CAMERANO (part XIII): Two parties for the price of one

WE WATCHED THE ITALIANS dance in the street after their team defeated Germany, assuring them a spot in the World Cup championship game.

We laughed and partied and took pictures.

And then it dawned on us: at home, Americans were busy celebrating our nation’s 230th birthday.

As historic a moment as it was - the Italians hadn’t been to the World Cup since 1994 and hadn’t won since ’82, we couldn’t help but feel a little guilty feeling so connected to a county that wasn’t our own.

Especially on the day our patriotism is expected to shine through the most.

It was strange to be out of the county over the Fourth of July but it was an interesting and fun experience to watch another nation’s people revel in their own pride for their country.

And even though we were thousands of miles away from home - and craving watermelons, hotdogs and red, white and blue fireworks - seeing how proud the Italians were reminded us that we were also proud of the U.S.A. … despite our team’s performance in the World Cup (America failed to qualify for second round again this year).

- Ann Curran