Why I Came to Korea

Hello All,

The following is a bit all over the place but this blog is serving as a journal for me too so feel free to read it or not. (I know you will read the whole thing Mum).

This past weekend I had the experience of a lifetime. I won't be able to capture in words what I felt, but I will do my best to tell the details that made it such a special two days of my life, and it worked out nicely since March 29th is a very significant day in my life.

The first thing is that I have joined this baseball club named Star Fish. Don't ask me where they got the name, but that is it. Anyways, playing baseball again has brought out such joy in me that I am filled with gratitude. Whoever is reading this, imagine that you did something passionately since you were a small child until you were 15 years old, and then all of a sudden you stopped. Baseball was one of my, if not most, favorite things to do growing up. Most of you know that. I have always had a strong connection to it and it also was one of the ways in which I felt closest to my father; so the sport is really loaded for me. Anyways, I got to play again. I joined this club and have had those experiences of facing a pitcher with runners in scoring position and two out, or having to make a play in the field, and many more things that I love about the sport.

So the first thing is that the way they play the game is awesome. I already told you about the bowing and respect but it gets better. Arguing doesn't happen. If the ump makes a terrible call the players accept it. If a pitcher hits a batter, he immediately runs up to him, takes off his hat, and bows. Then someone from the sideline comes out with some sort of spray to make the sting feel better. These guys do not show boat, and opposing teams have a mutual respect for eachother. Everyone should win a sportsmanship award. Even in basketball too. Although I have played in some fairly competitive games, the general respect for an opponent is awesome. I've played with people that when the opponent makes a nice shot or does something good, they say "oh, nice nice" and give a high five or something. It is pretty neat. The chances of a fight breaking out are very slim. I have yet to see any heated arguing over sports.

Anyways, our first game of the season was last week. It was a nail biter and unfortunately we lost in the last inning, but it was a blast. Then, this weekend was full of baseball. We had two games, but not against other club teams. It was a "social" baseball weekend for the club and here is where it all gets better. Besides the two games, where current students played against alumni who came back to visit, the weekend was packed with Korean culture and tradition. So yes, not only did I get to be immersed in new culture, but I got to experience it alongside one of my favorite things in the world, baseball.

So basically what went on is that every semester, alumni who were in Star Fish during their time at SCH come back for a reunion type thing. It is absolutely wonderful. This is the club's 25th anniversary and one of the guys who helped start the club was here. Then we had graduates from the 90s, and also recent ones. Some of them brought their families as well. Then the club itself has about 15 to 20 players, plus about 10 to 15 girls who are managers. So there were plenty of people. Why these people allowed some foreigner (me!) to partake in all of their activities I do not know. But what I do know is that no matter how hard I try to explain to them what they have done for me, I will be unsuccessful.

So these alumni starting showing up and the amount of respect the students gave to them was beautiful. When one would arrive, they would stop what they were doing and approach the person bowing and saying hello in the formal form of the Korean language. Age is a huge thing in Korea. If someone is older than you, there are certain names you are supposed to call them and show them respect; I was fascinated by this. You won't find the heavy disrespect for elders that I dished out in my day nearly as much in this country; I have yet to see it. Even a 22 year old is required to respect a 25 year old for example.

Anyways, the students were preparing things all day. We prepared the grounds for the game, the managers made signs and prepared other things for later festivities, basically there was so much going on and I had no clue. But whatever, I enjoyed every minute. The alumni arrived and we played a game. I had a lot of fun. Then, it was off to shower and we met for dinner. We all went to a restaurant where we sat on the floor and ate. The party started. They busted out the soju and were toasting to each other and laughing and cheering.

It was then off to a bar that they rented out. Here is where the tradition really came out. As I said this club is 25 years old and they have certain things they do. One was welcoming freshman and new members. So I had to go up with all the freshmen to introduce myself. Well, each one of them introduced themselves yelling in Korean and the only word I could understand was Star Fish. So I was a little nervous when it came to me. I just told them my name and a few other things very quietly but that wasn't good enough; I had to get loud. So I screamed it for them and received cheers and applause, it was awesome. I then went and sat back down with my team; we were divided into teams for the games to be played and I had no idea what was going on. The lost I understood was that one of the men on my team was trash talking with some others and he was saying that we would one because we had the lucky boy (the American--moi!). So I got a good kick out of that. The games that followed were full of yelling and laughter and cheering and enjoyed just taking it all in.

Another tradition was that the freshmen had to do a dance to a pop song. This was hilarious. The college freshmen here are so different then in the West. They spend so much time in school and studying growing up that when they get to college they are more like an innocent child entering middle school in a sense. Of course, they are more mature in some was, but the big egos and tough guy approach that you find on a college campus in the US is nonexistent. Anyways, they all got up there and did this funny little dance while the adults cheered them on.

