One of the reasons I love Asia is that most people here seem to be just as shy and reserved as I am. But it can also drive me crazy. It’s really hard to get to know people when you feel like they’re always on their best manners. And let’s be real, there have been quite a few times while living in Japan and Thailand that I’ve wanted to shake someone and tell them to STOP BEING SO POLITE AND TELL ME THE TRUTH!!
It’s frustrating. At least it was, until I discovered the perfect way to break through this cultural barrier: Go to a sports game!
Sports events are always great places to mingle with locals, even if you’re not a sports fan, but in many East and Southeast Asian countries they might also be the only place a tourist will get a chance to see locals screaming their lungs out and making no attempt to hide their emotions (even in Japan, like whoa). It’s awesome, and has almost made me enjoy sports. In fact, during my past four years abroad I’ve been to more sports games than in all of my years living in America.
There the was time Danielle and I went to a buzkashi, or goat carcass polo, match in Kyrgyzstan. It was like taking a concentrated shot of Kyrgyz culture. And I mean a shot of the hard stuff – this is a sport so violent that it was once banned by the Taliban! But while I was clutching Danielle in terror through a lot of the game, jumping around with Kyrgyz spectators in celebration and booing loudly when something went wrong (like when limbs were broken) is one of my favorite memories from Kyrgyzstan.
I’m not a huge soccer fan (though if Dan reads this, woooo Arsenal go team YAY!) but attending Chiang Mai Football Club’s home games became one of my favorite things to do in Chiang Mai. And that’s only partly because they sell lots of yummy snacks and beer served with a straw. In fact, going to watch a Chiang Mai FC game is one of my top recommendations for people who are spending some time in Chiang Mai. It really is the perfect way get off the tourist trail and see a different side of Thai culture.
So what are you waiting for?!
Um, actually you’re waiting for the games to start up again, because the team is on break at the moment. But they’ll be back in February!
Chiang Mai FC games are held at 700 Year Stadium and tickets start at 80 baht. The stadium is about a fifteen minute drive out of town – if you don’t have a motorbike then you can catch a red songthaew heading that way (they have them returning to the city after the game as well).
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says
I bet I would have a really hard time making friends in an Asian culture as well. I am never the first person to start a conversation, so most of the way I meet new friends is through them striking up a conversation with me.
Silvia says
I’m the same way, Stacie! It’s funny that I get frustrated with people being reserved, because I’m so reserved myself, but it does make socializing a bit tricky.
CL (RealGunners) says
The thing is, we grow up being polite when faced with people other than our immediate family. Except during sports and rock concerts. It’s not exactly a great wall, it’s just how we are. I don’t really know if we can switch it off at will.
I couldn’t resist taking a dig: the fact that you say soccer instead of football proves that you are still not a full fledged sports fan as far as Asians are concerned 😀
(By the way, I’m going to be great friends with Dan if we ever meet, what a great choice of team to support! 😉 )
Silvia says
That’s really funny because, unless I’m talking to other Americans, I do call it football now! But I thought it might sound weird and pretentious for me to call it football in this post, since I’m American, haha.
And I really do mostly love how reserved many Asians are (I am as well), but that also makes it really fun to see everyone let go at sports games.
I’ve been told that Arsenal fans are the best – I guess it must be true!
Liv @ Healthy Liv says
I spent the summer in Asia for an exchange program and I loved it there so much! The people there were definitely more reserved in general, but so kind once I got to know them.
Liv @ Healthy Liv says
Clever post title, by the way 😉
Silvia says
They really are so nice! After living in Asia for so many years, I’m really going to miss it when I leave.
Marie @ Marie Away says
This is pretty funny. Certain rituals provoke similar responses no matter where you are in the world, and sports is the prime example! I’d love to go to one of these games! Great post!
Silvia says
I love that about sports – and it makes me wish I enjoyed watching them more, ha.
Charlie says
I know that exact feeling of frustration about Asian politeness when you want the truth! haha. I also hate sports though, and especially anything that involves animals, damn :/
Silvia says
I’m really not into sports, but living in Asia has made me enjoy watching them a lot more! But you’re right, buzkashi is definitely nothing for animal lovers!
Justine says
Sports have a funny way of bringing people our of their shell. I tend to be on the shy side but turn on my Oakland A’s or a UFC match and I become a maniac 😉 Watching sports in other countries is one of my favorite activities and I agree that it’s such a cool way to get to know another culture. I’m not a soccer fan AT ALL, but when I was in Colombia during the World Cup earlier this year I had the best time bonding with Colombians over the games. And my favorite memory in Nicaragua was at a baseball game where the competition got so heated that players and fans mobbed the field and started pelting each other with giant chunks of ice. I still don’t know where all the ice came from…but the field was covered by the end. Good times!
Silvia says
Whoa, that is insane! Seeing that sort of fanaticism does make me wish I were a real sports fan – I totally feel like I’m missing out on something huge!
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch says
Aw what a sweet post! I love that you found a way to break out of the norm — and find people in their natural habitat 😉 people are always best that way.
Silvia says
It really is so much fun to find a way to break down some barriers while traveling!
Mediodiablo says
Was it the sporting events… or the beer with a straw what really broke the great wall of asian politeness? 😉
By the way, taking a street photography workshop is a fun way to approach strangers!
Silvia says
Haha I think both play integral roles here.
Chalsie says
I love the title of this post! Such a great idea, finding somewhere were people are completely themselves.
