I hope you all had a great week! Let me tell you what I did this last Friday, May 17th!
Akaraka!!!
It is tradition in South Korea for universities to hold Spring festivals. Yonsei University is well-known for it's Spring festival, Akaraka! Students wear their blue Yonsei t-shirts (with club, sport, or major studies affiliations) and gather to cheer in the outdoor amphitheater. The festival is held to celebrate Yonsei's school spirit and the rivalry between Yonsei and Korea University, which has been going on since 1956. The schools are very competitive with one another and even hold a Yonsei-Korea sports competition in the Fall. The competition is very friendly though! Yonsei and Korea university students can be seen at both Akaraka and Ipsilenti (Korea University's festival).
The festival is more than a pep rally, it's a whole party! Before the concert begins, the event is opened up with performances by the many clubs on campus. I didn't see this for myself, but many people were gushing over this guy who played his saxophone and rapped on stage. Afterward, the school's cheerleaders lead the audience in song and dance of the Yonsei Cheers. Yonsei University is unique in that they have many cheers that students can sing along to with each having it's own unique dance move. All of the students know the songs and dances because this is what they are taught during freshman orientation!! Yonsei's school spirit is no joke. Check out the video below. Notice how active the audience is and the synchronized movements of the cheerleaders right below the stage. They guide the dancing and help keep the energy up!
Want to try one of the cheers? This is the main cheer that was repeated over and over again at the festival. In the YouTube video below, the first 20 seconds is this cheer! Listen and then try it for yourself!
Akaraka
Akaraka! Akaraka (Ara) Ching Akaraka (Ara) Cho
Akaraka (Ara)
ChingChing Chochocho
Lalala Sisboombah Yonsei Players Lapla
Hey Yonsei Yeah!
Akaraka (Ara)
ChingChing Chochocho
Lalala Sisboombah Yonsei Players Lapla
Hey Yonsei Yeah!
The Concert
Yonsei is known to have a great line-up of famous music groups and performers, but people don't know who is performing until they go out on stage! In past years when they would announce the line-up, people would sell there tickets for hundreds or even thousands of dollars online! The school didn't think it was fair, so they stopped announcing the line-up. This year, we saw TWICE, Beenzino, Zico, Red Velvet, and IU. Tickets are really hard to get because so many people, including non-students, want to attend. I was one of the lucky ones. As an international student, we had an application period followed by a lottery system that randomly chooses the winners. I was a "lottery winner". My roommate didn't win the lottery ticket so she ended up waiting in line for six hours during the first-come-first-serve ticket sale. This goes to show how hard it is to get a ticket to this event.
The video above is of the final artist to perform, IU. She had a lovely voice and interacted very well with the audience. The local students love her, no doubt about it! All of the cell-phone lights in the audience made the amphitheater look so beautiful!!! It must have been such an amazing view for people near the stage. If you're interested in seeing any more of the performances, there are many videos of Akaraka on YouTube, especially for the TWICE performance. The end of the performances was commemorated with fireworks followed by more cheering! Below is a clip of more song and dance. I left somewhat early because my friends got hungry, but the cheering continued until about 11 pm.
My overall impression of Akaraka was positive. I am envious of the amount of school spirit that Yonsei students have for their university! It was an amazing event to experience and I have no regrets about going. I'm grateful for the local students for being so friendly and welcoming to international students and including us in the singing and dancing. It was a memory that I will cherish forever 💙
Recap
What do you think of Akaraka?
Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this?
Would you sing and dance with the local students?
Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game?
My name is Nalanie
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Akaraka? I think Akaraka is a cool festival that they do in their university and I´ve never experienced anything like that
Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this? Yes, if I had to
Would you sing and dance with the local students? I would because it seems like so much fun and time to just enjoy everything going on right now
Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game? No, I haven´t
Hello Nalanie,
DeleteIt was a lot of fun! I wasn't sure if I wanted to participate either, but with everything going on around me I got really into it! I hope you get to go to a celebration like this soon! I've never been to a Blazers or Timbers game either, but after going to Akaraka I think I should.
Hi my name is Alex.
ReplyDeleteI think that Akaraka might be fun.
I would likely go to a festival like this.
I don't think that I will dance with other students.
I have been to a Soccer game in Ireland.
Hey Alex,
DeleteWhat was the soccer game like? From what I hear about Europe, they have a lot of spirit! I hope it was fun!
yeoboseyo this is Natalia :D
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Akaraka? i think it looks like a fun event in South korea
Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this? yes i would like to.
Would you sing and dance with the local students? i guess i will sing and dance at the same time since my family says i'm a very stable person when it comes to dancing and singing
Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game? uh..not that i know of..but i do go to the saturday market in downtown..
how was the akaraka? i hope it was fun annyeong~
(good post by the way :D)
Anyounghaseyo Natalia!
