A couple weekends ago, the friendlies, B.A. Bryan, and I headed out to Boryoung for the annual Mud Fest. Bryan and I woke up at 6:45 on Saturday morning. It’s not always easy to get Bryan out of bed and I had to use my teacher voice to accomplice the task. We packed everything the night before so all we needed to do was eat and leave. However, we did have to make a stop at Sally’s apartment to fed and water the damn cat, keeping him alive for another weekend. Fingers crossed.
We had made the decision a few months ago to sign up for a package deal. The package included buses, accommodations, and a free T-shirt (especially a free T-shirt). It seemed like a cheap and easy option. Our bus was supposed to leave at 9:30, on the dot, with out without us. We arrived at the bus location at 9:00, grabbed a Danish and coffee at Tour Les Jour and then boarded a bus. At about 10:00, we rolled out. Sitting on the bus waiting to leave, we noticed a lot of folk, foreign folk, starting their weekend. A lot of beer, a lot of soju, and a lot of harder stuff. I know there is nothing that I like better than Jim Bean at 9:45 in the morning.
A few people on our bus were already a little trashed by the time we arrived at the first rest stop. As we all got back on the bus, one fellow, decided to make the bus more entertaining and tried to get us all to sing. A few of his drunk friends obliged. Bus time noraebang.
The second half of the bus trip was louder and much more obnoxious than the first half. Also, we watched Mad Max, a film I have never seen. It was odd and parts were disturbing and Mel Gibson was really young and handsome.
Because people were drinking so much, some folk insisted that we hit a second rest stop. A second rest stop in addition to getting caught in the mass evacuation from Seoul that occurs every weekend, we didn’t arrive in Boryoung until about 3:00, two hours later than expected.
We were dropped off and then had to walk down a street, past the elephant rides where a person from Asknow, the organizers, was waiting and then we back tracked as she lead us to our Minbak, adding one more accommodation to the list of places I have stayed at during my time here. A minbak is apparently one of the cheapest options. Like the pension I stayed in at Sokcho, a Minbak has many giant rooms with no beds, only floor mats and blankets. However, unlike a pension, you pay to sleep and you never know who might be sleeping on the floor beside you. Also, there is no kitchen the room, but there was a kitchen in the main area. I guess it is kind of like a hostel without beds.
When Bryan and I arrived, we had to find our friends who had come on a different bus and arrived about two hours before we did. We changed into our beach wear that could get muddied and headed out ito the slight rain. A bottle of Chang-ha (a sojuesk, but more winey type beverage) later, we were rolling around in a pit of mud.
Ok, so mud festival was not really that muddy. There were two mudslides, but one closed before I could ride it. There was a wresting pit and then two other pits and none of these really had all that much mud. Also, there was a mud jail, where people threw mud at the inmates. We waited in line for the one mudslide for a about two hours, being a big group, we all took turns leaving to get alcohol or get muddy. After we finally got on the slide, a large inflatable slide, one has to climb up and then gets to hold the hand of cute Korean guy at the top before he pushes you down the other side. It was a lot of fun. We then went to the ocean to rinse of the mud. The day was rainy and kind of cold but the ocean was actually very nice and pleasant. I like swimming in the ocean. It’s psaltie.
It started raining harder and harder and eventually we realized we were experiencing the first part of monsoon season. We went back to the minbak to find dryer clothes and showers a bit. We cleaned up and began the serious task of finding a place to eat. Once again, I was beside the ocean, surrounded by numerous plastic restaurants filled with fresh raw fish and once again, I was with friends who hate that sort of thing and once again we had samgupsal. I like samgupsal, I like it a lot, but raw fish is not nearly as common and I feel that the closer to the ocean you get, the better the fish gets. It was interesting to note that the samgupsal and other meat places were packed with foreigners while the plastic stales with the sea food were predominantly Koreans. There was only one table of Koreans in the Samgupsal place we finally settled on. The grills were leaf shaped and the stew was more seafoody than normal.
After the meal, we left the restaurant (and I forgot Bryan’s umbrella in the restaurant, never to be seen again) and headed again to the beach to wait for the fireworks. The rain had slowed to barely a spit and we hung out. Dave and Bryan went on a quest for more alcohol and while they were gone, the rain picked up again and the rest of sought shelter. During our search, the fireworks started so we endured the rain, huddled under useless umbrellas. They were very decent fireworks, big and long and colourful. I love fireworks. I like the smell and the noise they make. I still feel like a child when ever I get to see them.
