We had quite a long day this time around. Charter bus was back (different driver), which was nice, because I was oddly tired pretty much all day and needed the little breaks in between locations.
We started out with the DMZ. I’ve gone before, but it was interesting to be able to see it again. There’s a sort of melancholy about being in the area, I feel, because as cool as it is to see North Korea from the observatory (no photos allowed) and to explore the tunnels they made to get into the South, it carries it’s own sadness to it, too. I found walking the tunnel and being able to see the observatory and revisit the history a bit to be a nice opportunity to be able to explore again.
I don’t really have a whole lot to say about the DMZ, because I’m not really sure how to describe the experience in words to the best of my ability. But I like all the things they have so you can read about the history of the war and relationship between the North and the South and with others in more depth. I find the tourist attraction part of it, as cool as it is, a little depressing when you think about it too hard. But overall, we had a good time.
Our second item of the day was a baseball game—we watched the KT Wiz (from Suwon) and the Kiwoom Heroes (one of the Seoul teams) at the Heroes’ home stadium of Gocheok Sky Dome. It was neat! Baseball is a game I feel like it goes on forever until something starts to happen, but it was cool getting to see how the culture is different than at US baseball games (speaking of which—dad, if you’re reading this, let’s see the Mariners this summer). People get up whenever their team is batting and sing and dance to cheer them on with individualized songs while saying their name, there are cheerleaders to hype people up, and there’s a guy in the front of the seating area leading the entire thing.
We were actually sat in the away team’s section, with the other Wiz fans. Ironic, because the only merchandise available to buy is for the Heroes (and admittedly, they suck, but I bought a jersey because ‘when in Rome’!). We found out there was an American playing on the Wiz team (I think number 34, Sam Hilliard—he played for the Rockies and the Braves but started playing in Korea this year) and tried to catch his attention by yelling “USA” really loudly. Somehow, it worked, and he turned his head at some point towards our section and we all rapidly started to wave our hands and our Pitt flag and yelled USA some more before he waved back at us. Cool guy!
Things started to pick up some more eventually, and the game became more fun when it did. Score ended up being 8-0 Wiz, and apparently the Heroes are on a 5-game losing streak, but it was still pretty cool and I had a good time. It was kind of fun watching them play back the one home run that was hit during the game before it was called to be an out (they replayed it SO much to try and figure it out and you could see everyone in the stadium slightly on edge for it, ha). Good day overall, but I was exhausted, for sure. Tomorrow (today, as I’m posting this), we go to Golgulsa Temple, so it’ll be a long day of traveling—but I’m excited!
Today’s title is named after HOME;RUN by Seventeen.
