Due to a two hour taxi ride, we missed the train to Jeonju, settling for Deagu, the site of tomorrow's US v Korea game. Yesterday we went to the Slovenia v South Africa game, which was fairly uneventful. There were so few fans from those countries that locals were recruited to cheer for a team, complete with shirts, hats, flags and song. Our seats were in one of the South African sections filled with locals.
We are in the Deagu train station awaiting our 11:40 train to Gyeongju, what most consider the cultural and historic center of the country. It was from here that the Silla Dynasty ruled for nearly 1000 years, 300 years of which their rule was over a unified Korea in the 7th century.
After tomorrow's game we travel back north to Daejeon for the US v Poland game on the 14th. Two days prior, we hope to attend the South Africa v Spain game.
So far, this World Cup has been surprising and exciting, with many newcomers doing well and the old guard, especially many of the favorites, struggling at times. Everywhere we go, there is a television with the game playing, or at least highlights. Every paper is covered with coverage, mostly of the now famous and popular Korean National Team. There are huge outdoor televisions at parks, major intersections and train stations.
Seventy-five percent of the 47 million Koreans tuned in to watch the Korea win over Poland. At least they don't have to wake-up at the early hours to do so. Enjoy the game.
Matt, Jaime and Tom
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Matt Dacey
Ast. Director of Coaching and Player Development
Tualatin Hills United Soccer Club
Daniel
aka: pdxSurreal
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3GHz P4, 1GB PC2700 RAM, ATI Radeon AIW 8500 (128MB DDR), 120GB Hard drive space, 17" Flat-panel monitor... All that and it can't even fetch me a Mountain Dew. |