After the fireworks, it started raining harder and harder and the wind picked up. We had to find a place to hang out for the remainder of the evening. Everyplace we tried was packed to the gills, everybody had the same idea as us. We weren’t allowed to eat or drink in the minbaks so we had to find a place. Eventually we gave up on bars and hofs and picked one the plastic restaurants and drank their more expensive beer. We followed this up with noraebang. The noraebang place was pretty busy so we didn’t get any service even though we stayed for two hours. I fell asleep sometime during the last hour, I was a tired little bear.
This pretty much closed the night. After noraebang, I went straight to the minbak to really sleep while the others sought fried chicken. However, most places were closed already so they followed me shortly. We set up our beds and kind of crawled in, the room was almost dripping it was so humid.
During the night I was woken by the rain coming in through the window and discovered a puddle was forming around my bags and Sarah. I moved the bags. Sarah was soundly sleeping I fell back asleep and was then woken by the dire need to poop. And poop I did, many times that morning. Apparently, the samgupsal from the previous evening didn’t want to remain in my body. I felt horrible, I think I may have had a small case of food poisoning. I felt hung over with the fun of getting drunk enough to be hung over. When Sarah woke and swam out of the puddle, we braved the monsoon to find the nearest convenience store, at which I bought a lot of water and some ramyeon. Something about instant noodles that is comforting.
We assumed we had to get out of the minbak by 12:00 at the latest, but the monsoon occurring outside our front door, did not inspire us to hurry. Our buses were leaving at 3:00, so we had to find a dry place to hunker down for the afternoon. Pelicana chicken glowed like a small piece of fried heaven and it had only just opened so there were still some tables left for the eight of us. I was the first to walk in and I hesitated at the door, seeing the owner sleeping in the booth. Poor little lamb, he had a rough weekend. He hoped up when we entered and sat us two tables. We hung out for a couple hours, eating chicken and cabbage salad while answering Mike’s “would you rather questions”. I would defiantly rather have x-ray vision over night vision, but if I found the last dinosaur I would let it be rather than kill it and eat it. And if I had to choose a member of Big Bang with which to have a one night stand, I would pick Tae Yang, he has the best body. If I had to pick a member to marry tomorrow, I would pick Dae Sung because he is the most ugly and therefore probably the nicest.
Eventually, the time to leave came and we once again braved the monsoon and bean what turned into a mass exodus of foreigners leaving Boryoung. The company that organized our trip was organized for 1300 others. As we were walking, a very very drunk guy (maybe even blitzed), still clutching his soju bottle came up to Bryan and asked if he were going to Seoul. He was rather upset about the fact that everybody he talked to was not going to Seoul. He was very surprised to have learned that not everybody lives in Seoul. He followed us for a bit, but eventually we lost him. He was too drunk to walk in the straight line and we were in a hurry. As the buses were pulling out of the town, we saw the fellow, stumble on to the street, still holding the soju, trying to stop the bus. He failed. I would love to meet up with in the future, just to find out how he got home. I bet he didn’t get to work on Monday.
Our bus ride was fairly uneventful, but one of our friends on a different bus reported at being puked on by a fellow traveler.
So my weekend was good, despite the monsoon and the pooping. However, some people did not not get to have a very good weekend. Monday afternoon, I received an email from Asknow concernring the trip and the complaints. It was very long email but here some gem like excerpts:
Our biggest mistake was assuming that people in general would behave themselves and be civil to each other. What we didn't anticipate was that people would sneak into rooms, take each other's blankets and pillows, threaten each other and engage in other destructive behavior such as causing damage to rooms etc...
I hate to say it, but after what I've seen and having been in Korea for 10 years, I know that if we organized this event for Koreans, we would never have seen this type of behavior. I am embarrassed to be a foreigner a lot of times when I'm in this country, and never more than I was this weekend in Boryeong
They were a large group and were very friendly during the whole preparation and were excited for the trip. Now, I am pretty sure they hate us because some assholes went into their room, took their bedding, were drunk and obnoxious, and even decided to go and have sex in someone else's room.
