OLYMPIANS, THE DMZ, AND ‘GANGNAM STYLE’

What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on? With the summer months fast approaching, I know a lot of people are looking forward to taking a break and getting away from it all. Over the years, I’ve been on a number of great trips for work and family vacations. One trip that just made it to the top of my list was when my wife and I went to South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics in February.

I’ve talked about how much my family enjoys watching the Olympics on TV, so being there in person was an amazing experience. We’ve talked about going in the past, but this time, the stars aligned just right. The Olympics were in PyeongChang, South Korea, and since our daughter, Shelley, was still teaching third grade on a U.S. Army base in Seoul, how could we let the opportunity pass us by?

This was our second time visiting Shelley in South Korea, and it was just as awesome as the first time. To start, we got to attend the Olympics, which was awesome. We had tickets to see pairs ice dancing, the women’s figure skating finals, and the USA vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia men’s hockey game. Of course, the athletes in each event were unbelievable, but when you watch the Olympics on TV, you can forget that it’s not just the athletes who are from all over the world. The audience is full of people from every corner of the globe who are just as excited as you are.

Right before the hockey game, while walking into the stadium with Kaye and Shelley, a man ran up from behind me and grabbed my arm. I was surprised and a bit concerned until he said, “You are my new American friend!” in a thick Russian accent, to which I replied, “Well, you’re my new Russian friend!” There was no animosity between the spectators, even as Russia’s “semipro” team beat the USA’s amateur players by a score of 5–0.

Beyond attending the Olympic Games, it was great to explore South Korea again. On the days when we weren’t at the Olympics, we were sightseeing. During this trip, we also got to see the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which is something we didn’t get a chance to do the last time we visited Shelley. Now that was a surreal experience. We were able to tour the Joint Security Area, where North and South Korean forces stand face-to-face. There are a lot of rules about what you can and cannot do in that area, and there’s a lot of tension. One example is that they discourage you from waving, yelling, or otherwise interacting with any of the North Korean soldiers when visiting the area. We were told that any of that kind of activity is filmed (surreptitiously) by the North Koreans and used in propaganda.

On a lighter note, we also stayed with Shelley in Seoul. The city is made up of wildly different neighborhoods and walking between them is an interesting experience. On one street, you’re wandering among carts selling streetfood, imported electronics, and socks (yes socks!). Then when you turn the corner, you’re surrounded by high-end boutiques. We even got to walk around the stylish Gangnam District, which is the inspiration for Psy’s viral song “Gangnam Style.”

When we went to visit Shelley for the first time last April, I never thought we’d go back to South Korea. This time, I can say with certainty that it was our last trip. Shelley won’t be teaching there for much longer, and I can’t see us having another reason to go back. But I am glad we got to visit. South Korea is an incredible country that’s steeped in history, and at the same time is racing into the 21st Century. And when you add in our visit to the DMZ and the Winter Olympics, I’d say it’s going to be a hard trip to beat.