Speaking of the freshmen and the age thing, they have to do all the crappy jobs. They carry all the equipment up 6 flights of stairs to the storage room every time we play, they have to gather the balls at practice, go get more water for everyone, etc. I think you get the idea. But they do it without a complaint. It is just awesome. They know it is what they have to do to be in the club and they just get it done. More than that they hardly ever get to play. For most of them, it is their first time every learning baseball so they are brand new to the game. But they work hard. These kids have heart like I have never seen before. So at the restaurant, or bar whenever an older person wanted something the freshmen especially, or someone younger would take off immediately to get it.

One of the alumni had very good English because he uses it in his work. He graduated in the 90s sometime and is still like the director of social baseball or something; he stays involved. Anyways, I had some really interesting conversations with him. First of all, he was very warm to me when I first met him telling me he hoped that I would really enjoy the weekend. Then at the bar, he made me chuckle. He said that when he first saw me, he was really hoping to see me drink but understands the fact that I don't. He then made sure to get me my own glass and pitcher of cyder (a sprite type soda). He told one of the players to get it for me and that student moved out of his seat so fast it was amazing. What respect these guys have for their elders.

Then, continuing to talk to him, I was really amazed by the club I joined. He explained to me why they come back twice a year to do something like that. Well from what I understood, being part of a club like that is really special to them. The time they share through college is sacred and they love to have these reunions. He also explained that just coming out, meeting the freshmen and watching them play, and then coming back and seeing how much they have improved as a result of the club makes it all worth it for him. WOW! When he came to SCH, he had never played baseball. Star Fish taught him to play and gave him a family for his time in college and he loves to see it working for other people. And that really is what they are, like a family. The club does so much together, not just baseball. They take trips, eat together, and just hang out. It is such a great thing to be a part of.

Anyways, there is so much more that I cannot capture in words. But after the bar, we circled up outside. (After games and practices and dinners before we all part we circle up). A man was dancing in the circle and everyone was full of joy. They said some things, and then the elders left. The students then went to a norebang (a singing room). They are very popular here and I got my first taste. It is a big room with couches and room for dancing with karaoke. It was a lot of fun. evryone just lets loose. Of course they weren't going to let me get away without singing so I had to pick an English song. I jammed out with my Korean friends to "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf. Then, all the other songs I did not understand but still had fun just laughing, talking and dancing.

After that it was off to bed only to wake up early for more the next day. A small communication error resulted in my friend Hyu (who got me in the club) waking me up at 7:50 to get down to the field. They were preparing stuff for the day including some sort of sacrifice ritual. When the elders arrived, the little ceremony began. I had no clue what was going on but it was neat. They did a bunch of different things including bowing but probably the neatest was pouring some liquid over the pitcher's mound. After that, we warmed up, all together, alumni and students, and then played another game which was a blast. After that, we ate a picnic lunch and said bye to the elders. The way the students saw them off was great, full of respect and formality.

After this we weren't done. We had another tradition to fulfill. Depending on how long you were in the club, you had to take a certain number of ground balls and they would not could unless the firstbasemen caught the ball. Some of the younger alumni stayed and did this. So the oldest went first. These guys di about 15, then as they got younger the number increased; it is tradition. So then Hyu came to me and told me that I would be going soon and that since I was new, I had to take 100. But you are not just standing in one place for this, they make you run all over the infield by trickling one down the thirdbase line and then hitting a soft on up the middle. Then they will hit you a sequence of hard line drives and one hoopers, it was so intense but such a great workout and exercise. When I got done, I was exhausted and we all had a good laugh about it. I told them that is why Korea is so good at baseball and they told me Japan does it too. I responded with that is why America lost then. These guy hustle and have heart like I have never seen before...

Which leads me to my hero. There is one guy who is here for his second year and he showed heart like no other. As he is new to the game, he is not very talented but worked so hard. He had to take like 70 or something and was hustling and taking a beating. The hard hit balls would bounce of his body but he would not quit. When he would miss one, he would run and go get it even when he did not have to. Then, when he was done, he was over on the sideline working on his throwing. He had the heart that coaches always talk about they want.

Not only that, all these freshmen stand out in the field cheering teammates on, collecting balls, etc. We were out there for a long time and with one person going at a time it gets kinda boring but you wouldn't be able to tell with these guys. They do not complain and just get it done. I was so impressed. Well after that it was off for a final meal and then the weekend was over. I think it was so meaningful to me because I was in the moment the whole weekend. I was taking everything in, not worrying about the past or future, and just living life. So the whole live in the moment concept really hit home for me this weekend. I had that peace of mind and joy that I get every so often that is priceless. In reflecting on why I experienced this it came to me that I do not have to be in some foreign place to feel this; I can have it even back home by just taking in everything around me.

Well I guess that is enough for now. I hope this wasn't too all over the place. I am pretty tired but just wanted to get some of these memories down before they start fading. All in all, it was just a great time and was one of the main reasons I came to Korea, coupled with baseball, wonderful.