The day before the opening of the World Cup, the telephone never stops ringing Thursday at the Seoul Eungam-dong office of Anagi, or Ajummas (married women) are the pillars of the country. Since last March, Anagi has been participating in a home stay movement, "Korea B&B" (Bed and Breakfast) that provides foreigners with a place to sleep and food. On Thursday, representative Kim Yong-suk and her colleagues are calling all the families that applied for the project to confirm whether their guests had arrived in Korea.

Some 800 Anagi members volunteered to offer home stays and range from those in their 20s to women in their 60s, while living all over the country, including Ulsan, Busan, Gwangu, and Seoul. They received 24 hours of education in international manners, the correct understanding of Korean culture, and even have a license certificate. Until now, 100 people from 25 countries have applied for the Anagi homestay.

Kim Yong-hyun (31, Seodamun-gu) went to the airport bus terminal to greet Damian (25), who came to Korea on May 30 to see the opening match between France and Senegal. “We sent each other 4-5 emails and had more than eight phone calls. I am now very friendly with the young Frenchman. My husband and I are going to take him to the eve festivals and to our friend’s wedding," she says. Lee Eun-hee (36, Kimhae, Gyeongnam), who is waiting for a tourist from Turkey who wants to see the games in Ulsan says, "We learned international manners and tea serving etiquette for three days."

An Anagi homestay costs 35,000 won for one night and representative Kim suggests that members prepare Korean food and show their lifestyle as it is. Aside from the home stay program, Anagi put together a cheer leading squad to cheer for the 15 foreign teams that will be playing in Korea. Members and their families plan to guide their home stay guests to the stadium and cheer for their country. In preparation, there was even a group cheering practice last April 25 at the Women's Development Center in Bulgwang-dong, Seoul. Director Shim Young-ju says, “Anagi will particularly concentrate our efforts on cheering for minority countries.” Anagi will distribute information booklets on the home stay program at tents near the World Cup Park and participate in volunteer work as well. (Shin Dong-heun, dhshin@chosun.com )