That reminds me, one of the places I stopped by to check up on after actually chased me out. The guy literally came out from behind the counter and in Korean pretty much said "get the fuck out of here." I guess we didn't make a good impression there.
I guess the weekend didn’t go so well for everybody. I feel bad knowing that so many people are such douche bags that make all of us look bad.
I still had a good weekend. I really did. I would even go back to Mudfestival if given another chance.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Happy Picnic
We can not hold any lie to the trembling which is as terrible as to intimidate you.
Busan...Pusan...it doesn’t matter?
June 13-15, 2009.
For the soul purpose of eating raw fish and other seafood, Bryan and I hopped onto the KTX and zoomed across the country to Busan. We left bright and early on Saturday morning and arrived three hours later because Korea is awesome (make up your rant about how it sucks that we have no bullet trains in Canada).
We arrived in Busan with no goals besides the aforementioned and no place to stay. We debated between staying in Haeundae, near the beach, or in Nampo-Dong, hear the Jalgachi fish market. The likelihood of the freshest and most delicious raw fish seemed higher near the market so we got on the Busan subway and went to Nampo-Dong. We walked into a hotel right beside the fish market exchanged 50,000 won for a room key, no questions, no credit cards, nothing. The room was nice enough: a bed, a TV, a shower, and mostly clean*.
We dropped off our bags and went to search for lunch. Having just arrived we played it safe and found all you can eat sushi for 9000 won. It was not nearly the best sushi I have ever eaten but for 9000 won, it is Ok, but not nearly the raw fish for which I came.
After lunch we shopped, Nampo-Dong being the best shopping district in the city. Bryan bought some close and I bought some Dalki products including a rad lunch box and a note book with a Dalki Canada flag. We also bought seven pairs of novelty socks. We may or may not have also purchased couple shirts. Don’t worry about it.
After were done spending our money on useless but adorable things, we got on the subway and went to Haeundae, the beach. The weather was nice, but not really beachy. It was very pleasant to just walk along the beach fully clothed and totally comfortable. We explored the area a bit and decided it was time for raw raw fish. (So yes, we did actually get our raw fish at Haeundae, but our choice of Nampo-Dong was still better, just wait.)
We wondered around a bit and found ourselves in the Haeundae Market, a street of fish vendors and restaurants. We walked the length of the street and back again. The many choices were equally intimidating so eventually we just to had plunge in, fortunately we plunged into one with English on the menu (assorted raw fish, we’ll take it).
36,000 won got us two bottles of soju, an assortment of side dishes, sandy shells to suck out, squid, dipping sauces, soup, one cooked fish (whole), and a huge platter of a raw fish. Moment before it was brought to our table it had been live fish, swimming contentedly in a fish tank outside the restaurant. I experienced a small piece of heaven that eveing. (I don’t doubt the soju may share some of the responsibility for that.)
We missed the last subway back to Nampo-Dong, so knowing we would have to taxi it back we decided to make the most of it and headed back to the beach. We walked the beach end to end. At one end we bought a giant Asahi beer and sat in the sand close to the water and watched the waves role in and drunk people stumbled about. The beach was populated with other couples and bigger groups all doing the same things. Eventually we walked a bit more and hit up a hof before flagging down a taxi. Fortuitously, I had thought to take a business card from the hotel, I just gave the card to the taxi driver and he brought us home.
The next morning we had Crispy Cream coffee and donuts (my first real crispy cream donut) for breakfast and then went up to Busan town and Bryan bought some shoes, not at Busan tower but near by. Busan tower is not really that impressive to look at, but it is still a tower and on the top of the hill so the view is amazing. Most of the city can be viewed from this tower and it has a really good view of the fish Market, which is actually a really nice modern building, designed similar to Incheon Airport and Seoul Station. Lots of windows and open spaces and seems rather streamed lined.
