Lee Yong Dae's First Fan Meeting Ever

Yong Dae oppa, fighting!

I like cool men

I like Korea

I like badminton

A cool Korean Badminton athlete? Love him!

Lee Yong Dae is a famous badminton athlete from the ginseng country, South Korea. He's a specialist in Mixed Double and Men Double. He won the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal in mixed double discipline, after beating Indonesia's best XD pair at the time, Nova Widianto-Liliyana Natsir. I was both sad and happy at that time haha.

Anyway, Yong Dae was chosen to be an ambassador of a Korean life insurance, Hanwa Life. As an ambassador, his first event in Indonesia was doing a fan meeting. I was super happy when I heard the news and I bought the ticket right away! Thank God it wasn't expensive at all, in fact, it was super cheap! Only IDR. 50.000 (less than USD 4). With that money, I didn't only get a chance to see Lee Yong dae in person, but also got a T-shirt and a table calendar. 

I reached the venue, FX Sudirman mall, way too early, I was too eager, I mean, who wouldn't be? 

While waiting for the event to start, I spent time with some new friends I met there. We had lunch together, and then we took some selfies. We also took pictures with Yong Dae's standing figure. When it was my turn, Yong Dae suddenly came. I was like paralyzed! How could someone be so cute and cool at the same time?? 

There were hundreds of people attending the fan meeting, but only a few lucky fans got the chance to communicate directly with Yong Dae. At first, the fans were chosen randomly using their phone numbers and sticky notes where we were asked to write questions to Lee Yong Dae. With my luck, of course I wasn't chosen. I was never lucky at things like this.

Then, the fans were asked to dance, and the craziest dancer would be chosen. Me? No chance! Next, they chose someone who wore an orange clothing item. Of course not me; the only orange thing I have in my cupboard is an orange kebaya. 

I was losing hope, but then they said they would choose someone wearing a badminton apparel! I wasn't, but I had a Yonex jersey in my bag. I took it and showed it to the committee excitedly. Bella, an Indonesian badmint

on athlete, asked me to wear it. Of course I did it right away. And like that, I was the last lucky fan selected to communicate directly with Yong Dae. I was so fucking happy!

I didn't get a chance to take proper selfies with Yong Dae, or to get his signature, but guess what, I got a chance to "play" with him. I didn't know how to play badminton, and I really did make a fool of myself in the court, but I couldn't care less. I was so happy I could be close to him. And yeah, I gave him a gift (a Wonderful Indonesia sweater and a Wonderful Indonesia post card). I shook his hand after giving it, and I was like, "I'm not washing this hand ever!" lol.

Three hours passed by, and it was the end of the event. Lee Yong Dae said he would meet us again at Indonesia Master next month. Then he went to the staff room, and we were asked to go home. Some of my friends decided to wait until Yong Dae left the mall, but a friend from Bogor wanted to leave soon because her house is quite far. I said I would go with her. So we said good bye to those who wanted to wait, and got in the elevator. And you know what? Thirty seconds later, Young Dae entered the elevator as well. I spontaneously said, "Oh my God, oh my God!" I was standing so close to him and I felt hypnotized. I even forgot to take out my phone and take a picture. 

Soon, we got to the first floor. He went out and got in a car. My friend and I screamed happily and left the mall. 

It was a really fun event. I hope I will get to attend more events like this. <3