|
We both don't have the words to describe the experience of seeing this country's team make it to the
semifinals of the World Cup. The president called a national holiday on July 1st, because of the success of the team.
Koreans are a proud people, but this experience for them of hosting the world and then their team going so far stirred up
emotions and national pride and spirit to new heights. It was a magical time to be here - that sounds cheesy, but
it's true. Korea was ranked low coming into the tournament, but played incredible soccer. They pulled off upsets
over and over and made it to the final four. When they made it to the semifinals - the country went CRAZY.
We went out that night to our favorite area of town. We walked and it was stop and go traffic for miles with
people honking and hanging out of their cars, people screaming and running everywhere. Shop owners, old women, kids
were on the streets giving us hugs and high fives. We got to the Kangnam section of Seoul and it was a sea
of red t-shirts dancing as far as you could see in 4 directions. The news said that 7 million people were
celebrating in the streets around Seoul that night. There was no violence, no vandalism anywhere - just proud, excited
Koreans dancing and yelling all night long.
|