Later in the day we finally got to the fish market, brightly lit and many happy colours. We wondered a round a bit, but going to the fish market just to see and watch feels a little funny. Having no intention of buying a live fish, we are basically going sightseeing in an office. It just doesn’t seem cool. However, the ocean is right beside the fish market and it is kind of nice and relaxing area to hang out. There were lots of people chowing down on fresh fish that they just purchased on the second floor of the fish market where there are many restaurants. We continued to wander around by the ocean, which lead us to the fish market continued. We wondered past ajumma’s selling dead fish and then came to the restaurant area of the outdoor market. Real and plastic restaurants, delicious smells of stewed and fried fish wafting through the air, we were tempted but tentative.
Suddenly Bryan grabbed my arm. An ajumma had stopped him and gave him her pitch. She tried to explain what we could eat and kept saying 60, 60. I said to Bryan, I think the meal will be 60,000 won. He didn’t care and we sat down.
They brought us a stew, side dishes, and then four different large fried fish, whole. We dug into what was one of the best meals of my life. We had to pick and pull the fish apart. Separating the meat from the bones. Each fish was different, so after figuring out one fish we had to start again with the next fish. I was relived to see that ajossi’s sitting next to us had an equally massacred looking plate of leftovers when they were finished. I guess we did ok.
After the meal, we walked up to pay, uncertain how much this feast would set us back. Perhaps we could wash dishes to settle the bill. Man Oh Ship won. He ajossi at the front said. Man oh Ship won. I was trying to translate in my head, isn’t that only....
Bryan handed the man his credit card. Man Oh Ship won. 15,000 won. Fifteen dollars, that included a restaurant bottle of beer** for 3000 won. The ajumma meant 6000 won each. I love Korea.
After the fish fry, we headed back to the beach. This time we followed a boardwalk that goes around the Westen Chosin, a fancy pants hotel on the beach. There are many romantic places for couples to kiss and there is a neat mermaid statue. The path takes you along the coast to some sort of Modern Art Museum, perhaps. It was closed. As we passed the museum, I started to notice that Bryan and I were waling against the generally flow of traffic. We were the only people walking in that direction. Nothing came of it but it was very strange.
Eventually, the path curved back to the beach, I guess we were on a small peninsula. I decided there was one more thing we had to do to make our trip to Busan complete. Saturday evening we had wondered through the pojangmacha, a large area of plastic restaurants serving up assorted raw sea creatures. We wondered through the restaurant, eerily empty, I guess the peak season is in July and August. One, blearily eyed ajumma was able to tear herself away from her TV Drama long enough to give us a smile and an invitation. We stood in front of her tanks, slightly bewildered and finally ordered the small octopus. She gave us a seat and proceeded to fish one live octopus out of her tank. She chopped it up into bit sized bits and set it down in front of us, still wiggling. Using our disposable wooden chopsticks, we pried the octopus off the platter, dipped it in sauce, and put in our mouths, chewing really fast to keep it from sticking to our tongues. The suction cups still worked. The ajumma serving us seemed to appreciate our fearlessness and rewarded us with service**. She fished out an unidentified sea creature**, small and spiky. She cut it in half and spoon-fed us each one bite of the mushy salty insides. It was not delicious. San Nak Ji, the small octopus is not really that tasty either, it is not bad or gross, just kind of lacking in flavour. I guess it is exciting because it is kind of dangerous. Apparently a few people die every year because they don’t chew enough and the suction cups stick to their throats. I suppose that is what happens when you mix soju with San Nak Ji.
This basically brings our Busan adventure to a close. We left the next morning, just enough time to get home, change, and go to our jobs.
*There may or may not have been bed bugs, as small itchy bumps appeared on our skin.
**Restaurant bottles of beer are bigger than regular bottles. They are meant to be shared.
*** When you get free stuff, it is called service. Because we are foreign, we get lots of service. It is one of the few times I don’t hate standing out.
**** I looked it up, she feed us a sea chestnut, which on the menu was 30,000 won. Bryan thinks she may have been a little drunk. Speaking of drunken ajummas, Bryan and I went to a hof late one night a few weeks ago and we were served by two, rather tight ladies. They were so drunk they could barely function. It was hilarious
Busan...Pusan...it doesn’t matter?
June 13-15, 2009.
For the soul purpose of eating raw fish and other seafood, Bryan and I hopped onto the KTX and zoomed across the country to Busan. We left bright and early on Saturday morning and arrived three hours later because Korea is awesome (make up your rant about how it sucks that we have no bullet trains in Canada).
