Justin Bieber fans have already arrived at the Zocalo, the historic center of Mexico City where they'll camp out for two days waiting to see JB's free concert on June 11. The young girls, most of whom are between 10 and 14 in age, will sleep on the sidewalks which are unfortunately said to be infested with giant cockroaches—especially after dark. No matter. They're more than willing to brave the insects, as well as other threats like urban predators, adjacent political demonstrators, and, on the day of the concert itself, the possibility of a riot like the one that recently injured dozens of Beliebers in Norway. None of it matters as long as they can behold their idol in the flesh.
So far things seem pretty calm. Most of the multitudes are passing the time listening to Bieber music on headphones or chanting his name aloud or checking out the JB buttons, posters, and other assorted souvenirs sold by entrepreneurs. And of course, they're keeping their eyes peeled for cockroaches.
"We kill them so they don't get close to the girls," explained a mother about the roaches. Her 17-year-old daughter is president of Mexico City's Official Justin Bieber Fan Club. As the JB Fan Club president, she was first in line, and she'll be assured a "ringside seat" at the show. Many of the fans won't be so lucky. In fact, most of them will have "to watch Bieber on a series of large screens set up near the plaza, rather than inside with their idol." But that doesn't deter them.
One 13-year-old Belieber and her mother travelled 14 hours by bus from Sinaloa just for the concert, and they may not even get in. Nevertheless, she's still hopeful.
"Justin," she explained, "teaches us not to give up on our dreams."
The crowd is expected to exceed 200,000 people.
© Hope Carson 2012
Hope Carson is the author of 2 books: A Roaring Girl: An Interview with the Thinking Man's Hooker and A Thousand and One Night Stands: The Life of Jon Vincent. You can follow her on Twitter.
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