"I really missed bibimbap and dakgangjeong." From kimchi to live octopus, perfect adaptation in Korea! Our Card's Araujo: "My family also loves Korea; I want to play here as long as possible" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Hafael Araujo (35), an opposite spiker for Our WON Volleyball Team of Our Card, who has perfectly adapted to life in Korea, expressed high expectations for his second season.

Araujo reflected on the past three months after meeting with StarNews at the Our Card Clubhouse cafeteria near Songlim Gymnasium in Incheon Metropolitan City: "I spent a lot of time with my family and friends. I continued weight training and took plenty of rest time to find mental stability."

Upon arriving in Korea with his family through Incheon International Airport on the 26th of last month, Araujo made headlines when he said, "While on the plane, I realized how much I missed kimchi. I can't wait to go to the team cafeteria and eat kimchi and Korean food."

His words were sincere. According to Our Card cafeteria staff and dedicated interpreters, Araujo ate everything without being picky. He was so serious about Korean cuisine that he readily consumed spicy dishes like kimchi as well as live octopus. The only thing he avoided was offal. Even on the day of the interview, he recovered his tired energy with Korean food.

Araujo smiled, saying, "I really missed the feeling of eating rice with kimchi, side dishes, and pork together. Kimchi goes perfectly with meat." When asked about his favorite Korean dish, he replied, "I keep going back and forth between bibimbap and dakgangjeong."

Last season, wearing Our Card's uniform, Araujo scored 809 points in 36 regular-season games across 142 sets, ranking third in the league. With an attack success rate of 52.13% (fourth) and 0.401 service aces per set (third), he secured top positions in major offensive statistics, leading Our Card's spring volleyball campaign. Recognized for his performance, he successfully renewed his contract.

Adaptation off the court also went smoothly. For foreign players, adapting to food and living conditions is an indispensable factor in enduring a long season. Araujo has now reached the point where he actively seeks out Korean food first. He stated, "When I returned to Korea this time, everything was much easier than my first year, except for adjusting to jet lag. I feel that I have already adapted significantly in many aspects, including food and daily life."

In Brazil, he did not specifically seek out Korean food. In fact, after his contract renewal was confirmed, knowing he would return to Korea, he focused on Brazilian cuisine. Araujo explained, "In Brazil, we eat rice and beans regularly every day. I especially consumed many Brazilian-style bean dishes."

While familiarity is certainly an advantage, Araujo remained cautious about becoming too comfortable. He said, "When you first join a new league, everything is new. You have to learn about people, players' styles, playing methods, and culture, so there are many things to be careful about." However, he added, "Although I feel much more comfortable now, I don't want to become complacent by thinking, 'I know everything now, and people trust me, so it's fine.' Instead, I want to push myself even harder and show better performance than last season."

His sense of responsibility has also grown. Last season, Ali Hagparast (22), who shared offensive responsibilities with Araujo, chose to play overseas, prompting Our Card to sign Martin Ahmadi (registered name: Martin, 25), a middle blocker from Iran, as their new Asian quota player. This was a move to fill the void left by Lee Sang-hyun (27), who joined the military. Naturally, the offensive burden carried by Araujo and the domestic attacking lineup has increased further.

However, Araujo drew a line against using the term "burden." He stated firmly, "I am an opposite spiker. It is my position from the start to carry responsibilities including scoring, so I don't feel too much pressure." He continued, "Of course, Ali was an important player for our team last season. But now Martin, a new player, has joined, and we still have existing players. I do not think our team's level has dropped."

He further added, "Martin hasn't fully started training with us yet, but I hope he will energetically bring energy to the team. I expect him not only in blocking but also in offensive aspects. We just need to approach games differently this season. If we adapt to his style, it will be fine. I am confident we can do that sufficiently."

As an experienced foreign player, Araujo is aware of his role. He has become a close older brother figure who easily connects with younger players throughout the season. For Martin, who is experiencing life abroad for the first time, Araujo, who has perfectly adapted to Korea, is expected to be a great help.

Araujo said, "As one of the more experienced players on the team, I believe I must contribute not only in performance but also in energy and atmosphere. As one of the leaders of the team, I have a responsibility."

He continued with a smile, "Having lived overseas for a long time, I adapted to these aspects relatively quickly. Based on that experience, what I want to tell Martin is simply to live each day as it comes. If you don't get too stressed by things outside of volleyball and just live your days, you will naturally blend in."

Another source of strength for him is his family. His son Bento, who visits Jangchung Gymnasium to cheer for his dad at every game, has now become a familiar face to Our Card's home fans. Because of this, Araujo is looking toward an even more distant future in Korea.

Araujo said, "I really love Korea, and my family loves Korea too. I want to play here as long as possible. I also know that ultimately, showing good results will allow me to stay longer."

He also expressed anticipation for reuniting with the "Jangchung-i" (Our Card fans' nickname). Araujo said, "They were truly amazing fans. It's impossible to ask more than what last season's fans did. I received so much support." He first conveyed his gratitude.

He added, "I believe that our ability to achieve good results in the latter half of last season was certainly due to the fans' contribution. Not only did they cheer from the stadium, but they also provided constant support and encouragement online through SNS comments. I hope they will continue to be with us this season just as they did last season. I wish for the fans to support and back our team as they did last season."

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*This content was translated by AI.