On Being a Kansas City Baseball Fan Living Abroad in 2015

• Nobody cares about baseball outside of the US (and maaaaybe Canada and Japan).

• If you do bring up the World Series, the first comment will be that it's only played between two countries. Every. Time.

• People might know who the Yankees are, but no one knows who the Royals are.

• Games started at 1 a.m. GMT — no bars stayed open that late, which meant no fun fan base to watch with. There was disappointing lack of high-fives. And your husband gets really grumpy if you cheer too loudly at 3 a.m.

• Nobody wants me to explain the significance of the Royals' appearance and win in the World Series (see Nos. 1 and 2).

• When you meet another person from the States, you can't help mentioning the Royals! And how excited the whole damn city is right now! And ... what? No actually, Kansas City is in Missouri ... Oh, never mind.

• The few friends you have made over here have probably blocked you on Facebook due to the incessant posting of Salvy memes and #ForeverRoyal posts.

• Haters gonna hate, and the only way you can stand up for your team and fellow fans is via Facebook comment threads — arguably the best way to convince someone to change his/her opinion. (Said no one ever.)

• Social media and streaming websites are a godsend.

• However, streaming a gigantic parade and rally on your phone on a bus is not the same as watching from a friend's downtown loft window. 

• The Mets fan in your Spanish class — the ONE GUY who might appreciate your gloating — didn't show up the day after the Royals won the World Series. Rude.