Chalsie | The Workshop Co. x
Silvia says
It really is crazy how different Thais are at football games – it’s so much fun to see a different side of people like that!
Polly says
That’s so awesome and I’m totally stealing this tip for my future travels eastward. It’s so nice to hear that you can go to games without trouble – in Russia, a lot of football lovers are ultra-nationalists and do NOT take kindly to foreigners :/
Silvia says
Oh wow, good to know! People in Chiang Mai just seem happy to see more fans coming out for their games, thankfully.
Lynsey @ Eternally Wanderlyn says
That’s such a great idea! You get to see such a different part of the culture by attending sports events. I attended a few in England (including an American football game) and boy was it interesting. During the American football game, the English people became more interested in the wave than the game. Hah. But, soccer was a completely different story, obviously.
Silvia says
Haha I can’t even imagine Brits watching an American football game – love that they loved the wave!
Brooke says
I absolutely love the energy at sporting events. They really do bring something out of people and can be a great way to bond and feel like part of a community. The cheap beer doesn’t usually hurt! I refuse to watch an American football game with my brother though…he’s crazy! I’ve never been anywhere in Asia, but it’s certainly on my list (my very long list!) of places I’d love to visit.
Silvia says
Yeah I always get nervous about watching Arsenal games with my boyfriend because he’s such an intense fan. It’s much nicer to just go to local Thai games! When you go to Asia you should definitely check out the sports scene 🙂
becky hutner says
i wish this weren’t the truth bc like you, i’m not a sports fan AT ALL. but weirdly, i did get reallly into this year’s world cup so i would consider a football game if the opportunity arose. and if my husband is reading this comment for some very odd reason — go arsenal too!
Silvia says
It’s crazy to me how many Arsenal fans there are around the world! Haha. But yeah, it’s been fun getting into sports (a bit) while traveling – it’s like a whole other world to me.
Mattie @ Comfy & Confident says
I agree! I am shy and have a hard time putting myself out there, but I also like to be social and meet new people. It’s a total catch-22! Sports events are always a great way for people to get outside their comfort zone and so emotion and excitement for their team.
Silvia says
I especially love how easy it is to jump around with strangers at sporting events – I definitely feel more at ease about talking to new people there!
Rebekah says
I’m sure this is pretty true… but I have such a low tolerance for watching sports! In China chess is considered a sport and I love how intense the old men get watching those games!
Silvia says
Haha I have a pretty low tolerance for sports as well, but now I know I should at least be grateful that soccer is more exciting than chess! Though I do love how intense people get about it.
Joella in Beijing says
Totally agree- sport has a way of bringing people together and out of their shells! I’m not sure I could handle all the pushing and shoving that would happen in order to get into a football/soccer stadium in Beijing though agh (guess I’m just an overly polite Brit who loves a nice orderly queue haha!)!
Silvia says
Ha, the first time I went to Beijing was with three British girls and their horror at the lack of queues was so entertaining. Though even as an American I was quite intimidated! I think a few times I tried using a public restroom and had to give up because people kept sneaking in front of me.
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
It would have been amazing to be out there, with the locals. So cool. Up the teams. Whoever they are!!
Speaking of being reserved, as a British person, I get a lot of comments from my German friends and colleagues that we should be more outright, and I just can’t. Germans are demanding and will say things to your face. We Brits, well, we go around and around hoping that you get what we’re trying to say!
I think in Asia, it’s slightly different. It all stems from not losing face for you or for me and so the answer is always “yes” rather than “I’m sorry.” After a while, you learn to read between the signs and ask open questions rather than closed ones LOL!
Silvia says
I think it’s funny how proud a lot of Germans are about being so direct. Like it’s a good thing to tell me that my hair looks horrible or I’m getting fat? Haha. When I spent a year in Germany on high school exchange my host parents made me cry SO many times because of it – clearly I needed some brutal honesty in order to toughen up a bit, ha. But yeah, Asia is such a different story. You’re right though; it’s all about how you frame your questions!
Franca says
I know what you mean about the excessive politeness in some part of Asia, it can be frustrating indeed especially for someone like me that usually likes to say things directly and I like people to do the same with me. I’ve never been to sport events in Asia though, it’s an interesting fact 🙂
Silvia says
Ha yes, it can be hard adapting to Asian politeness!
Leah says
I only made it to one Lanna Tigers match while living in Chiang Mai but it was SO fun! We all had our blue jerseys on and our straw beers, I think it was even the King’s birthday so there was a big ceremony during halftime. Definitely a lively and fun atmosphere. I don’t even want to know what goat carcass polo entails…what!? Haha.
Silvia says
Haha I’d say Chiang Mai fc games are a lot more lighthearted than goat carcass polo, haha. I’m surprised I’m saying this, but I’m really going to miss going to soccer games in Chiang Mai!
Ashley says
I went to a ton of major league (Chinese Professional Baseball League) games while living in Taiwan and they were hands-down the most insane, excited, pumped-up sports fans I have ever seen in my life. Those games were a friggin’ blast to attend! So I know exactly what you are talking about! Goat polo though? Whoa.
Ash
Silvia says
Whoa, Chinese baseball games sound amazing – Japanese baseball games are fun, but I’d imagine Chinese ones would be insane! And yeah goat carcass polo, goodness.
Jeff says
This is great advice for meeting locals and seeing a different side of the culture. Also, if you are learning a new language, it is a great way to learn curse words and insults.
Silvia says
Haha good point!