The Guardian’s Peter Rutherford notes that some Red Devils are perplexed by the Germans’ lack of World Cup enthusiasm:
Kim Min-jung, whose brother is part of a large Korean student population in Cologne, was awe-struck by the city’s magnificent cathedral outside the station but wondered where the party was.
“No one joins in when we sing ‘Dae-Han-Min-Kuk’,” said Kim, who could not resist clapping the remainder of the Korean fans’ signature chant.
“People kept telling us to keep it down on the train. It was strange they didn’t want to enjoy themselves.”
Bummer.
She beamed as she recalled the atmosphere in Seoul four years ago when tens of thousands packed the streets to watch their team on huge screens.
“This isn’t like 2002,” she added. “I hope the next World Cup is in Korea.”
Wouldn’t that be nice.
But leave it to a German cabbie to deliver the money shot:
A taxi driver sporting mini German flags on his car outside the station also seemed non-plussed by the Koreans arrival.
“No Korea referee this time,” he said. “They go home early.”
I guess only time will tell.
33 Comments
Kim Min-jung. I think I know her.
I can totally relate to Miss Kim’s perplexity. I’m always greeted by blank stares in Europe (and Korea, for that matter) when I travel down the street chanting U-S-A! Of course, they say a few more choice words than “keep it down”. What’s wrong with people? Where is their spirit? I hope the next World Cup is in the U.S.
(What is the World Cup, anyway?)
The quotes read like an article from “The Onion” or similar.
Imagine that, nobody joining your national chant. Those rude Krauts!
“Innocents Abroad”
Koreans visiting Germany will be disappointed to find there is no Hitler Bar there.
Shenzhen Whitey, damn, you beat me to it.
Michael, ow/lol/ow/ it’s rude to make one laugh while holding a steaming cup o’ java.
I vividly remember all the helpful suggestions I received from my neighbors in the apartment complex the last time I hung the American flag.
Brendon:
I like your attitude! Why don’t you come over for 7/4. I’ve got the stars & stripes, a big flagpole and a boombox loaded with J.P. Sousa. Anyone else who’s not too kimchi-whipped welcome too.
I’m just trying to find an American soccer jersey before the Word Cup starts. Anyone know where I can find one?
Also, Sperwer, where do you live? I ain’t too kimchi whipped.
Some GIs are kimchi whipped and pussy whipped at the same time.
Baduk, you can’t be talking about U.S. troops–at least not the “kimchi whipped” part.
“No one joins in when we sing ‘Dae-Han-Min-Kuk’,” said Kim, who could not resist clapping the remainder of the Korean fans’ signature chant.
At least the reporter was able to figure out that it ain’t a song! Here’s your ‘1984′, folks (sorry, no hypertext) - not clapping constitutes a thoughtcrime.
Mr. Rutherford works for the Seoul bureau of Reuters and has had to endure that chant for years like the rest of us.
Will you get the El Camino off the cinder blocks before we come over, Sperwer?
Sperwer, count me in if you’re in central Seoul - just mention the time and place.
Brendon:
OK, but the refrigerator and the washing machine are staying on the porch and in the front yard, respectively. (and the Stars and Bars will be hanging off the back porch rail.)
See (or listen) to: http://www.streamload.com/Sperwer/Going_out_West. Just substitute “East” for “West” Should be the Expat in Korea Theme. “little brown sausages lying in the sand”, indeed; Haeundae, here we come.
BTW, here’s our greeter for the meet: http://www.streamload.com/Sperwer/GRANNY
Wedge and GBNHJ: OPSEC, boys, OPSEC! Drop me a line with your return email addresses for the pirate map. sperwer@sperwerslog.com
Miss Kim is blithely unaware of the fact that for people to care in the footballing world, you have to be of some significance. Oh yeah, Korea, the little team that could at the last world cup (with the aid of home ground advantage and some shockingly dodgy ref’s calls).
I’m with the previous posters. The quotes seem just sooooo Onionesque.
On the other hand, perhaps we should not discount the POWER of the Uri Bank ads on TV (at least i think it was 우리). They are real you know….
From having lived in Germany for 6 years, I could have told Ms. Kim Min-jung that Germans are not going to loosen up like the Koreans did in 2002 and sing during soccer matches or on public transportation — and certainly not for somebody else’s team!
Aside from those who do happen to go to the stadiums, most Germans will get together with family and friends in their homes or maybe a bar, drink beer, and watch intently, cheering or groaning where appropriate.
After the game, they’ll sit around analyzing it in excruciating detail for hours. This is serious stuff, dammit!
Of course, if the German team wins the World Cup, as they did in 1990, then they’ll party.
I was sitting in a university dormitory in Tuebingen when the final game ended in 1990, so we all rushed out onto the balcony and listened as a huge roar rose from the valley below. That night, there was honking, singing, drinking, celebrating.
If the Germans win in the finals this year, then Ms. Kim Min-jung would be able to enjoy herself. Except that she won’t be there since the Koreans will be long gone … and wouldn’t enjoy it if she were since the Koreans wouldn’t feel like celebrating if they had just gotten beaten by the Germans.
