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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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 Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:46 am Post subject: The Scene at City Hall was Amazing! |
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Unfortunatley, I wasn't in Korea during the last World Cup, so I wasn't able to witness the mass crowds that others told me about.
So when I went to City Hall this evening, it was a really special experience. The energy was electric and you couldn't help but get caught up in the festivities.
I will remember this night for the rest of my life.
To be honest, I felt that this game was more a representation of national pride than a soccer match. While I do have some concerns with Korean nationalism from time to time, I was so glad to see Korean succeed tonight.
The joy on the peoples faces brought a smile to mine.
A lot of foreigners I believe are unaware of the struggles this nation has gone through. Sure many of us have read up on its history, but i'm not sure how many have really thought it through.
But now I understand a little better as to why the people here feel so much pride for winning a simple soccer match.
This country drives me bananas sometimes, but I also love it and hope it does well in the future. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:56 am Post subject: |
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I spent tonight in HongDae.. incredible! Its 4am and I wish I were still out.. but already set my alarm for 7am to catch a flight. That sucks.
What a great night out though. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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You didn't have to go to City Hall to catch the electricity, but it's definitely a good place to feel the buzz.
It's 5:14 and I'm still wearing my silly bandanna. I'll take it off eventually... |
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Oilers Fan
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I got caught up in the 2002 energy and felt like sucker when, ta month later, caught a lot of hate becuase I was white (that was during "Summer of Fire" when anti-Americanism was at fever pitch ---- I'm Canadian). |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| The grocery store in my little town of 7,000 cleared out their parking lot and put up a big screen TV. There were about 300 in the crowd watching the game. I sat with 17 of my students, so that added to the fun and excitement. I think, like watching a comedy, it's more fun in a crowd than watching alone on TV. The weather was beautiful, even a bit cool, and the cheering and joy were fun to share. It made a nice memory of my year here. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Oilers Fan wrote: |
| I got caught up in the 2002 energy and felt like sucker when, ta month later, caught a lot of hate becuase I was white (that was during "Summer of Fire" when anti-Americanism was at fever pitch ---- I'm Canadian). |
Houston Oilers rock!
(Ooopss.. still drunk from last night.. gotta catch my flight now). Damn 7am came around quickly.
Just checking to make sure I didn't say anything I'd regret while drunk a couple hours ago - hope this doesn't qualify later! |
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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A lot of foreigners I believe are unaware of the struggles this nation has gone through. Sure many of us have read up on its history, but i'm not sure how many have really thought it through.
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A friend of ours is an old Korean, an ex-marine. Served in Vietnam. Has some eye-opening stories to tell about the bad old days. He remembers fleeing with his mother as a boy from North Korea just as the borders were getting shut down at the end of the war. They rode on top of a train in the middle of winter with no food or water for days before, during, or after.
He's never seen the rest of his family again. He's always telling us how thankful he was for the US troops in the south--they kept him and his mother from starving by giving him food on the sly for both of them.
He says it's why he became a marine later on.
We always spoil him rotten when he visits. He absolutely adores Mr Canuckistan.
Go Korea!--Sounds like it's just as crazy as the last World Cup!
Last edited by canuckistan on Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Ha ha! Talk about pandemonium! Bumper to bumper traffic. Koreans literally pulling up the asphalt sitting on their behinds. Dodging bottle rockets. Trash everywhere. Looked like Tienamen Square on a good day. |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| matthews_world wrote: |
| Ha ha! Talk about pandemonium! Bumper to bumper traffic. Koreans literally pulling up the asphalt sitting on their behinds. Dodging bottle rockets. Trash everywhere. Looked like Tienamen Square on a good day. |
Isn't that Seoul on any Saturday night? 
I didn't go for two reasons,
1) I was worried about overpacked subways. Just getting around would be frustrating as hell.
2) I can't share the joy with them. I'm not a soccer fan and don't feel any special connection to the Korean soccer team.
I'd like you guys to tell me exactly what was so great about yesterday evening? All I read here is that many of you are from small towns and haven't seen large gatherings. I guess you haven't been in Korea long. You'll see them again and again. Wait for the festivals and the fireworks displays.
We see this kind of excitement all the time in Canada. Be in a Canadian city when they win the Stanley cup (NHL hockey). Hell, it's even dangerous to be outside. People turnowver cars and loot stores. Makes Korea look tame - but that's a good thing.  |
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adventureman
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
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