Today’s Seoul visit was to the 2002 FIFA World Cup Stadium which held the 17th staging of the World Cup from 31 May to 30 June. This was the first tournament in its history to be hosted by two countries and was also the first World Cup held in Asia. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0 in the final. Overall the stadium was pretty impressive, although I would of liked more of a village or monuments depicting the games. Check the pics below… Oh and don’t worry Operation: World Cup is being designed right now, the boys and I will be there in South Africa next year…
Dinner was great. Just a few drinks last night as everyone had to work in the morning. Here is the celebration beer video. I’m assuming pics will be coming soon.
So today has arrived. According to some people I’m an old man now… and in my late 20′s… Gross. (Written at 11am on the 29th)
The day actually went pretty well. Finally was able to sleep in and not really worry about anything. Ms. Smith was the first to ring in and wish me a happy birthday with a call at 12:01 Seoul time, in which Drew’s hears the call and yells, shit… Happy B-Day man, thinking he would of been the first. However, the calls, sms, emails and facebook msgs have been rolling in all day… I’m loving this two days worth of a Birthday. But seriously thank you to everyone that sent messages, it was nice to hear from all of you…well not Matt, he needs to work on his singing voice.
I actually spent the day taking a trip to the center of Seoul to see the entire city from above at the N Seoul Tower. Drew’s friend Tabi graciously said she would take me on this trip as she finishes school at 3pm and hadn’t been yet either. N Seoul Tower is a communication tower built in 1969 and it measures 777 ft tall. Week took the Namsan cable car up the mountain, and then walk to the tower. The view from the top was pretty amazing as you really get the sense of how big Seoul really is. Another very interesting part of the experience of the tower is at the base. The surrounding fences are adorned with locks. Visitors (in relationships) will bring these locks with inscriptions written on them to lock their love down to highest point in Seoul to strengthen their bond.
After the tower visit we just happen to be right in the heart of the shopping district of Seoul… I think this was planned as I quickly found out that Tabi is quite the shopper… Let’s just say we found a few high end shops (Named TATE) that I couldn’t afford, but then we found the H&M of Korea (UNIQLO), so all was good. Found a few more unique Korean stores as well and got a few fun things there… Soon enough it was time to head to dinner… Enjoy the photos, more b-day antics to come…
After a day of rest it was time to actually get out and see Seoul in the day light. Drew and I actually got up around 7am to get ready and head out on our hour long journey to the 1988 Summer Olympic Village. But like most days, its a about the journey. The subways here always create the opportunity for a story and with the nifty iphone camera you can sneak great photos to help illustrate what I’m seeing daily. Like the guy in the first photo below. Just hops on the train to sell his CD’s and wont leave until someone buys one, and every time someone does… I’m not sure people are buying them because they enjoy what they are hearing, or they are just trying to get him to move trains and save the rest of us from suffering.
Our first stop first stop today was at Seoul’s largest Mall the COEX. But with Drew needing to be at school by 2 our stop was quick, but we did find a very interesting store… So now I have found two stores named after my siblings Tate and Rory… When will I have a place named after me… Also, why in the hell did I have to travel all the way around the world to see a Bennigans again…
The Olympic Village here in Seoul was actually pretty well put together for being 20 years old. Sure the rainbow color scheme was big back then, so I’m not going to hold it against them. Today they still use the baseball and basketball venues as I found both of their baseball teams team buses and this is where we will be seeing the Korean Basketball All-Star game this upcoming weekend. The outside of the main stadium contains a very interesting set of monuments to commemorate Olympic games pasted and how their Korean athletes fare, check Drew reenacting some poses below. As for my reasoning of wanting to visit this location, I’m not really sure why I’m so fascinated by the Olympic stadiums and villages (This makes my forth visit: Athens, Munich, Salt Lake & Seoul) but if I’m in a city where the Olympic games have been held I usually end up there. Maybe it’s the thought of all the great athletes that walked the same hallow grounds or the fact that this event brings the world together every four years and its some very special. Hope you enjoy the pics… More to come. PS I turn old tomorrow.
Well last night was a success. We had about 20 people over to help bring in the Chinese New Year. Everyone brought gifts for the event as well, as part of Korean culture to bring certain desserts and drinks to parties and this was no exception. Drew and I had the great honor of teaching the classic game of Beer Pong to our new friends. Fun was had. Tomorrow we go back to real life. More stories to follow.
Happy Chinese New Year! 2009 is the Year of Ox and Drew is throwing a killer New Year’s Party for all of his foreigner friends as his Korean counterparts will be off with their families for the holiday. So to get ready we needed to stock up on the essentials. Here is another little video I put together to give you a look into a Korean Supermarket. Enjoy.
Update: In my last post I forgot to mention that I have picked up some pretty sweet balloon art skills in Seoul…
Moving along. That last couple of days (Friday and Saturday) have been spent working mornings and going out in the evenings. Each day starts with Drew (waking up 3 hours after me) asking me what I would like to do later that night and each response I give him is to show me what Korea is really about. I have traveled to many places in the last 4 years and have found my way and always enjoyed my experiences but I don’t think I have ever truly been able to live like a local until now. With the great mix of Drew’s foreigner and Korean friends they have been able to show me places off the beaten path. Places that I would of never found on my own, food and drinks that I would not of known that ever existed and hole in the wall bars the boast great music and soju. But late last night we went to a bar that was full of all Americans. Granted we were in the University part of Seoul and that is generally where most foreigners go to visit and hang out but I was upset beyond belief when I walked into this bar. It wasn’t the fact that I was there, but it’s that all of the people there have traveled a very long way to have the same experience as back home. Loud American music, Budweiser, the strong smell of cologne and popped collar shirts. I just don’t understand what the point of seeing other cultures and countries is if you are going to be closed minded and not try new things. I’m not trying to sound bigger or better than anyone because truthfully I do enjoy western ideals, but if I wanted to go to my neighborhood bar I wouldn’t of traveled half way around the world to do so. Sorry to rant.
Again moving along. Check the photos of the last two nights. Enjoying some interesting tea, soju and dinner with some new friends, a Korean rock cover band, the snow in Seoul and yes, yes I did met Charlie Brown. I win.
Blogging live from Drew’s school and let me tell you…. They love me here. All week I have heard horror stories from Andy (Drew’s co-worker) about the Head Teacher. First he welcomes we with open arms, and then runs off to the nearest convenience store to purchase me some Korean cookies and orange juice.
It was now time for Drew to go to work and I took this break to get a little more work done. Been blogging like crazy. Spent a little time talking to his co-workers….best line “you are very handsome”, and yes that was from a girl, I know what you are thinking Dad…. Next I was invited to join Drew in his second class of the day. Just a tab bit awkward walking into a room with all eyes on you and having everyone jaws drop, like “damn….they made two of you”. This normally being Drew’s loudest class, these kids acted perfectly because I was there to sit in. The best part was each student sneaking a glance at me one by one during the lecture as I sat there and smiled back. Drew is a pretty funny teacher, quite an experience to watch your younger brother “work”.
Upon my return to the teachers lounge I was confronted by yet another barrage of questions from the head teacher, Sunny. Barack Obama was the topic of discussion this time. It’s so strange being other places in the world and having their nationals know more about our politics than most Americans….
After a few more visits to Drew’s classes to introduce myself to the kids and a few more hours of work, Korean Pizza was delivered, compliments for one of the students parents. Tasty. To sum up the entire day Drew doesn’t have a bad life. Start work at 2, teach kids, leave by 9 just in time to meet up with friends at the local watering hole.
Well I’m off to go play some cards games with some more new faces…. Stay Tuned.
But: The Dodgers??