Turkey, Hiddink & Study

KAIST life is not too bad those days, but since another exam is coming up, I decided to study the whole Saturday night. I comfort myself with the thought that many KAIST students are studying, but working here late at night alone is not really what I prefer to do.

Tomorrow, Sunday,Thanksgiving is broadly celebrated here in Korea. Influenced by American tradition, the turkey is one of the main dishes which sets the national dish Bulgugi and the famous side dish Kimchi to a less prominent place. If it really takes the central position in this celebration, I will find out tomorrow, since I am invited to celebrate together with a Korean friend in a international service.

Besides Thanksgiving, there are some important football events this weekend. Is the Netherlands definitely qualifying for the European cup in Switzerland and Austria next year? We are gona find out today. But I am not sure if I will watch the match myself.....

The match is taking place in De Kuip in Rotterdam at 20:30 o'clock local time. Nothing wrong with the time, for the majority of the Dutch and Luxembourg people, on the contrary.... this is a convenient time and many people from those small European nations will watch the match on prime time television at Saturday night. But here in Korea it is the most inconvenient time a football fan can imagine, 4:30 am :-(. I am not sure if I am able to get out of my bed for this event. Moreover, I am asking myself if it is worth it, at all, to get out of my bed anyway! Luxembourg is no Brazil or Germany and Hiddink is not even present. He is in the match between Russia and Israel.

Internet news is writing that if Guus Hiddink dumps out England out of Euro 2008, it would be one of the finest moments of his career.

If Russia defeat Israel in Tel Aviv today, England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland will be all but over. that would be shocking for those Island citizens.

Hiddink led PSV Eindhoven to the European Cup in 1988 and the Dutchman has also guided the Netherlands and South Korea to World Cup semi-finals. The Korean people here are still following their national hero.

Anyhow, watching Russia-Israel or Netherlands-Luxembourg will not be my activity during this night. Since an exam is coming up and thanksgiving parties are scheduled for tomorrow i better spend a considerable hours in my bed. I am (almost) sure Netherlands is going to beat Luxembourg and that Russia is going to win from Israel. together with all the Korean football fans I see forward to Euro 2008, where as well as the Netherlands as Russia will play a dominant role in the competition. Happy thanksgiving and enjoy the match tonight!