I Would Be an Octopus

(I’m currently talking to Bryan on Skype while writing this blog because he is listening to Flight of the Conchords while we talk. We always fight when we talk on Skype. So maybe it is better this way. We just look at each other doing other things. It’s free so it’s not big deal.)

My dad always used say that most disgusting part of his job when he was plumber was cleaning out people’s drains. I now thoroughly sympathize. From the beginning of living here, I have had problems with the drain in my bathroom. Every time I took a shower my whole bathroom became a pool. I couldn’t even wash my hands or my face without small puddle forming at my feet. I started washing my face and brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink. I had tried many times to open up the drain, it seemed to be a removable piece but I couldn’t get it to move. Finally, on Friday morning, after living in this apartment for four months, I managed to unscrew the drain cup. I just about threw up on the spot, and it only got worse as I pulled it out. A huge clump of course dark hair clung to the drain filter, combined with my hair and at least four months worth of everything that goes down the drain. The stench was awful. I faithfully cleaned it all out putting the hair and guck in a plastic bag with was tightly sealed and immediately thrown away. It was so worth it, my drain actually drains. I took a shower and didn’t have to stand nearly ankle deep in water; it all drained immediately. I can wash my hands without turning the water off between soaping and rinsing (although I still do out of habit). It is so luxurious to have a bathroom drain that drains.

I had a late night on Friday, helping Sarah, Dave, and Lisa mourn the loss of on of their Korean co-teachers. Wendy, her English name, is leaving for a year to study in English in Australia. She invited her boyfriend, who was never introduced beyond Samgupsal boy. Apparently he runs or owns a samgupsal restaurant, which, in my books, makes him a keeper. Free samgupsal and soju for life, that sounds like heaven. He didn’t speak any English but seemed very devoted to Wendy and he was super cute.

We partied at Konkuk University on the Green line. We drank delicious pineapple and strawberry soju and very tall beers. Sally and I called it night before we hit the noraebang.

On Saturday afternoon, I walked over to Nowon, to Amber’s apartment to help her clean and pack up her stuff. She is moving to a new apartment for her new job. I did the dishes and cleaned the bathroom. I seem to end up cleaning bathrooms whenever I help people move. After everything was packed and cleaned we all sat around waiting for her new director to arrive to put all her stuff in his car. He was really cute, really really cute. Amber has all the luck.

We moved her to Girem, an adventure that involved mad cap taxi rides and getting lost near her apartment and not being able to find her her apartment and devastating disappointments at the claw game machine (I wanted the sexy lighters so badly!). She had too much stuff to put it all in her directors car, so we had to take a couple of taxis to move everything. We didn’t know the exact location of her place so the taxi dropped us nearby. It took many calls to the director before we finally found her apartment, by which time the director had moved everything inside. He used her kimchi bucket as a doorstop. She invited him to supper with us, but unfortunately he had to bet back to work.

After getting Amber a little settled, we went out to supper. It was Sarah, Amber, Amber’s language exchange partner Sang-Hoon, her co-teacher (who’s name I don’t remember) and her co-teachers boyfriend (Q?). We had dalk galbi, which was alright. The restaurant had guns as decorations. I now know what an AK-47 looks like. Good.

After supper, we headed over to Hongdae for welcome home celebration for another friend of Amber’s, Min-yoo. We started at a hooka bar called Bricxx, which had uncomfortable harem-like seating. The severs were stupid good-looking and all spoke English very well, but makes me wonder why they are working as servers if they can speak English that well. We did stay out until the subway started running, but there was nothing of note that evening expect the band we saw later at FF. Pillow Fighter, kind of MGMTish, but not as catchy, as dancy as Woodhands. I really enjoyed their set and I was pumped to finally see a good band in Seoul, one that plays music I really like.

Sunday, I went to the National Museum again. And once again, I just have to admit that I am an uncultured person who just doesn’t really like museums, at least not that kind of museum. It is information overload. If I were by myself, I bet I could do that museum in an hour instead of the three we spent on Sunday and still didn’t see it all. After the museum, Song-Hoon and Min-You took Sarah, Amber, and I to Sinchon (south of the river) for super. We had this delicious octopus meal. Octopus is great.

On Monday, I bought kimchi in the grocery store and I have eaten kimchi with my lunch everyday this week. I’m practically Korean.

53 Days until Bryan.