South Korea 2010: A day by day retrospective
We actually miss the first goal that Korea scores, but who cares. Anytime you can settle into a World Cup match and find that your team is up, you'll take it. And before my body completely shuts down, I see the captain, Park Ji-Sung, slip one by the helpless Grecian goaltender. 2 - 0 Korea wins. The captain scores. Emmelle's friend is married. The country is officially in a frenzy. In your face, Greece!
Wow, it's been a month since my last post. I really don't remember anything from our June trip anymore. Let me try to piece together some thoughts and half-truths based on some of the photos I captured during the second day.
Day 2; Park Ji-Sung: Will you marry me?
In your face, Greece! (That will make sense in a couple of minutes)
Jet lag rules the day. She completely consumes me from head to toe and dances all over my face throughout a restless night of sleep. I acquiesce and stumble out of bed. It's 4AM; sunlight has yet to make its way onto the streets below. I can't tell if it's really jet lag that's keeping me up or the excitement of having just started our trip. It really doesn't matter; I'm happy to be awake. At the same time, I'm acutely aware that I won't be able to make it through the long day ahead - my head feels heavy, my finger tips are numb, it almost feels like I can hear my own blinking.
Emmelle eventually awakes and we get an early start to the day. We are excited for different reasons. For Emmelle, it's her friend's wedding ceremony and reception that will take up the bulk of our day. As for me, there are more critical matters that require my attention, Korea's first World Cup 2010 FInals match against Greece will take place later that night. I perfect my tie around my neck and trust that my unreasonably handsome appearance will bring good fortune to the "Taeguk Warriors" (this name needs to change; why can't it be something like the "Soju-guzzling Tigers" or "Emotionally-stunted Tigers". Something with tigers; let's think about this).
We depart on a rain-soaked morning to a Catholic chapel on the other side of the mighty Han River. The captivating photos below perfectly illustrate the subway ride to and from the wedding ceremony.
I call this one "Crappy photo flipped to black and white to seem artistic". I think this grainy composition really captures the urban grittiness of Seoul's clean, organized and advanced subway system. Beautiful.
Here is a fun game (below) that's sweeping the Korean nation - "Where's Emmelle?" See if you can win!
After a rousing match of "Where's Emmelle?", we find ourselves at the chapel. Emmelle is reunited with friends and acquaintances. I don't know anyone at the wedding but I just assume I'll run into somebody because it's a Korean Catholic mass. I don't.
Before the "real" reception that is to be held at the lavish Hyatt hotel (back on the other side of the river), the bride and groom host a lunch reception at the chapel hall for all of the mass attendees. We are startled to see older men wiping their mouths with napkins and leaving the hall just as we are about to walk in. Had they been eating while the actually wedding ceremony took place in the next building over? Well, yes. There's no other explanation (unless they just weren't invited to begin with). Either way, it's high comedy.
The day moves at a quicker pace just as I am really starting to slow down. Jet lag. A steady dose of heavy food, alcohol and sleep deprivation throughout the day exacerbates it. Even the incredibly beautiful view from the banquet room at the Hyatt can't keep my body from running past "E" on the gas gauge. I stay alert enough to snap some photos of Berkeley grads mixing it up at the reception...like REALLY mixing it up - talk of engagements, weddings, honeymoons - it was well-conceived by the bride and groom not to have any children there, listening to that vulgar language.
Either way, huge payoff below. This one was caught while I distinctly heard one of Emmelle's friends ask, "Is your boyfriend really as fantastic as he sounds (and looks)?" I forget how she spoke in parentheses, but again, I was jet lagged. One can't be held to thorough details in such a physical and mental state.
We actually miss the first goal that Korea scores, but who cares. Anytime you can settle into a World Cup match and find that your team is up, you'll take it. And before my body completely shuts down, I see the captain, Park Ji-Sung, slip one by the helpless Grecian goaltender. 2 - 0 Korea wins. The captain scores. Emmelle's friend is married. The country is officially in a frenzy. In your face, Greece!
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