A view from abroad

For many students at Tufts, the Super Bowl marks one of biggest annual events on the non-academic calendar. Parties, food, beer, intense rivalries, celebration and disappointment. But what do international students think about all the hoopla?

Close to seven percent of Tufts' undergraduate population comes from abroad to study on the Hill, from such far reaches as Turkey, Australia and Poland. For many, the Super Bowl is as foreign as Easy-Mac or Fluff, deeply "American" and steeped in a tradition that is difficult to comprehend until you experience it first hand.

And what better place to discover the excitement of the Super Bowl, than on a college campus.

"I'm basically not interested in it," sophomore Raphael Hui, a Hong Kong resident, confessed. "But I'll watch because it's what everyone does."

It is not that Hui is disinterested in sports. Quite the contrary. Hui, who was born in California but grew up in Hong Kong, where his parents are originally from, follows the popular sport of 'Rugby Sevens'. 'Sevens' is a modified version of rugby featuring seven players, rather than the customary 15. But Hui says the social side of the Super Bowl is what draws a lot of international students to watch, rather than the sport itself.

"My impression is that even foreigners get into [the Super Bowl], just because everyone watches," Hui added. "Basically it's just a popular thing."

Freshman Alexandra Liveris will also be watching, but for different reasons. Born in Hong Kong, Liveris' parents both hail from Australia. She has spent her life living around the globe, spending time in Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia and Michigan, where she now lives.

"We consider ourselves Australian," Liveris said. "My Dad is a huge sports fanatic, a big Australian sports fan with rugby and cricket. But Australia and America are similar because they're both big on sports. I'll be watching the Super Bowl here, because of my father and brother."

Liveris says that as Australians living in the United States, it's difficult to celebrate Thanksgiving for any reason other than for the football, because culturally there is no Thanksgiving-equivalent Down Under. This trickles down to Super Bowl Sunday. Liveris is of Greek decent, so any excuse for a celebration with lots of food is quickly embraced in her family, and when combined with sports, there is a certain expectation from her relatives.

"If I didn't watch, I'd probably get some questions from back home," Liveris said.

And her pick?

"Patriots!" Liveris added with a smile.

Like there's an alternative in this town.