A taste of Korea

First thoughts on an Asian adventure

By Pedro Pinto, CNNSI.com

SEOUL -- Covering the World Cup in a different continent involves much more than just knowing about soccer. You must be ready to adapt to a different environment, culture and lifestyle. That has definitely been the case for me in South Korea.

Having never been to Asia before, I can tell you that I have been extremely impressed with the city, the people, and the food.

Although I was expecting Seoul to be a large city, I was not prepared to encounter such a developed and organized metropolis. There are numerous modern buildings, the public transportation is good and everyone seems to know what they are doing. I have to admit that there is a traffic problem, but the government is combating that during the World Cup by imposing a couple of circulation rules.

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The locals in Seoul are always ready to help. Most may not have a working knowledge of English, but they genuinely make an effort to communicate and understand what you are aiming to convey. They definitely take pride in their work and know that this is a huge opportunity to make a good impression on the world stage.

One thing that has made a huge impression on me is the food. I was already an enthusiastic fan of Asian cuisine, and have increased my love for the continent's dishes after tasting the Korean specialties. I have to admit that a lot of people teased me about whether I would be eating dog every night, but I have not come across too many Koreans who do that.

Instead, they mostly like to dig into a variety of soups which include a multitude of vegetables and either beef or chicken. Kim Chi, a delicacy featuring cold boiled cabbage in a spicy red paste, is the official side dish. It can create an explosion of taste in your mouth, and leave your lips dormant for a few hours.

These are a few of my first thoughts on this Asian adventure. After a short adaptation period, I feel that it is now time to immerse myself into what really matters: the football. After all, it is not a matter of life or death, soccer is more important than that... right?

World Sport's Pedro Pinto will be reporting regularly from South Korea during the World Cup.

 

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