DeleteAkaraka was an awesome experience!! I hope to go attend something similar again soon, but we'll see. The baseball games are supposed to be really similar so I want to go to one.
I love the Saturday Market! I spend too much money there though xD
I'm glad you're enjoying these posts, Natalia!!
My name is Maylen. I think that Akaraka is a very fun spirit festival. I would like to go to a festival like this. I don't think I would sing or dance there. I don't think that I have been somewhere that is similar.
ReplyDeleteHi Maylen,
DeleteDefinitely try it if you get the chance! Try to sing and dance too because it will really contribute to your experience :)
Hi my name is Alexa. I think Akaraka is a good way for the community to get together. I would want to go to a spring festival like this because it sounds really fun. I would try to sing and dance with the local students if I went to Akaraka. I have been to a Seattle Seahawks game with my dad when I was about 7 ish.
ReplyDeleteHello Alexa,
DeleteI definitely agree. The festival brings all of the students together and instills a healthy competitive spirit! Do you remember much about the Seahawks game? Was it energetic and fun? I make the assumption that there would be a lot of yelling, but I'm not sure because I've never been.
Hi its Esther,
ReplyDeleteI think Akaraka is really cool~!
I would really like to go to spirit festivals like that!
I went to watch a basketball game before but nothing really big.
Hello Esther,
DeleteI've never been to anything similar in the United States, but I think the closest thing would be a pep rally at school or a UO/OSU football game! They have similar chants and a lot of school pride! Basketball games are fun too! I remember playing in the pep band a few times in high school. :)
Hi my name is katee and I think that Akaraka sounds fun. I would love to go to a festival like this when I get older. I dont think I would sing and dance with other students maybe just my friends. I have never been to a concert only a couple timbers games which have been pretty packed.
ReplyDeleteHello Katee,
DeleteI'm glad you would dance with your friends because I saw very large groups of friends having a really great time in Akaraka! You'll have plenty of opportunities to go to concerts when you're older, trust me! What do you think of the Timbers games? Do you recommend that I go to one when I get back to Portland? I'm thinking about it :)
Hi my name is Bryan. What do you think of Akaraka? I think that Akaraka is a very important celebration to the south Korean culture. Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this? Honestly I would want to go but with way less people at the festival because I wouldn't like to be in a really big crowd. Would you sing and dance with the local students? No I wouldn't dance but I would sing if its a song I like. Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game? Yes I have been to a concert before and it was really crowded.
ReplyDeleteHello Bryan,
DeleteIt was a lot of people! For me being in the back, I felt out of the way, but away from the action. If you don't like large crowds, stick to the back for sure. I know it's hard, but participating can make your experience so much better, especially if you initially went into it with low expectations.
"My name is Ricardo What do you think of Akaraka? I think it looks good. Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this? I would like to.Would you sing and dance with the local students? No.Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game? i have once.
ReplyDeleteHello Ricardo,
DeleteWhich one did you go to? A Blazers game? Was it fun?
Hi my name is Allen
ReplyDeleteWhat I think of Akaraka is a fun festival that many people would like to go to.
I wouldn't go to a spirit festival like this because it's not my type of "style" to go.
I would not because I don't like to dance but singing is fine.
I have been to something similar like a Blazers game and it is noisy, but still fun to watch.
Hello Allen,
DeleteI hope you get the chance to go! I ended up being kind of forced to dance...You start singing, then your friends grab you, and you all start moving together! I want to go to a Blazers game! I don't think I like the big crowds either, but maybe I can get past it.
Hi my name jonathan.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Akaraka. I think it is really fun and busy
Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this. No because it's going to be really loud
Would you sing and dance with the local students. No because I don't like to talk to people that I don't know
Have you ever been to something similar Like a Blazers or Timbers game. no but i have been to a soccer game with my brother.
Hello Jonathan,
DeleteBelieve it or not, I didn't like talking to people I didn't know either! I considered myself an introvert before I came to study abroad. I think being in a new environment and at a new school forced me to be more open and willing to participate. How was the soccer game? Not too crowded?
Hi, my name is Daesha
ReplyDeleteI think tha Akaraka sounds really fun.
I would to go to one of them, even though I probably wouldn't dance with them.
I never been to anything like it.
Hi Daesha,
DeleteI hope you get to attend a spirit event soon! They definitely have pep assemblies at David Douglas High School before major sporting events. I'm sure that would be fun when the time comes :)
Hi!this is kiara
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Akaraka?
I think that it is col that everyone comes together to see it.
Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this?
Yes, because i could have a lot of fun with my friends.
Would you sing and dance with the local students?
i would because it looks like its lots of fun.
Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game?
I've been to a concert in Las vegas before.
Hello Kiara,
DeleteI bet the concert in Las Vegas was really fun! There must have been tons of people. Who did you see perform?
hi this is Hunter.the Akaraka sounds great and something a mit go to. I will just go on stag and play on my saxophone. I have been to doth of them before Blazers lost and Timbers won
ReplyDeleteHello Hunter,
DeleteYou play the saxophone! That's so cool! I made a lot of great friends when I was in band and two of them played the saxophone.