We arrived in Busan with no goals besides the aforementioned and no place to stay. We debated between staying in Haeundae, near the beach, or in Nampo-Dong, hear the Jalgachi fish market. The likelihood of the freshest and most delicious raw fish seemed higher near the market so we got on the Busan subway and went to Nampo-Dong. We walked into a hotel right beside the fish market exchanged 50,000 won for a room key, no questions, no credit cards, nothing. The room was nice enough: a bed, a TV, a shower, and mostly clean*.
We dropped off our bags and went to search for lunch. Having just arrived we played it safe and found all you can eat sushi for 9000 won. It was not nearly the best sushi I have ever eaten but for 9000 won, it is Ok, but not nearly the raw fish for which I came.
After lunch we shopped, Nampo-Dong being the best shopping district in the city. Bryan bought some close and I bought some Dalki products including a rad lunch box and a note book with a Dalki Canada flag. We also bought seven pairs of novelty socks. We may or may not have also purchased couple shirts. Don’t worry about it.
After were done spending our money on useless but adorable things, we got on the subway and went to Haeundae, the beach. The weather was nice, but not really beachy. It was very pleasant to just walk along the beach fully clothed and totally comfortable. We explored the area a bit and decided it was time for raw raw fish. (So yes, we did actually get our raw fish at Haeundae, but our choice of Nampo-Dong was still better, just wait.)
We wondered around a bit and found ourselves in the Haeundae Market, a street of fish vendors and restaurants. We walked the length of the street and back again. The many choices were equally intimidating so eventually we just to had plunge in, fortunately we plunged into one with English on the menu (assorted raw fish, we’ll take it).
36,000 won got us two bottles of soju, an assortment of side dishes, sandy shells to suck out, squid, dipping sauces, soup, one cooked fish (whole), and a huge platter of a raw fish. Moment before it was brought to our table it had been live fish, swimming contentedly in a fish tank outside the restaurant. I experienced a small piece of heaven that eveing. (I don’t doubt the soju may share some of the responsibility for that.)
We missed the last subway back to Nampo-Dong, so knowing we would have to taxi it back we decided to make the most of it and headed back to the beach. We walked the beach end to end. At one end we bought a giant Asahi beer and sat in the sand close to the water and watched the waves role in and drunk people stumbled about. The beach was populated with other couples and bigger groups all doing the same things. Eventually we walked a bit more and hit up a hof before flagging down a taxi. Fortuitously, I had thought to take a business card from the hotel, I just gave the card to the taxi driver and he brought us home.
The next morning we had Crispy Cream coffee and donuts (my first real crispy cream donut) for breakfast and then went up to Busan town and Bryan bought some shoes, not at Busan tower but near by. Busan tower is not really that impressive to look at, but it is still a tower and on the top of the hill so the view is amazing. Most of the city can be viewed from this tower and it has a really good view of the fish Market, which is actually a really nice modern building, designed similar to Incheon Airport and Seoul Station. Lots of windows and open spaces and seems rather streamed lined.
Later in the day we finally got to the fish market, brightly lit and many happy colours. We wondered a round a bit, but going to the fish market just to see and watch feels a little funny. Having no intention of buying a live fish, we are basically going sightseeing in an office. It just doesn’t seem cool. However, the ocean is right beside the fish market and it is kind of nice and relaxing area to hang out. There were lots of people chowing down on fresh fish that they just purchased on the second floor of the fish market where there are many restaurants. We continued to wander around by the ocean, which lead us to the fish market continued. We wondered past ajumma’s selling dead fish and then came to the restaurant area of the outdoor market. Real and plastic restaurants, delicious smells of stewed and fried fish wafting through the air, we were tempted but tentative.
Suddenly Bryan grabbed my arm. An ajumma had stopped him and gave him her pitch. She tried to explain what we could eat and kept saying 60, 60. I said to Bryan, I think the meal will be 60,000 won. He didn’t care and we sat down.
They brought us a stew, side dishes, and then four different large fried fish, whole. We dug into what was one of the best meals of my life. We had to pick and pull the fish apart. Separating the meat from the bones. Each fish was different, so after figuring out one fish we had to start again with the next fish. I was relived to see that ajossi’s sitting next to us had an equally massacred looking plate of leftovers when they were finished. I guess we did ok.
