An Ode to Ultimate

Last weekend was likely my last ultimate frisbee tournament in Korea.  I won’t be leaving here for a few more months, but I’ll be gone by the time spring season starts up again, and I already know that ultimate will be one of the things (if not THE thing) I’ll miss most from my time here.

My very first day in Korea was also my very first ultimate frisbee weekend, and it really set the tone for my time here.  Ultimate gave me most of my friends here, provided me with great excuses to travel to various regions within Korea, and gave me something to work and improve on during my time here.

But most importantly, ultimate Frisbee in Korea taught me the value of community.

Simply put, the ultimate frisbee community here is stellar.  It’s inclusive and encouraging, and pushes everyone to be their best self.  It’s the reason I’d wake up at 7:00AM on a Saturday and not home until 7:00PM on a Sunday for consecutive weekends.

Along with all the flat-ball catching, flunkyballing, sauna-ing, all you can eat BBQ-ing, it’s the meeting and sharing stories with ultimate people that I love most.  Everyone has a story, and when you spend the better part of two days with ultimate people, you learn lots about each other – which only brings you that much closer.

Korean ultimate Frisbee is truly something unique, and I’m extremely grateful for all the people who make it what it is.  I can only hope that the community where I play it next is half as good as it is here!

…and if you ever find yourself in Korea, give ultimate a try!