FIFA: Maybe you have been hiding under a rock or simply too sophisticated to be concerned with soccer/football. Yet everyone here in South Korea stops their hectic lives to cheer on their soccer team; yes, I repeat the whole country Ajummas, Grandpas, moms, dads, students and business men all stop for a few hours to watch the national Korean team play. The cheering nation is known as the "Shouting Reds." This phenominon, of course, is not overlooked by greedy street vendors hawking their RedDevil light-up horns, inflatable cheering battons and t-shirts. Even their superstars, the K-POP singers have made a song to boost team spirits. (See: www.youtube.com/watch?v-jCdYAYPjZ4M&feature=channel to watch SuperJunior cheer on their team with "Victoria, Gloria")
The Game: Last week, I watched the second South Korean game against Argentina near the Seoul Sports Complex. It was wild. Never have I ever seen so many people packed into one square in my life. A sea of red shirts and spray of bright lights set the exciting stage for the game. Once it began shouts of "Dae Ha Min Guk" could be heard in perfect unison. (Excited to be in the moment, I chanted "Hey Amigo" right along with them, well that is until Katie corrected me.) The heat of the lights and hundreds of bodies alongside of me added to the humidity of the evening. Luckily, Katie and I snagged a spot right next to the Baskin&Robbins tent. FREE ICE-CREAM! God bless this wealthy country. :)
Back to the Bands: Not that I don't enjoy K-Pop but I have found that I rather enjoy Shakira's song WakaWaka better. It is the official FIFA song for the 2010 South Africa World Cup. The following is a short film of photos (not all mine) from: the game, watching the game in the cramped quarters of downtown Seoul and video from my class. (The crazy kids were my 3rd graders and yes, they made my week grand :)
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