Korea.

I hear someone saying “not again!” – yup, I just came back from Korea on Monday.  And in case you were wondering, this was my sixth time.

Now of course you may ask, is there really so much to do in Korea, or is the place really that interesting that I have to go so often?  Well, sometimes I don’t think that question can be answered easily.  It’s like, if you like something you would want to do it very often, or see it very often… it’s something along that line.  Of course, this time round I was really there for the AFC Champions League final between FC Seoul, which is my favourite Korean team, and Guangzhou Evergrande, which is the team I am beginning to hate in the Chinese League – isn’t the whole script set for me to go Korea again?!

The match was actually really exciting – completely end to end stuff.  Despite a lot of those ignorant people who think that Guangzhou would walk all over FC Seoul, the match ended 2-2.  And if FC Seoul had capitalised on the opportunities, Guangzhou would have been going home with a defeat and not be in the good position to win the championship as it is now.  But the most important thing for me was the experience in the stands.  I was singing and cheering together with the die-hard FC Seoul fans and while I didn’t really know all the words to their songs, I still enjoyed myself very much.  When Dejan Damjanovic scored the equalising goal, I was either being hugging someone or being hugged by someone else – football should be like that.  That kind of feeling was just indescribable.

I’ve always maintained the point that my last trip to Korea (the one in February/March this year) changed my life, and I’m sure that was the catalyst for my increased love for Korea.  It’s not so much about the scenery, the food, or the K-Pop stars.  But it’s the people who are touching me.  The last time I went there, I had the chance to meet some new friends, and this time round, I met even more friends, but at the same time managed to meet up with the old friends that I’ve made.  And it has also given me a good opportunity to practice my Korean – which is still kinda bad.  The highlight of the practice was definitely that night after the Champions League game when I met 3 other friends – all non-Koreans – over chicken and beer, and for the entire night, the four of us were chatting in Korean!  I felt good to be able to do that actually, and I would be looking forward to be able to improve on my Korean.  My next target would be to chat with my Korean friends in half Korean and half English!

For this visit, there were also many unforgettable memories, and I will always be cherishing them.  The nice meals that I had with them, another great Toastmasters experience with the Gyodae Toastmasters Club, meeting a K-Pop star in person, and that unforgettable Sunday in Yongin City and Everland… thank you everyone for making this trip another memorable one.  You know what, the moment I said goodbye, I started missing you!  You made Korea special for me.

여러분 사랑해요… 내가 꼭 빠르게 다시 올게!