After the meal, we walked up to pay, uncertain how much this feast would set us back. Perhaps we could wash dishes to settle the bill. Man Oh Ship won. He ajossi at the front said. Man oh Ship won. I was trying to translate in my head, isn’t that only....
Bryan handed the man his credit card. Man Oh Ship won. 15,000 won. Fifteen dollars, that included a restaurant bottle of beer** for 3000 won. The ajumma meant 6000 won each. I love Korea.
After the fish fry, we headed back to the beach. This time we followed a boardwalk that goes around the Westen Chosin, a fancy pants hotel on the beach. There are many romantic places for couples to kiss and there is a neat mermaid statue. The path takes you along the coast to some sort of Modern Art Museum, perhaps. It was closed. As we passed the museum, I started to notice that Bryan and I were waling against the generally flow of traffic. We were the only people walking in that direction. Nothing came of it but it was very strange.
Eventually, the path curved back to the beach, I guess we were on a small peninsula. I decided there was one more thing we had to do to make our trip to Busan complete. Saturday evening we had wondered through the pojangmacha, a large area of plastic restaurants serving up assorted raw sea creatures. We wondered through the restaurant, eerily empty, I guess the peak season is in July and August. One, blearily eyed ajumma was able to tear herself away from her TV Drama long enough to give us a smile and an invitation. We stood in front of her tanks, slightly bewildered and finally ordered the small octopus. She gave us a seat and proceeded to fish one live octopus out of her tank. She chopped it up into bit sized bits and set it down in front of us, still wiggling. Using our disposable wooden chopsticks, we pried the octopus off the platter, dipped it in sauce, and put in our mouths, chewing really fast to keep it from sticking to our tongues. The suction cups still worked. The ajumma serving us seemed to appreciate our fearlessness and rewarded us with service**. She fished out an unidentified sea creature**, small and spiky. She cut it in half and spoon-fed us each one bite of the mushy salty insides. It was not delicious. San Nak Ji, the small octopus is not really that tasty either, it is not bad or gross, just kind of lacking in flavour. I guess it is exciting because it is kind of dangerous. Apparently a few people die every year because they don’t chew enough and the suction cups stick to their throats. I suppose that is what happens when you mix soju with San Nak Ji.
This basically brings our Busan adventure to a close. We left the next morning, just enough time to get home, change, and go to our jobs.
*There may or may not have been bed bugs, as small itchy bumps appeared on our skin.
**Restaurant bottles of beer are bigger than regular bottles. They are meant to be shared.
*** When you get free stuff, it is called service. Because we are foreign, we get lots of service. It is one of the few times I don’t hate standing out.
**** I looked it up, she feed us a sea chestnut, which on the menu was 30,000 won. Bryan thinks she may have been a little drunk. Speaking of drunken ajummas, Bryan and I went to a hof late one night a few weeks ago and we were served by two, rather tight ladies. They were so drunk they could barely function. It was hilarious
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Love is... Your Smell...
Love is... Your Smell...
Mom says that "you are better
handsome then Bred Pitt" even
papa smelled of sweat.
Copied from my journal...
May 31, 2009 Sokcho Beach 7:45 AM
I woke up at 6:00 and took a long shower. The smell in the pension* is unpleasant, I needed to leave. I headed to the beach and read on a rock close to the wear we had the fire last night, hear the Army base, where we heard training gunfire. A coupe of guards on duty watched us from the top of the hill, behind the barbed wire, but probably though we were just dumb for building a beach fire with a storm coming, lightening flashing in the sky, the low rumble of thunder and number of Mississippis decreasing between. Mike and Dave got the fire big and hot using driftwood. We had just enough time to drink a bottle of wine, three bottles of beer, a can of makolli**, a few smores (with real north American graham crackers and marshmallows) and set off a few sad roman candles before the rain became to insistent that we seek the shelter of the pension. Some waited a little too long and found themselves quite wet when they finally gave into the storm. We spend the rest of the night playing drinking games*** and Scene It, both of which I lost, leaving me drunk and cranky. I fell asleep first.
Sally wanted to go swimming at some and point, late in the night and Bryan must have gone with her because he climbed into bed actually wanting to cuddle, his skin was cold. Think Sarah went as well. I did not cuddle with her.