Naturally, I wish the Korean team well. My wife and two kids are rooting for their Korean team — singing “Oh, Piss On Gorilla” and those other Korean soccer songs that I haven’t yet figured out — and they were all pretty let down when Ghana won the other night.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
I remember a German getting a bit excited during the last World Cup. My friend and I settled down in a bar to watch the Germany-Ireland game when a German acquaintance of my friend (and his friend) came in and sat down at the table next to us. To make the viewing more interesting, my friend bet a pitcher of beer on the game with the German. As you may recall, Germany scored early, and my friend’s acquaintance grew cockier as the game wore on. Near the end of the game he turned to us and said,
“I suh (sure) am getting suhsty (thirsty).”
He hadn’t quite made it through “thirsty” when Ireland scored the equalizer. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I don’t think he even saw Ireland score because he was looking at us. He just heard the reaction. You should have seen his face drop.
Ah yes, I must admit the 2002 World Cup created plenty of great memories.
(p.s. - We ended up buying them a pitcher of beer anyway. They needed cheering up.)
and i thought i was the only one with the balls to do that…
sperwer, i’d be down for the third US game that’s on a saturday morning (1 am i do believe) if you’d be so inclined to invite me. i may even fashion a philly fanatic wig for just such an occasion.
Seems like the locals gave the Koreans a warm welcome in Germany
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/ne.....;type=lgns
“From having lived in Germany for 6 years, I could have told Ms. Kim Min-jung that Germans are not going to loosen up like the Koreans did in 2002 and sing during soccer matches or on public transportation — and certainly not for somebody else’s team!”
I concur with that last qualifying phrase, but I beg to differ on all that precedes it. Completely oblivious to the fact of the World Cup (soccer? what’s that?), i travelled by train from Paris to a fairly remote corner in the very southwest of Germany on the day of the World Cup final in 1974. The Cup was held in Germany that year, and Germany beat The Netherlands 2-1 for the honors. I knew nothing about this when I arrived in Radolfzell-am-Bodensee in the late evening. Radolfzell is a very small town, but I still was surprised that absolutely no one was about in the vicinity of the train station. When I inquired of the stationmaster where everyone was, he directed me to the little district a few blocks away where all the local beer halls and wine gardens were clustered. When I got there, I was confronted by what likely was the entire population marching around in an eerily orderly frenzy (an oxymoron only conceivable in Germany) chanting “Wir sind Weltmeisteren”. I fled to my pension chased by the visions of SS stormtroopers in my head. A Jewish friend of mine who was travelling to Rothenburg-am-Tauber the same day witnessed the same thing and was so unnerved he got back on a train and returned to Paris.
Judge Judy:
The invite is for a Fourth of July dust-up, to which you are welcome, not sports couch potato planting - especially for girls soccer, especially at 1 AM (i hot the buckwheat hulls @ 10). As a former denizen of the COBL, I’d be pleased to see a Philly fanatic wig again, though.
“(i hot [sic] the buckwheat hulls @ 10).”
Most nights, anyway. ;))
Koreans visiting Germany will be disappointed to find some golf clubs barring them entry too…
Some countries provide for more culture shock than others – I am sure working in Lybia must be eye-opening to Koreans, but if the supporters think Germany is just a small US where things work slightly better, they might be in for ax XXL surprise. Krauts only make a mess of themselves behing closed doors [Oktoberfest anyone?] – or abroad, which is basically the same. Publicly, it’s Ordnung, Ordnung. After all, a country where even The Law is dressed in green gives you a hint on how serious they are on peace-keeping…
I am sure the professional demonstrators and occasional rice growers would have a riot demonstrating in a German city, too.
True, the final game was a little different. Even Germans get excited at some point.
But I admit, I was poking fun at the Germans. They’re not nearly as uptight as the stereotype — in fact, they can get a bit rowdy if they’ve had a few beers.
However, they’ll never be as much fun in the streets as the Koreans were back in 2002.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
“A taxi driver sporting mini German flags on his car outside the station also seemed non-plussed by the Koreans arrival.”
Nonplussed? Damn, even the Brits can’t write. Nonplussed=confused, perplexed. It does NOT mean unperturbed. It means the freakin’ opposite of that! Or almost the opposite. Damn malaprops.
Anyway, South Korea is going DOWN. Everybody is going DOWN. Especially the French. USA, USA, USA!!! Time to get medieval, I say. Yankees go home? Nein! Wir werden alle ZERSTÖREN.
Anybody know what the heck “be the reds” means? I never thought to ask the few FOBs I’ve seen walking around in those t-shirts emblazoned with that inscrutable slogan.
donnieknutts—You forgot to link this one as well.
Oh, and the missing apostrophe, Eselpisse…
Looking at that Naver photo, I can’t help thinking the aliens have landed.
Oh, and let’s not forget this one, too.
Huh? “Be The Reds”? I thought those shirts said “Beat The Reds”!
Hmmm … I wonder if my wife and kids would notice if I altered the wording on their shirts…
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Dunno why I let it slide… But! Do they realize that the next World Cup will be in Africa? – Okay, in the RSA, but Africa nonetheless… I wonder how many Red Devils will make the trip and survive…
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