While walking back from a bar late Friday night to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, Landon Davison noticed a sign along the road between PyeongChang and his hostel in Daegwallyeong, a nearby mountain pass community.
“YANKEE GO HOME,” the sign stated.
He didn’t take it personally.
“The people here have been so lovely,” said Davison, 23, of Valparaiso, a world traveler who’s passionate about the Olympics.
Two years ago, as an Indiana University student, Davison studied abroad in Rio de Janeiro to be there for the 2016 Olympic Games. To prepare for it, he learned to speak Portuguese.
He wasn’t able to prepare as well for his trek to East Asia for the 2018 Olympic Games, where he is enjoying a backpacking adventure before he begins his new job as an active travel guide with Backroads.
“The Olympics were a happy coincidence,” said Davison, who doesn’t speak any Korean. “This is definitely the most alien culture I’ve ever seen.”
It’s also a fast-evolving culture that’s visibly divided between South Korea nationalism and North Korea unification efforts. Will these Olympic Games become a historical moment with geopolitical ramifications, beyond the global sports competition?
“I’ve seen a lot of flags and support for the unified Korean team,” Davison told me via social media messages since he arrived. “On the other side, a lot of folks sporting South Korean and American flags are voicing discontent for the unification in name only, as the countries remain at war.”
The vibe there has been a swirling mixture of unification support, anti-American sentiment, and pro-Olympics, he said.
Davison took a photo of himself in front of a picture depicting a unified Korean factory.
“I also got a pair of peace socks,” he joked.
His lodging there, essentially a hotel room filled with several tents, is “super pricey,” considering its lack of amenities.
“It’s pretty expensive here but it’s ridiculously close to the Olympics action,” said Davison, noting the comparatively inexpensive cost for meals. “The South Korean Won currency is pretty strong here, so the U.S. dollar is one of the only things that can stand up to it.”
He describes PyeongChang, population 43,000, as more of a “ski town” type of community rather than a big city. Davison is expecting to leave there Monday for Seoul, then to Japan to continue his adventure. Before he leaves, he plans to attend a few Olympic competitions, including ski jumping, XC skiing and a U.S. women’s hockey game.
“You know how passionate I am about the Olympics,” he told me at 2 a.m. Saturday morning (South Korean time) before finally going to sleep.
Kara Biernat, 22, of Crown Point, arrived in Seoul on Friday morning to not only attend the Olympic Games but to cover them for Ball State University. The senior is using her videography and reporting skills for the university’s coverage.
The student-run news agency debuted at the London 2012 Olympics, with its members attending both the Winter Olympics in Russia and the Summer Games in Brazil. Biernat, who is studying telecommunications and journalism news, is reporting from PyeongChang through the university’s Department of Journalism’s immersive learning experience, “BSU at the Games.”
“My role is to write stories and do some video at different events, and also stories about the athletes, events and culture,” Biernat told me before leaving for South Korea.
Her 15-hour flight was a bit tiring but she ate her first Korean meals on the plane and there was a lot of energy at the airport, she said.
“Because the majority of people were headed to the Olympics,” she told me via smartphone texts. “Security was surprisingly fast, and not a hassle at all. I’m assuming because everyone already got there a couple days ago. I’m seeing a lot of USA gear.”
Biernat still didn’t getting any sleep when she contacted me late Friday night, her time, which is 15 hours ahead of Central Standard Time.
“Everyone on the streets here is very welcoming and trying to guide and help us, even if they don’t speak English,” she said. “We had someone help us with the train and with finding our hotel. Numerous locals came up to us as we were walking in downtown Seoul asking where we were from and telling us to have a great time.”
Biernat and four other BSU students are being led by Ryan Sparrow, their journalism professor, and together will provide daily coverage of the games through Feb. 25.
“Being here has me so excited to do some reporting from inside the actual venues,” said Biernat, who has career plans in sports broadcasting.
Previous “BSU at the Games” students have had limited behind-the-scenes credentials but were not allowed to access to actual competitions. Because of Ball State’s experience with previous Olympics, TeamUSA granted full media credentials to the students here for these games.
“I am most excited to put everything that I have learned in the journalism department and put it into action at my own call in South Korea,” Biernat said. “I am beyond excited to be in the mix of media professionals with the freedom to come up with my own content.”
I will keep in contact with Biernat through that time, and I will share updates with readers.
jdavich@post-tribcom
Twitter@jdavich
