Living overseas is often quite challenging – even for the most seasoned traveler or career military family. Adjusting to the new foods, language, culture, norms, and social expectations is hard. If you’re finding it difficult to bond with the locals, we have a suggestion – play corn hole with your neighbors! Experience tells us this is a great ice-breaker and a super fun way to break down cultural barriers.
What is Cornhole?
If you’ve been overseas for a while, you might not know what cornhole is (or have forgotten how awesome it is). While cornhole is immensely popular in the USA, its fame hasn’t seeped across the pond yet.
Cornhole is a simple outdoor game. It consists of two platforms (usually constructed from wood) and eight bean bags. One board is erected at each end of the cornhole court (usually about seven or eight meters apart).
Contestants take turns tossing bean bags at the platforms. A bag that passes through the hole earns three points. A bag that lands on the board but doesn’t pass through the hole earns one point. A bag that comes to rest on the ground (or not on the board) doesn’t score any points.
The game can be played with singles (one on one) or teams (two against two). The first player (or team) to reach 21 points wins. More detailed game rules can be found here.
Why Should We Play?
Even if you are fluent in German, there are probably numerous roadblocks that are standing between you and a quality relationship with the locals. Cornhole can help you tear down those barriers and connect with this other cultural group in a way you couldn’t otherwise manage.
The awesomeness of cornhole is multi-dimensional. Check out all the reasons why Americans (and hopefully, your fellow Germans) love the game:
- Everyone can play. It doesn’t matter the age, ability, race, or IQ of the contestants. Everyone is welcome on the cornhole court.
- Players aren’t bogged down by complicated rules or strategies. Translating game play should be a snap.
- The equipment doesn’t take up a lot of space. It is also pretty easy to transport. That makes it the ideal game when it comes to storage and off-site game play. Take it with you anywhere.
- If you need another excuse to justify prolonged playing, cornhole technically helps youngsters learn about numbers, math, hand-eye coordination, and sportsmanship. Depending on how enthusiastic the player (and how elaborate the victory dance), the game could be classified as exercise.
- But the ultimate reason why cornhole is so fabulous is the ability to bring strange groups of people together. Few things induce bonding like this outdoor game. Give it a try. See if this hilariously named and insanely simple game doesn’t bring out the lighter side of those stoic Germans!
When is the Best Time to Bring out the Bags and Boards?
Technically, cornhole can be played anywhere at any time. But if you are shy about simply inviting your neighbors over for an impromptu game, here are some ways you can slowly acclimate the locals to the idea of cornhole.
- Check with the local pub. Would they be willing to host a cornhole tournament before the next football match? Not only would you introduce the locals to the idea of cornhole, but you could start them on the path to tailgating too!
- Give a cornhole game set as a gift.
- Plan a BBQ party that incorporates cornhole.
- Host a cornhole tournament as a fundraiser. Choose a local charity and let the bags fly.
How Do I Get One?!
If you’ve been looking for a way to break the ice and connect with the locals, it might be time to show them how Americans kick back and relax!
- Not everyone is good with a hammer though. If you lack the DIY skills necessary to build cornhole boards, have no fear. There are plenty of online stores that sell cornhole supplies. In most cases, you can opt for either plain, generic boards that you can customize yourself or you can get the cornhole supplier to trick out the set for you.
- Cornhole game sets don’t involve much equipment – just some boards and bags. Therefore, it is super easy to construct your own set. Here are some guidelines if you choose to build some cornhole boards.
- So basically, there are two ways to acquire your own cornhole game set: you can build or you can buy.
Author profile: Julia Richardson is a mother of three that loves spending family fun outdoors. She’s moved around quite a bit over the years, but takes her love of cornhole wherever she goes. When she’s not entertaining friends and family, Julia can be found sharing her loves with others online.