Here is the manuscript of Korea 1988

So picture this. It is 1998 and Robert has qualified for the Korean Olympics, not only on one horse, but on two horses, Federleight & Juvel. Robert bought Federleight with his own money, and soon trained him to Grand Prix. My customers (I was in the jewelry business) asked if I was going to Korea to watch him ride. Oh sure I said, as I thought my going to the moon was just as likely. That night while I sat in bed reading, the telephone rang. A nice man said, “Hello, I represent Seagrams of Canada. They want to send a parent of each American athlete to Korea to watch the Olympics. Would you like to go to the Olympics for 18 days, all expenses paid?” Would I like to go! What a question! And so the fantasy of a lifetime would unfold.

Back in my shop a thrilled customer said that if I would buy a jacket she would embroider & jewel it with Robert, his horse, and the American flag. I was delighted. She even personalized a shirt, too. I still have both.

And so the time arrived to live the dream. I flew to L.A., where my cousins Ethelann and her dear husband, Sonny, met me and we proceeded to the Seagram Bon Voyage Party in a huge room. It was filled with 350 parents, family and friends. All were feasting on delightful food set up all around the room.

When it became time to get on the plane, the Marine band piped us aboard. Everyone was treated like first class passengers. Wine and champagne flowed. Napkins were placed on our tray tables, and a delicious dinner was served. If I remember correctly Michael Polin sat next to me on the plane. We had a nice chat & he said he knew Robert well. We flew over Alaska and stopped to refuel there. You lose a day going west and gain it returning. I was too excited to notice.

We were whisked off to our Olympic Family Town. It had 14,000 residents at that time, living in the high-rises the Koreans had built just for the Olympics. They would become permanent apartments after it was over. Oh my! Each apartment had 4 master bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and large living room. Every morning volunteer ladies came in and scrubbed the floors on their knees! Just like here, right? They gave us clean sheets daily, towels and a clean robe.. As we walked into the apartment we saw a cupboard for shoes and paper slippers to wear indoors.

Next door to the living quarters was a huge dome-shaped building that housed a large cafeteria. As you walked down the path and into the building, lovely young ladies dressed in their native garb greeted you and welcomed you with a deep bow. The choices were as varied as the countries represented at the Olympics. You had but to choose your choice of food. Seagram even paid for that. The only food I never got the courage to try was kumchee. Every Korean eats kumchee. The odor comes up through the sewers. The odd thing is that just the other day I saw some in one of our supermarkets that cater to all the new immigrants that have come to our wonderful USA.

Seagram supplied us with 5 helpful words and phrases to help us communicate. Hello…Yobuseyo, Do you have…? I issumnikka, How much does it cost…?, Please take me to…ro kapshida, & here is the address…Igoshi chusoimndia. Seagram also gave us currency converter so we could spend the thousand dollars they gave each American. They also hosted a lovely outside cocktail party for us. We were made to feel very special. There were guides all over in green jackets. If you felt lost, you had but to ask and they took you where you needed to go. There were guards (all handsome by the way), posted on each corner and on the roof of every building with rifles at ready. Every corner also had a pyramid of beautiful flowers. If you looked closely you saw a rifle sticking out in every direction. They weren’t taking any chances with our lives. I never did get to wear my beautiful shirt and jacket because the authorities didn’t want us to stand out due to animosity left over from the Korean war.

They gave us all kinds of pins to wear. One of the pins said, “I helped send American families to Korea - Seagram’s Coolers,” since that was the only liquor they were allowed to advertise because hard liquor was not allowed at the Olympics.

The opening ceremony was beautiful. Many peace doves were released into the air. The Lamp was lit. It was a thrill to watch all the smartly dressed Olympians marching by. I was excited to see Robert looking natty in his red, white, & blue. I believe Robert and Federleight came in 12th. An article appeared in the daily paper in Seoul. It said “After his ride, Robert Dover, now 32, worked hard on the European circuit, and the effort showed in his Olympic rides. If Dover continues to grow, the USA has a strong shot at a medal in Barcelona.”

Now I must tell you about the stadium used for Dressage. It was huge. We were a long way from the ring. The Koreans had bussed in thousands of schoolchildren who had no idea what was going on. They walked around, amusing themselves the whole time. So much for a quiet arena. Herb came over for a week to see Robert ride and we really enjoyed very minute of his stay. We took Jessica Randhousen & Robert out to a lovely hotel for a delicious dinner.

The Flea Market was to die for. There were just too many things to choose from. I shopped for all our children and friends. Knock-offs were as beautiful as the real thing. Jackets were jeweled in gorgeous patterns. I spent two days on my own there, then dragged Herb along. He didn’t want to go but soon changed his mind when he spied the customized jackets. His jacket says, Seoul Korea Olympics 1988, on the back, and on the front it says his name in Korean and English. Isn’t that neat? He still wears it to this day. I was sad to see him go, but I knew I would find interesting ways to spend my time.

One day I decided to take a tour of the surrounding areas. I called the Korea Travel International which was provided in our “what to do” booklet. I told the young man who answered that I would like to book the afternoon tour that day. I arrived on time to be greeted by a handsome young man dressed in a suit and tie.. He bowed and introduced himself as Kwang Rak Kim. When I found I was the only one booked for the tour I said, “Oh you don’t have to take me.” He replied, “Madam, it would be my pleasure to take you.” So there I was on a tour bus with my own personal guide.

We saw the city, which was much like any other industrial city anywhere. Then we headed into the countryside which was lovely and green. The tour bus stopped at the Korean Folk Village where everything from older times was on display. I hadn’t realized it was a national holiday. There were many Boy Scouts around. I found myself surrounded by them, all wanting my autograph. Kang explained that they thought I was a movie star and had never seen a white woman before. Then a young girl approached me and asked if she could touch my skin. I said yes, if I could touch hers. Next an old lady asked. I smiled and took her hand and she touched my face. She bowed thanking me.

Kwank said they wanted to know what I did in America. I said I had a little jewelry boutique in a nail salon. Just think how many nail technicians later came to work here. It took a little courage to ask me how old I was. I said, “guess.” Of course they wanted to flatter me by saying very young ages. I finally said 60. You should have seen their faces. Not at my age, but the fact that I was still working and going on tour by myself. Later Kwan told me in Korea a women my age no longer worked.. Her daughters and daughters-in-law took care of everything. I don’t know if that is still true, but I thought what a lovely idea!

On the way back we stopped and had a late lunch at E. Won, a Korean restaurant. There was a table of young men and so the questions of who I was started again. One young man asked for my address in case he ever came to Florida.. I wish he had. It would have been fun to show him around. I was sorry to arrive back at my living quarters, knowing I would never be better treated than I was that day. I tried to give both Kwan & the bus driver a tip. They acted insulted so I left the money in an envelope on the seat.

One more thing I want to tell you. The Koreans were warned not to eat dogs while we were in the country. I saw one man carrying a puppy in his arms. He smiled as he walked by me. I thought to myself, “Oh dear that puppy was his dinner.” Some things change as years go by, some things never do.

Thanks for sharing these 1998 memories with me.
Love,
Robert’s Mom

Posted: Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Filed under: Mom