Brazil! World Cup!

Last updated on December 21, 2023.

Back in December, without any expectations and just for fun, I entered the lottery for FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 tickets. There is less than a 10% chance to get tickets to a game for anyone entering the lottery. I requested tickets for all three of Greece’s group stage games with a friend. Again, the chances of even getting tickets to ONE game was slim to none.

Yesterday, I was notified by FIFA with this:

My reaction was kind of like this:

Uh Oh…

After jumping up and down and for several hours, I realized I’m an English teacher. English teachers make enough to eat and live, and if we manage money well, travel cheaply. I’ve mastered that part of it. But for the World Cup? I’m completely screwed. While the tickets aren’t that expensive, going to Brazil for the biggest sporting event in the world will cost a fortune. Some people told me to sell the tickets and make a profit. NO WAY! This is a once in a lifetime chance! I will find a way to make it work.

Decisions, Decisions

Time is running out quickly to decide, but I figure I have two options:

1) Stay in Santiago, Chile, and work and be responsible. Go to Brazil in June for the two weeks I need to go to the games. Spend more money than I have on hotels, flights, and food. Come back to Chile and keep working. Keep some stability.

2) Shun all responsibility and go to Brazil in early May. Stay a full three months in Rio de Janeiro and get to know Brazil. Travel to my games in Belo Horizonte, Natal, and Fortaleza. Meet football fans from all over the world. Blog about the experience every day or two, from the opening match to the final, and take lots and lots of photos. Go completely broke, but get a really nice tan doing it.

Bear in mind, flights from Chile to Brazil in June are running $1000 round trip, and are normally 1/3 – 1/2 that price. Also, the cost of renting a room in Brazil after May will skyrocket. Either way, I’m screwed.

What do you think should I do?