110%

Recently, Luke was asked to play in a volleyball game, with a team made up of some teachers from his school. Of course we were picturing this to be a lighthearted and relaxed opportunity to spend time with his co-workers. HAHAHA.... little did we know. What's funny is that we should have known what Luke was getting himself into when he said yes to this offer. We have been told on several occasions, as well as witnessed for ourselves, that whenever a Korean is going to engage in a sport/ activity/ hobby of any kind...they will do it 110%. Unlike in the States, where it's common to be interested in many different kinds of activities and do any number of things for fun, in Korea it's often different... they're HARD CORE!

Luke discovered that this "match" with co-workers was really a competitive, day long tournament against other teams made up of other middle school teachers in the area. Who had been practicing for the event. There were uniforms and everything. These people are middle school teachers by day...and expert volleyball players by night. I'm pretty sure that a few of the teams had been practicing for weeks! Luke is still sore, and could hardly move his arms after the day was over. There was a crowd of women cheering for his team with posters and pom-poms, and even a beverage table, where he could rehydrate on his breaks. The ladies kept him supplied with fresh fruit, sports drinks and iced coffee. Luke greatly improved throughout the day, due to all the advice and coaching he was given with hand gestures and broken English. After the tournament they called him MVP. And even when I visited his school a day later, random teachers would point at him in the hallway saying, "Oh Luka, Berry Good...MBP!" He was a hit!

He had a blast...despite the surprise...and his team even won the championship. The others on his team called him Goliath, and he got a lot of action at the net every game. After the tournament (for a prize) we were treated to a meal with the other players and principal. Because of the special occasion, we had various types of raw fish, pickled veggies, Korean pancakes with cuttlefish, and live octopus. Oh, can't forget the silkworm larva! Oh, the joys of living in Asia!

Notice Luke's feet are flat on the ground...now look at their hands...even.


















Various raw sea creatures, and side dishes. They hadn't even brought out the raw fish, or the fish skeleton soup yet.

The Octopus was only "mostly dead"