(21) 90 in 90: The New King of Soccer (not really)

It's almost been an entire week since returning from the US and getting my bearings again. After waking up much earlier than necessary and going to sleep much later than recommended on a school night, it finally seems that my body is beginning to get back to its normal routine. The 9 to 5 that became a daily part of my life seems to be coming back without the mid day falling asleep at my desk routine.

It feels great to be back and in the groove again. I always hate the feeling of being out of the loop and not actively involved in my day to day life beyond just going through the motions. I may turn into a wasted pile of energy after the work day is over sometimes, but I try my hardest during the day to be a somewhat productive member of my school or at least a productive member to accomplish what needs to be done on my personal list.

What I Saw

I'm not a scientist, nor am I a sleep expert, but I am almost certain that two events in the middle of the week helped me bounce back to my normal self.

This week was my school's Foundation Day, or a holiday in which the school celebrates the day it was founded and built. Like many other schools, my school celebrated by having a ceremony where the principal and other high ranking people in the school gave a speech to the students. The actual Foundation Day was spent with a day off, a day of rest for both teachers and students.

The day of the ceremony was ended with a soccer game between the different members of the staff. Young and old participated on the field, including myself as a participant.

Now before you go thinking that this turns into a sports movie miracle and the scrappy kid from America wins the game for to roars of applause and being carried on shoulders, stop, because what actually happened couldn't be further from the truth.

What I Expected

This was the first soccer game that I have ever participated in. Sure, I've seen soccer played before and I have a slight understanding of the rules, but beyond that my knowledge of soccer is next to zero.

Soccer is huge in Korea. Now just that sentence alone is most likely a vast understatement, giving that there are schools in Korea based entirely around the game of soccer. It is an arguable fact that soccer isn't as large or as popular in the US as it is in Korea, making this guy who grew up in the Midwest all the more ignorant.

I kept telling my teachers how playing with them was not a wise choice. I kept telling them that putting me on their team would only present a large handicap and severely hinder their chances of winning. Either through wanting to be as accommodating as possible or through miss communication, it was insisted that I join their team. Swallowing my pride and accepting my fate I slowly slide on my bright blue jersey, preparing for the worst.

The game lasted less than an hour, and by the time the game finished, I felt as if my whole body had been stretched to its limit and my lungs were deflated balloons gasping for any amount of air it could.

We had lost the game, 0-1 and while my team appeared in good spirits, I felt like I had not accomplished anything constructive during the game. I ran around a lot, made attempts to steal the ball on occasion and at one time, blocked an incoming shot. While it wasn't a horrible first effort to play, in terms of being dropped in the middle of a soccer game with experienced soccer players,  it could not have been more futile.

What I got

However, the ones who seemed to get the most out of the match were my students. The entire time they kept cheering me on and clapping at any attempt made by me to do anything. Now while I'm sure much of it was an attempt at saving face or an example of laughing at someone rather than laughing with someone, I still received some kinds messages later on evening telling me that I did a good job for my first time.

Overall, it was an experience that left me beyond tired, and with sore muscles where I didn't even think I had muscles, it left me with a another unique experience in Korea, a way to wake my body up in the middle of a jet lagged week and earned me a new nickname with the students*.

That's what I love about being a foreigner working and living here. Everything is new and exciting. Things happen at random and sometimes with seemingly no reason. It's a constant and dynamic life and I am enjoying every minute of it, even if it leaves my body and my ego sore and bruised from time to time.

*for those who are curious, my nickname is The Soccer King. I strongly disagree with this nickname and its implied meaning.