Secret Agent Man

Saturday, Sally and I decided to check out Itaewon, a popular place to the westerners to hang out. This is the area where the American soldiers are stationed, so even before Seoul was so westernized, this was the only area to find stuff imported from the states. This is also the area with the highest crime and prostitution in Seoul. We had both heard about how cool Itaewon is, so we thought we should see for ourselves.

Right after we excited the subway station, we turned down a street and immediately saw two antique stores. I joked that this must be the antique district. As we continued to walk down the street and then around a corner, it seemed that I was totally right. It was in fact the antique district; every single shop for about three blocks was an antique store. This was the coolest part of Itaewon, by far.

We finally found the street that makes up the Itaewon shopping area. We stopped for a coffee at an American coffee shop, full of white people, and gross white guys with their hot Korean girlfriends. We actually saw one couple get off the shuttle from the Hilton and walk into the coffee shop.

Sitting on the second floor balcony, we saw lots of tourists and teachers bargaining for tourist crap and ugly clothes. Itaewon wasn’t even that nice, it was kind of grubby, there were too many people around and the stores sold all the exact same things, most of which was tourist crap. I was really disappointed. Sally bought a touque (a word I taught her). I didn’t buy anything.

We ate supper at a Moroccan restaurant; the food was really good. We had their buffet and it was delicious. Itaewon does have a good selection of ethnic food. This restaurant was run by a Moroccan family. It was the real deal.

After supper we walked around a bit more, then decided to head over to Hyehwa. Hyehwa has a couple of universities, so there are lots of young people in the area. Also, it is on the same subway line, making it very easy to get home. We mostly just walked around, Sally tried to find some shoes, but they didn’t have her size. I found American Apparel, I just about peed my pants I was so excited. Now I never have to feel homesick, because I can just go home. I bet the sales people will treat me with disdain and be condescending, just like at home! I made Sally go in with me, I didn’t buy anything, but at least I know where I can find one.

We also had drinks at a bar called the Red Lion, it was an English style bar, as in British. Drinks were expensive but strong. The place was really busy; I guess the university kids have their parent’s money to spend? I know that students generally don’t have to work while they are in university, people are always surprised that I worked while in school. Weren’t you very busy? They ask. Yes, yes I was very busy.

On Sunday I took a very long walk. I walked to Nowon, which is two subway stops from Ssangmun, my subway stop. Maybe it is only one, I’m not sure. I found the hotel that I stayed in on the first night. There are not many hotels in my area, and there were three in a row. And no Mom, I don’t think it would be good place to stay. It is even more north than I am, and therefore, far away from everything you really want to see, like the antique district in Itaewan, or the palaces in the centre of the city, or Insadong with its traditional tea houses. It was cool to stand on the sidewalk that I looked down on my first morning in Seoul, when I had no idea where I was. This time I knew exactly where I was standing.

After the walk, Sally and I took a very long subway ride down to the Coex mall in Gangnam to meet Tasha and her husband, Hou-Jin (?). Tasha is one of the Korean teachers at my school. We went to see the Quantum of Solace. I thoughly enjoyed the film.

After the movie we went to this street that Tasha really likes because it was cozy and has lots of nice restaurants and lots of cool little shops. It had a very Corydon feel, expect better. We ate supper at a place called Dinner Like.

At first we tried to eat a much fancier and more expensice place. But Tasha, Sally, and I had sat down, while Hou-jin found a parking spot. While we were sitting, Tasha realized that she Hou-Jin’s cell phone. So, she tried to find him, while Sally and I were sitting outside on the patio, by they time Tasha and Hou-Jin came back, we were pretty cold and decided to move inside. As soon as we stood up some girls took our table and when we went inside all the tablels were full. We were forced to find a new place to eat, which was ok. Dinner Like was must more in my price range.

Tasha calls Hou-Jin her “white rabbit” because he is so small and pale. He is 38 but could easily pass for 18. He is allergic to the sun so he avoids the sun as much as he can, his skin is so smooth and free of wrinkles. He is pretty small, even for a Korean man, and Tasha is tall for a Korean woman, so she always makes fun of how small he is and calls him “my rabbit” to his face. They are a very funny couple and seem to genuinely adore each other.

After supper, we drove around a bit, Tasha and Hou-Jin showed us some nice areas and places to go during the day. We drove by Seoul Tower. It was actually almost the same drive that Sunny took me on, during my first weekend here. This time I had a better perspective of where I was; I am slowly starting to get to know this city.

They dropped us off in Hyehwa, so that we could take the subway home. Which was really nice of them. Because, like I mentioned earlier, Hyehwa is on our subway line. Transfering is kind of a pain. And to all the people who told me that everything would only be about a 20-30 minute subway ride, you clearly have not spent much time Seoul. Gangnam takes about an hour. Hyehwa, which I consider close takes like 20 minuets, that that is not even considered to be in the city centre. I’m just saying, this city is huge and I live really far north.

Tasha told me that there is an American Apparel in the Coex mall as well as in Gangnam. Really, I’m not suprised that there is American Apparel here, it was basically designed for the Asian body type. I have to stick to t-shirts and hoodies. I just thought it would take longer to find one or that it would be really expensive. The prices are similar to home, which is still expensive, but not too expensive.