German Football

So football (soccer!) is huge in Germany! After experiencing my first viewing I would even say that each game is more popular than even the Superbowl. My roommate, R, invited me to watch the Bayern Munchen-Barcelona home game at the local mensa. A mensa is the same as a dining hall, although it is unfortunately not all you can eat like home at UMASS. It is pay by weight, but the food is pretty good and discounted for students! Anyways, we walked into the mensa and it was PACKED. Not a single seat in the place, and people were already forming standing areas for the game. It was so full that the mensa ran out of beer glasses. Usually this wouldn't be a big deal- all beer in America can be drank equally out of a can, glass bottle, or poured into a stine depending on personal preference. However, in Germany (the land of beer!) this is not the case. Weissbier or beer made from wheat instead of or in addition to barley. Weissbier has its own specific glass and pouring style. The beer must be pouring with the glass and at angle so it does not foam much (typical!). When the bottle has about one quarter of beer left you stop pouring and return both the beer bottle and glass to horizontal. You swirl the beer bottle so that all of the yeast is collected, then finish the pour with a foam cap. Weissbier is easily recognizable by its cloudy appearance from the yeast- so people can tell if you are a pouring novice! When I returned from the bar with no Weissbier glass I was both questioned and stared at- as if I had just done something embarrassing like slipped and fallen! Beer is serious business in Germany.
Anyways- the game starts and the entire room is attentive. Every bad pass, missed attempt, or shot on goal was cheered or booed. Every goal scored was accompanied by woops, standing, cheering, and conversation. I have never seen a spectator sport with such energy before- especially not at a local cafeteria! If I went to a DC on football Sunday it would be a very different scene. Luckily Bayern won 4-0, so moral was up and everyone was happy! I am not sure I would have enjoyed my first soccer experience as much if i had gone the other way!
The other thing that amazed me about the experience- recycling. Germans have got it right. Every beer bottle that night was returned for recycling. At the counter where you bought your beer, you also returned it for a 20 cent refund on your student ID card. At half time people went up to the counter with six or seven beers, and used the refund to pay for their next round! It was incredible how recycling was just a part of their drinking experience. Not only is it much better for the environment, but also for the clean up crew after the game and each students wallet! Having the mensa directly collect the bottles makes it so much more convenient- and if things are convenient then they will happen.