia also left them troubled. S.
independence. The speaker criticizes this arrogance, noting many such individuals have never traveled abroad. They also point out the irony of anti-immigration rhetoric in a nation built by immigrants, observing that immigrant workers run many local establishments.
S. healthcare. S.
has many brilliant and kind people, and they are grateful for the World Cup experience. They advocate for celebrating cultural differences rather than believing in national superiority, and hope Spain reaches the final.
FAQs
The reporter spent 26 days in the U.S., visiting 7 cities and covering 11 games with 16 national teams. They found the experience fun, challenging, and exhausting, but rewarding for a journalist who loves meeting people and exchanging cultures.
The game was played in extreme heat of 42°C, making it difficult to play football. The reporter also criticized the referee for unfair officiating, noting that Paraguay received no yellow cards despite aggressive tactics, while France got three.
The reporter felt the referee failed to be fair and just, allowing Paraguay to use rough tactics without punishment, which they called disgraceful and shameful.
The reporter observed what they called 'ultra-nationalism,' with some Americans claiming the U.S. is the best country and that all nations should celebrate, which they saw as arrogant, especially since many had never traveled abroad.
While hearing Donald Trump’s anti-immigration message, the reporter saw immigrants working at various food stalls, highlighting that the U.S. was built by immigrants and that stopping immigration would leave many jobs unfilled.
The reporter needed urgent care and paid $175 for a four-minute doctor visit, contrasting it with Spain where treatment is free and accessible.
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