23.4.05

As Korean as Baseball and Squid

Tonight I ventured out to check out the local team as they took on the Samsung Lions.

I got to the stadium and everything looked very similar to most baseball stadiums in America. It wasn't until I got hungry and headed to obtain food when I noticed the two biggest differences in the overall ball park experience.

Difference One - Here you can enjoy a nice bowl of Raman, some kimbop, and even freshly grilled squid with your game.

Difference Two - The prices inside the stadium are equal to those outside the stadium. I paid about a dollar for a hamburger. I even picked up a souvenir hat and baseball for the equivalent of $15 total.

Overall it was a great experience. I was invited to join some Korean businessmen to watch the game. I ended up joining some Americans who are teaching at other locations in Deajeon. We discovered that one of the guys and I grew up about 15 miles apart, and knew some people in common. Lets take a break to sing "It's A Small World After All," and on the second verse - just the ladies.

Song break is now over. According to this article, the cheer sticks so popular in American sporting events are a Korean invention. Those sticks were out in full force tonight, as the Eagles defeated the Lions.

In other news... If I ruled the world, my brother and his wife could legally be terminated. You ask why? For knowingly wearing matching outfits. Seriously folks, don't do it. In fact every wedding that I've been asked to be a part of, I tell them I only have one request in return. That request is that the couple getting married never wear matching clothing. No excuses.

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