Many people watched the World Cup this summer in Korea. But few people, even Canadians, have had the chance to play on its field.

Jon Pelster not only visited the World Cup stadium, he was one of only of 19 Canadians selected to play soccer on its field only weeks after the World Cup tournament. The teacher at Centennial Christian School in Terrace represented Canada as a soccer player at the Global Association of Culture and Peace (GACP) conference this August in Daejeong, South Korea.

"The magnitude of the conference is huge. Over 400,000 Koreans are members and the opening ceremonies had 30, 000 in attendance," Jon said.

The GACP uses sport, mainly soccer, plus art and culture to promote peace and understanding with other nations, in order to break the boundaries and misunderstandings of racial differences. This was the sixth global conference held by the GACP.

Pelster and the Canadian team played against five different teams in a tournament that paralleled the World Cup format.

"We played four games in a round robin (format) and one friendly match."

The Canadians played teams from England, Germany, Italy and the United States and finished up in eighth place out of 12 teams - mostly, Jon said, because members were young and relatively inexperienced. "I would say that I was one of the oldest, being 25."

Former Terrace resident Stewart McIsack played on the Canadian soccer team at the GACP conference last year and wanted to start up his own team. He joined another former Terrace resident, Ryan Orr, and together they hand-selected a soccer team. Pelster, who currently plays in the Terrace Men's Soccer League, was one of the few members who live outside the Greater Vancouver area to make the team - a noteworthy accomplishment considering he started playing soccer less than five years ago while attending college.

The highlight of the trip, Jon said, was the way Koreans adore Canadians and treat them with the highest regard.

"When we walked into the stadium for the opening ceremonies and 30,000 fans were cheering for us, I'll never forget it. We were the first country to walk in. That was definitely my most memorable moment."

However, playing soccer wasn't the only reason that Pelster was interested in going to the GACP conference. He couldn't pass up the chance to spend time in a different culture and to form new friendships through the peace conference. In the short time he spent in Korea, Pelster says he felt he immersed in Korean culture: even the bus that the Canadian team traveled in contained the ubiquitous Korean karaoke machine.

One cultural difference left its mark: "The hotels didn't have beds. There were mats on the floor and that's where the Koreans sleep. It was an adjustment." Nevertheless, Pelster and the rest of the Canadian team were provided with beds at the university they stayed at for the duration of the GACP conference.

Another mark of Korean generosity: Pelster quickly learned that to leave food on your plate signals the host to bring the next course. If not, the host will continue to fill up your plate with that dish.

After the conference, Pelster and half of the members of the Canadian team spent a week sightseeing throughout the country. They visited the cities of KeuongJu, and Daegu and spent time in Seoul, touring Buddhist temples, learning about Korean mythology, hiking in the countryside and spending time on the beach in Cheju, a resort noted as the most beautiful island in the entire country.

"It was worth every minute."

(Jaime Spyksma is a freelance writer in Terrace.)