KoYon Games

Hi guys,

A few weeks ago I had a special encounter with Korean culture. I was told that on September 10 and 11th there was going to e the KoYon Games.  What is it exactly?  It's a sport competition in which my University Korea Univ and Yonsei Univ compete with in other in Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, Rugby and Soccer. All the student were expected to go and cheer for KU and exchange students as well.  So they told us that we will have a meeting before to help us.  I thought it was going to be a short meeting were we would learn a few team songs but it was a lot more elaborated then that it was more like Cheering Boot Camp 2010 LOL.

 Actually like all foreigners I think I was really chocked by all this when it started.  We were looking at each other like:  WTH...should we run out of here?  and we just went : ehhh whatever... and shouted and danced like crazy even if we didn't understand any lyrics or what was actually going on... we couldn't tell if we were getting sworn into a cult, a sect or worse but we might as well have some fun so  ...we chanted, danced, shouted and jumped....

 They even gave us a book about ours players of the different teams with also a booklet containing the lyrics of the songs...in total 63!!!!

We ended up learning not only songs, chants, dances and we practice for like 4 and a half hours non-stop... it was worse than a aerobic class.  They had power-rangers look-alike to boost us (like cheerleaders) and confetti, flames thrower, smoke and all. and that was just practice.

the entrance of the "power rangers"  they really believe their shit lol

Sorry for my loud voice lol

That night I went home still wondering what exactly did happen!?

THEN... it was the real thing for 2 days!! I was sooo dead at night after the whole day cheering, almost not even having time to sit and eat. but after we went drinking until early morning and then back to the stadiums for so more cheering. We even chanted for an hour and a half BEFORE the game even started lol    also please note that the videos I post here are the one when it wasn't too "crazy" because at times I couldn't even record anything, everybody just grabbing me from all directions and jumping all around haha

  

KU invades the subway

 At the baseball game

More Yelling, this is Hélène from France

I was very surprised after the middle of the games, both clans started to mix in the bench, everybody reaction: NOTHING?  everybody having fun side by side. Yonsei university came on our side, they cheered our team , sang our songs, everybody holding to each other, red, blue  we're all students after all, brothers and sisters in the end... I was impressed.  its not in Canada that you would have seen that, especially not between Quebec-Montreal where the rivalry still exist.

We got a bus on the second day: look at the drapes, lights and everything... I wanted to go out after 20 mins lol. plus the toilet paper as tissu (that`s a korean classic) and it had a screen and a mic for karaoke i guess. Here Hakima is rehearsing :D

At the rugby

Banner says: A nation's dream, the world's hope: Korea University

 at the blue/ red division

 Some of the "power rangers"

Power dance!! lol

Some videos...

As you can witness nobody is really watching the games lol

Anyway  I really felt I was witnessing something particular that I won't see again probably.  During those 2  physically draining days, I had so much fun. I lost my voice but I made friends.


Next time I will talk about the after party of the KoYon Games.  It was as memorable...



For more information on KU-YU rivalry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KU-Yonsei_rivalry

Food~

Can't talk about Korea without talking about the delicious mostly spicy food ^^  so here a few pictures...

my first grocery trip

Noodle's aisle

Dr You cookies lol

one of my first real meal in Korea Chicken and Beer with Yujin

That place was so hard to find but so worth it, even with a local as guide we needed a map and asking around. one of the best  Kimchi Jigae I tasted :)

one of my favorite dish : JJim Dalk (spicy chicken)

 watermelon and cappuccino donuts 

a local sweet : hotteok ,yeast bread with some brown sugar melted inside, serve hot and fresh :)

Japanese food: Tonkatsu

Some street food, chicken...sooooo spicy !!!!!!!

Fresh melon juice!

A must: korean BBQ with Stephane visiting for a few days 

There is a hut above each table in the restaurant

Japanese Bento

opened

I had a nice time with my ex-roommate Yoobin  :)

mmmm Ramen!!!!

Yet another BBQ with Japanese friends visiting, meet Miho and Shino

 Coffe with friends...so cute guys hahaha

 This is BBQ Chicken... we cook it at the table and its spicy and delicious

 In school: gimbap and pineapple lassi for lunch so cheap and delicious

Are you hungry now?  I am haha

Some things only happens in Korea...(well almost)

Here some of the funny/weird stuff or anything that got my attention over the last weeks...

What's this?  This one I love, very clever, it's on the table of almost every restaurant , use this button to get service from the waiter.

Yes, it's a banana donut.  ok but not so delicious.

Found in a store, from what I understand this is use by everybody, your put your phone number on it and put it on the car's window. Since its a very populated city, its not easy to find parking spot and people park everywhere all the time, blocking often others,  they display messages like , sorry I needed the spot, call if you need, don't be mad I'm leaving soon....

Hi-tech toilet in my university

This café even comes with a cat hehe :P

At a fast food, they gave me this... a pager...Hey! that`s not fast food!!!!

At the wellbeing café:  anyone for a fride rice or a side dish of mene? ^^

At the Norae Bang (karaoke) 2 floors under mine, one morning they got beer delivery, they just left it there .

Coming back to me house one night I met a Buddhist monk bring back a shit load of McDonalds WTF lol

Go Chez Gras and get fat lol

no comments needed lol

Here they add calcium even in the ketchup haha

Granny visor in action on the subway 

a kind of bell in the toilet, this one is an etiquette bell, to make the flush noise so you don't disturb the neighbor, but contrarily to Japan they don't really use it here. 

What's that? it`s a tongue inspector with magnifier and a case to inspect on the go ! :)

And that?  Nose and neck slimmer. wtf..

the other kind of toilet....

lady at the university who wrap your books for you :) yay!

Another mystery, another bell...They have this button inside every toilet at school...when I asked that say if you need some help... I guess Korean girls are so small they must get stuck in the toilet from time to time...

a kind of drinkable yogourt

There have vending machine everywhere , this is taken from my street corner, its the convenience store I pass by everyday

Yup, two elevator next to each other but not going to all the floors... got tricked once... 

my first time to see a café with a volkswagen west falia inside, AND two ETs hugging into a radio flyer.  Note: one of them is listening to music lol

In University:  They ask your opinion about the G20 while you pee... Are Koreans that shy to express themselves?

on a school bldg....are you?

one cool bike

Starcraft matchs on TV

Saved my life during a flu, BITA500 (vitamin C)

Yes yes you read correctly,
 here soju is only 1000W in the supermarket so about 0.88$ CDN for a bottle of 20% liquor