Sports

One year, seven months, lots of experiences. Countless memories, some joyful, some life curving, but all significant in the wrapping of my time here in South Korea. Within this time frame I have been to two sporting events. The thought of it makes me feel sick. How can I document to myself and other people that, "I like all sports"? I have been to just two major sporting events.
In fact, when I was back home for 3 weeks I went to two football games and one day of cricket. My first sporting event in Seoul was a football game during my first week and my latest addition to sporting experiences in another country was a baseball game yesterday. It was great fun. I shared the experience with a fellow Brit, like me had never been to a baseball game, and then a Canadian, who knew a fair amount about baseball and then Jason, an American who would proudly put baseball at the top of his pecking order of sports.
Throughout the game we were all calling upon our sporting experiences, with the focus being on the atmosphere and action of the fans. It seems that in all sports, that we discussed anyway, that football (soccer for the North Americans out there) is the only sport that has negative banter between its supporters. Jason was quite surprised to hear that on occasions (every game), the fans will hurl abuse at referees, opposition players and also their own players. He found it quite amusing that a Spurs fan would enjoy chanting "Viera, whoooohooa, Viera, whooohooa, he wants to leave the scum, cause Campbell wants his bum", as an example of many that I gave. Another being, "The referees a wan*er".
After my experience yesterday, at the very clam and respectful baseball game, I felt a desire for my blood to be pumping at a Spurs game. I do miss the atmosphere at a Permiership football game, and all the abuse and negative verbal slants that one will here during the 90 minutes should not be taken too seriously. This kind of electric language is what gives our great game the edge over most when it comes to being a spectator sport. I think passion is the word.
Passion was definately evident at the baseball yesterday. During picthes there was a atmospheric bouyancy that any sporting event would be proud to present. The difference between a British football game and a Korean baseball game can be summarised by one of their songs. The theme tune to 'Inspector Gadget', was blasted out of the stands, and to the crowds delight they would tweet "dudt doooo", at the end of the sample..... awe inspiring.
Here are a couple more pics from the baseball......

The Marmite Debate

My comparison, to that of the yeast spreadable Marmite, is pretty straight forward. Korea is a country that, once you have been here long enough to understand it, long enough to pass some kind of judgment, most come up with either "I love it", or"I hate it".

There are a large number that fall in both categories. In fact I would like to challenge any "I hate Korea" person, to put their hand of their heart and say they completely dislike every aspect of the country. For me, this is impossible. I love this country dearly, but at the same time it can be hateable. To summarise, before I digress, I would say this country has a significant ability to keep people interested, keep them guessing, wondering, a huge amount of mysteriousness is behind peoples fascination with these lands. Nobody can truly understand exactly what the make-up of Korea is. I think this is why people stay here longer than they anticipated. I recall thinking to myself "I'm not done here, I don't know why, but I got another year in me". I wasn't driven by another years contract earning decent money or by a lady, although both of those two things were VERY VERY VERY good reasons to stay. I think the feeling was deeper. I'm still fascinated by everything this country offers. I think I'm addicted to the people, the food and the mysteriousness. I've read a few articles in The Korean Times recently, written by a Korean. He's a social critique. He's discussed some intriguing opinions of Korean people and their society. The most significant to mind is that he sees Koreans as a tribe. A tribe with a huge heart, and as within any tribe, the heart is focused on looking after their own. It's very true. This carries over into the justice system in this country. Of course there are elements of justice, but the justice is awarded by the heart rather than a rule or procedure. Our justice system is down to one word "Justice". In a car accident, for example, if a driver is drunk, then without question that person is to blame, that is the procedure of justice in regards to a drunken car accident. In Korea, recently, there was a incident where a motorcyclist, from the US, hit a drunk Korean man. The drunk man was J-walking on an area of road that, by law, should be lit up. It wasn't lit up. So we have a road that the cities council have neglected, a drunken man who is J-walking and a motorcyclist. The three of them find themselves in a court. In a court of justice, the monies owed would fall into the hands of the drunken man, for J-walking, and the councils for neglecting the law and not illuminating the road. However, in a Korean court of tribalism, the monies owed fell upon the motorcyclist. Is that justice?? No, not to the American. But is it justice to a fellow tribesmen? Yeah, sure it is.

I don't have a strong opinion on this issue of justice, but it highlights a fascination that Korea offers. Koreans have a huge heart. The heart comes first. Sadly, the heart is for their own.

I'm currently planning a trip around India. I've heard from many people and publications that India has the biggest heart of all nations. The difference being, when considering the Korean heart, is that the Indian heart is open for all, where as the Korean is very much closed and only open at rare times, and of course, for their own.