The owners of our pension, occupying the two rooms on the main floor, must dislike us. We had to have been loud. Yesterday they wanted extra money, claiming that we only paid for seven people instead of for nine people. Sarah called her Korean friend, who then sorted things out. It is good to have connections.
Being in the Korea, land of late nights, I didn’t expect the beach to be very busy, but I am surprised at the number of people. When I first arrived there was a family, they looked like they were playing in the waves, after watching them for a while, I realized they were collecting seaweed. They looked like they were having fun.
Yesterday morning was far from this sunny calm day. They wind was strong and the sky was grey. Sarah and I were the first two u. We arrived late the night before probably didn’t get to bed until three or later. The clock said 12:00 ish when I woke up in the morning. I was shocked I had slept so late, Sarah and I went out in search of breakfast food; during the excursion Sarah informed me that it was in fact only about 9:15. The clock was wrong.
We found eggs and mild. Once people were actually up, we left on excursion number two: Dave, Sally, Mike, and I. As we left the pension, the man owner asked “Odi gueseyo?” (Where are you going?). “Food”. “Menu?” he asked. “Supermarket?” We replied. He grabbed his keys and led us to his car, a Chairman. He drove us to E-Mart. We collected 112,000 won worth of food and booze. I also bought a new shirtdress. E-Mart is quickly becoming my favourite place to shop. It is like Target or Zellers but in Korea so obviously better. I already have three shirtdresses, on regular dress, a skirt, and one shirt (Kiss me or Bite me Honey). About a week ago, I discovered that they have clothes that fit me.
We took a taxi back to the pension and made pancakes, bacon, and eggs. In waves, we only had one grill. Sarah brought Starbucks coffee. We spend the afternoon on the beach. Sarah, Amber, Mike and Dave went swimming, sort of. The rest of us, less adventurous, decided to stay warm and dry. We ate samgupsal for supper I hope that I can eat seafood today. I want raw fish damnit.
May 31, 2009 Sokcho Beach 4:35 PM
Feeling anxious about time lines and checkouts, I head back to the pension to see if anybody (Sarah) was up yet. Nobody was. I didn’t know if the checkout was at 10:00 or 11:00. I didn’t know if I should be waking people up or not. I waited until Sarah got up and then I started doing the dished and started coffee. Sarah made eggs while I cut up the watermelon. It was my bad idea to buy a whole melon instead of a half melon. They are smaller than at home, typically, and I figured the nine of us would have no problem. (Problem. Later we had to improvise a way to carry the rest of the watermelon to the beach. I ended up cutting off the tops of two juice bottles and filling them with mater melon piece. It worked all right.) Slowly, everybody stared getting up from their floor beds. After breakfast, we did our best to pack everything and clean up, more or less. The amount of garbage we generated was amazing. Also the amount of alcohol consumed. After cleaning and sweeping copious amounts of sand out the pension, we headed to the beach. We spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. The sun was warm but the wind was chilly.
After beachy shenanigans, I finally got my seafood wish fulfilled. Seafood Stew: claims, crabs, octopus, all sorts of shellfish in a tasty but not too spicy broth, along with an assortment of veggies. It was not raw fish, but I am ok with that. Next beach adventure will include raw fish, a lot of raw fish. We are waiting our bus to take us back to Seoul. So good-bye east coast.
Back in Seoul...
Tired and sunburned dispite the not warm weather. I always forget that even if the sun is not hot, it will still burn me. This weekend was for Amber’s birthday. It was mostly a surprise for her. She knew something was happening but she didn’t know where or who was involved. It was a super fun weekend for everybody.
*A pension is just a big hotel room that is big and has a kitchen. Sometimes a pension is a separate building, like a little cottage. This pension was right on the beach and very nice. Everything is Korean style, so they give enough blankets and floor mats for everybody to sleep on the floor.
**Makolli is a carbonated rice wine. Very popular in Korea.
***King’s Cup, which is actually kind of fun. However, I got the kings cup at the end, which was, by then, a mixture of beer, wine, and makolli. I refused to drink it until someone brought me a bottle water to chase it down.
