High above one of the baskets, I stand sheepishly next to my roommate on a bleacher when the band, cheerleaders and Cam (the two-legged) Ram take to the court to hype up the crowd. The fraternity that has just filled the bleachers next to me begins to cheer and sing: “I said I’m proud, to be, a CSU Ram!” Meanwhile, I stand there laughing, embarrassed at the entire situation; the noodles, the painfully happy cheerleaders and the fist pumps to fight! Fight! Fight!

This immense school pride is all foreign to me. Back in England at the University of Leicester, we have only one charity sports event each year.  Even though it is against our rival university, it is still poorly attended because school pride is just not our thing. We don’t have a band and just barely have what constitutes a cheerleading team; they take 15 minutes to form a wonky pyramid before chucking someone into the air, only to fall awkwardly and kick another in the jaw (I am not exaggerating, I’ve witnessed this).

As for school colors, I’m not sure the majority of students are even aware of them. Our sports teams rarely play in the original maroon and green, and the merchandise in our bookstore is in every color aside from the correct ones. Apparently no one wants to buy an off-brown hoodie.

So as I stand in Moby Arena, I’m desperately trying to embrace this culture. But it is just too weird for me. The fight song makes me cringe every time I hear it, and as I join the fist pump on the last few beats I feel as though I’m betraying my culture; one that stands and watches while shouting expletives at the opposing team due to their sporting inabilities.

There are no frills, no half time show and no ‘go team.’ We play serious sport: We don’t put on a special show for the spectators; the game is the show.

I know I will never feel completely comfortable at an American sporting event for these reasons, but despite the feeling of violation I have when the game ends, I love the idea of team spirit and school pride. It defines the American character; always willing to support each other and always positive. It unites people and gives everyone a place in a society with a common goal, making students believe they are at the best university there is and no one can take that away.

How did the American psyche develop so differently from the English one?

Part of me wishes that the English could express themselves similarly so that the next time I play a soccer game, I have a sideline chanting my name. Even if I make a handball or score on my own goal, I’ll get a pat on the back.

I know this is a ridiculous hope though. We can’t incorporate school colors, mascots, cheerleaders and all the other additions without the magnificent cheesiness that American’s seem to pull off without batting an eyelid. Regardless, it never seems as though anyone is that proud of going to my university despite its notable status. People are always willing to acknowledge that another university is superior.

Obviously our university experience is incredibly different. When we begin university, we are encouraged to go out to clubs and drink. We are taught that the university is purely an academic institution with a few sport clubs tacked onto the side.

Here, on the other hand, we have Ram everything: Ramapalooza, RamCT, Ramweb and now the new edition of Ramwiches! Students are almost brainwashed into loving Colorado State.

This “brainwashing” begins at the beginning of the semester with Ram Welcome. Everyone is assigned to a Ram Welcome leader who leads them in activities that pummel Ram pride into even the most rebellious individual.

It is frankly quite frightening to watch this indoctrination process, but it does leave everyone feeling happy to be here and overtly proud of CSU, evident from the sounds of freshmen chanting outside my window for the first week of fall semester!

Despite my seemingly dower descriptions of English culture, not expressing excitement and pride is a trait I am proud to have because it makes me English. At the same time, I am glad American’s express themselves in a different way; it would be boring if we were all the same.