School Pride

The rivalry of the 3st and 2nd best universities in korea, korea and yonsei university respectively, battled this weekend in the greatest sporting spectacular of the year. every fan of yonsei wears blue, and korea red. they pack the stadium on oppisite sides.

during the week leading into the sporting events the schools respectively held cheering practices. ive never heard of such a thing. people pack the ampitheatre and follow the unquestioningly "cool" cheering squad (akaraka) perform the set of songs used continuously throughout the anticipated games. although the rivalry is there, an unexpected comradery is also present. for instance, at the last cheering practice korea university students joined yonsei students and they taught each other cheers, and then danced and sang together into the night.

The most interesting twist to the scenario surfaced when i realized cheering and fan freemasonry were perhaps more important then the various sporting matches themselves. The crowd sings and dances uniformly throughout each game (even before and after the game, during halftime, or while there is no play whatsoever) - i still dont know how the players could concentrate with the blaring music, boisterous crowd and occasional pyrotechnics.