Seoul, New Discoveries

Last week, I mentioned how the first few days weren’t as easy as one might have expected. However, not wanting to stay in that state, I started looking at apps to find events and meet new people.

MEEFF:

This app might not ring a bell for many of you, and I almost want to say, ‘thankfully’. It’s used to make connections around your area (ideally), whether it’s for friendship or more, depending on the situation. Let’s be honest, most people on this app are really just looking for a one-night stand.

However, right before I was about to uninstall it, I met an American who was also looking for company to go out with. We exchanged contact details, and I was able to remove the app from my phone.

Baseball

As we were thinking about an outing, I mentioned that I’d love to see a baseball game. In France, this sport is not widely played, so I had never seen a game in my life. However, thanks to movies and books, I had managed to pick up a few rules and hoped that one day I’d get to watch a game in real life. My new American friend didn’t hesitate and booked us two tickets. We agreed to meet up for the game a few days later.

Finally, I was going out for specific reasons: to meet my pen pal in person and discover a sport I knew very little about. I knew that baseball is a popular sport in South Korea, but that didn’t stop me from being surprised by the number of people waiting to get in. What was new to me wasn’t new to the American I had just met. She guided us without any trouble to the right place.

It was early July, and by late afternoon, the temperatures were still high, but we were lucky to have our seats in the shade. The mood of the crowd was great, with people chatting and laughing. While waiting for the game to begin, we grabbed something to drink and eat. This whole experience was a first for me, and I was as excited as a child going to a fair for the first time. My neighbor just had enough time to tell me that she preferred Korean baseball games over the American ones because the atmosphere was more festive.

And… indeed! The music, the cheering supporters, a different chant of motivation for each player, mascots getting everyone to dance… It was quite a sight to witness. In the meantime, the match was fun to watch; I used my limited knowledge of the sport to follow along. However, there was one thing I hadn’t grasped, and not the least: the duration of a baseball game! We stayed for 4 hours in the stands, with breaks, supporter chants, and snacks. It was getting too long, and I couldn’t see the end. My neighbor seemed to feel the same, as she offered me the choice to stay or leave with her. I followed her without hesitation.

So…

It was a nice experience, and even though it didn’t go exactly as planned, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. My only regret is not managing to find a place to practice batting. Maybe next time.

Bon week-end!!!