I think akaraka is a great celebration I think if I had a chance to go to the festival i would ! I would sing along with the other student's. No I haven't been to something similar.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to be a part of something like this soon! At least a concert :D
DeleteI think that Akaraka looks super fun and an amazing experience! I'm super glad you got to go!
ReplyDeleteThis seems like something I would've liked to attend just because the lively audience, upbeat energy, and the way they interacted with the audience.
I would have loved to sing and dance with the students! It looks super fun and exciting! The students seem like awesome people to sing and dance with.
I have been to a couple of the blazers games but this just doesn't have the same feeling as it seems much, much upbeat.
Signed, Alketa
Hello Alketa,
DeleteThey had very high energy! That is what was so great about it. If you weren't a part of the celebration, you definitely wanted to be! I wasn't sure what else to compare it to, so I thought maybe a Blazers game would be similar... I think there needs to be that school spirit, or personal attachment to the team. I've seen videos of University of Oregon and Oregon State University football games and the whole audience seems so passionate about their school! Wherever you decide to go to college, I hope you feel a sense of pride and get to enjoy the school celebrations like I'm experiencing at Yonsei! It's been a lot of fun attending school here.
-Marisol
Hi my name is Austin.
ReplyDeleteI think that Akaraka sounds really cool.
Yeah I think it would be cool to go and do something like that.
Personally I would not do that.
I have been to a Blazer game.
Hey Austin,
DeleteWhat was the Blazers game like? Do you feel like it compares?
My name is EH KA PAW
ReplyDeleteI think Akaraka is a cool event.
I wouldn't because i would be to shy to go with so many people.
I would not like to sing and dance.
I've been to a timber's game
i wouldn't go
DeleteWith so many people going
DeleteHello Eh Ka Paw,
DeleteI can understand that. It feels odd because you think that people might be watching you, but with everyone else dancing, you stood out at Akaraka if you were standing still! Give it a try if you ever get the opportunity. :D
Hi my name is Josh, What do you think of Akaraka ? I think Akaraka is a cool event by looks of it. Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this? don't know if I do Would you sing and dance with the local students? No Have you ever been to something similar? yes I've went to blazer games
ReplyDeleteHello Josh,
DeleteWhat was the Blazers game like? I went to a Blazers season kick-off event (I think that's what it was), but there were SO MANY PEOPLE. I wasn't in the right state of mind, so I didn't enjoy it );
Hi my name is Anandi. I think Akaraka is a fun festival. I would want to go to a big festival like this. I probably wouldn't sing or dance. I've gone to a concert before and a blazers game.
ReplyDeleteHello Anandi,
DeleteWhat kind of concert did you go to? :o
I hope it was fun! Do you feel like it was similar to Akaraka?
my name is kobe.
ReplyDeleteI think Akaraka is a fun thing the university does to have fun.
Yes I would like to go to a festival like this but i might get lost.
I don't think I would sing.
I've gone to a hockey game in the moda center.
Hi Kobe,
DeleteThis is the first time someone has mentioned a hockey game! Who played? Do you think the fans had a lot of spirit for their team?
Don't worry! I thought I would get lost too, but you just follow the crowd, get in there, and find your friends haha I'm grateful for cell-phones!
My name is Raquel
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Akaraka? I think its a really nice festival
Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this?i've never went to a big festival like that
Would you sing and dance with the local students?i wouldn't sing to local students because i dont really like to sing
Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game?i've been to one it was really fun
Hello Raquel,
DeleteIt's okay if you don't like to sing! I don't have a great voice either, but nobody can hear you with so much cheering haha However, I could kind of hear myself in some of the videos that I recorded xD so embarrassing.
What did you like about the sporting event?
Hi my name is Malakai,and what i think about Akaraka is its a good way to get the community together.Honestly i wouldn't want to go to a festival like this because there's too much people.I would not sing and dance with random people.i have been to something similar such as a blazers game.
ReplyDeleteHi Malakai!
DeleteI felt a little weird dancing with so many people around, but luckily I was surrounded by friends :)
I have to go to a Blazers game now! Everyone says that they have been, but I haven't...
marcus hi
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Akaraka? I like the the akaraka
Would you like to go to a spirit festival like this?yes I would because I think it would be a great experience to go to.
Would you sing and dance with the local students? no because I have stage fright
Have you ever been to something similar? Like a Blazers or Timbers game? no because I don't go to big events
Hello Marcus,
DeleteI didn't think that I liked going to big events either! I would not have gone to something like this in Portland, but being abroad makes you do things out of your comfort zone. I hope you get to experience something similar! I anticipate you getting the opportunity in high school because they do pep rallies at David Douglas :)