Mom says that "you are better
handsome then Bred Pitt" even
papa smelled of sweat.
Copied from my journal...
May 31, 2009 Sokcho Beach 7:45 AM
I woke up at 6:00 and took a long shower. The smell in the pension* is unpleasant, I needed to leave. I headed to the beach and read on a rock close to the wear we had the fire last night, hear the Army base, where we heard training gunfire. A coupe of guards on duty watched us from the top of the hill, behind the barbed wire, but probably though we were just dumb for building a beach fire with a storm coming, lightening flashing in the sky, the low rumble of thunder and number of Mississippis decreasing between. Mike and Dave got the fire big and hot using driftwood. We had just enough time to drink a bottle of wine, three bottles of beer, a can of makolli**, a few smores (with real north American graham crackers and marshmallows) and set off a few sad roman candles before the rain became to insistent that we seek the shelter of the pension. Some waited a little too long and found themselves quite wet when they finally gave into the storm. We spend the rest of the night playing drinking games*** and Scene It, both of which I lost, leaving me drunk and cranky. I fell asleep first.
Sally wanted to go swimming at some and point, late in the night and Bryan must have gone with her because he climbed into bed actually wanting to cuddle, his skin was cold. Think Sarah went as well. I did not cuddle with her.
The owners of our pension, occupying the two rooms on the main floor, must dislike us. We had to have been loud. Yesterday they wanted extra money, claiming that we only paid for seven people instead of for nine people. Sarah called her Korean friend, who then sorted things out. It is good to have connections.
Being in the Korea, land of late nights, I didn’t expect the beach to be very busy, but I am surprised at the number of people. When I first arrived there was a family, they looked like they were playing in the waves, after watching them for a while, I realized they were collecting seaweed. They looked like they were having fun.
Yesterday morning was far from this sunny calm day. They wind was strong and the sky was grey. Sarah and I were the first two u. We arrived late the night before probably didn’t get to bed until three or later. The clock said 12:00 ish when I woke up in the morning. I was shocked I had slept so late, Sarah and I went out in search of breakfast food; during the excursion Sarah informed me that it was in fact only about 9:15. The clock was wrong.
We found eggs and mild. Once people were actually up, we left on excursion number two: Dave, Sally, Mike, and I. As we left the pension, the man owner asked “Odi gueseyo?” (Where are you going?). “Food”. “Menu?” he asked. “Supermarket?” We replied. He grabbed his keys and led us to his car, a Chairman. He drove us to E-Mart. We collected 112,000 won worth of food and booze. I also bought a new shirtdress. E-Mart is quickly becoming my favourite place to shop. It is like Target or Zellers but in Korea so obviously better. I already have three shirtdresses, on regular dress, a skirt, and one shirt (Kiss me or Bite me Honey). About a week ago, I discovered that they have clothes that fit me.
We took a taxi back to the pension and made pancakes, bacon, and eggs. In waves, we only had one grill. Sarah brought Starbucks coffee. We spend the afternoon on the beach. Sarah, Amber, Mike and Dave went swimming, sort of. The rest of us, less adventurous, decided to stay warm and dry. We ate samgupsal for supper I hope that I can eat seafood today. I want raw fish damnit.
May 31, 2009 Sokcho Beach 4:35 PM
Feeling anxious about time lines and checkouts, I head back to the pension to see if anybody (Sarah) was up yet. Nobody was. I didn’t know if the checkout was at 10:00 or 11:00. I didn’t know if I should be waking people up or not. I waited until Sarah got up and then I started doing the dished and started coffee. Sarah made eggs while I cut up the watermelon. It was my bad idea to buy a whole melon instead of a half melon. They are smaller than at home, typically, and I figured the nine of us would have no problem. (Problem. Later we had to improvise a way to carry the rest of the watermelon to the beach. I ended up cutting off the tops of two juice bottles and filling them with mater melon piece. It worked all right.) Slowly, everybody stared getting up from their floor beds. After breakfast, we did our best to pack everything and clean up, more or less. The amount of garbage we generated was amazing. Also the amount of alcohol consumed. After cleaning and sweeping copious amounts of sand out the pension, we headed to the beach. We spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. The sun was warm but the wind was chilly.
After beachy shenanigans, I finally got my seafood wish fulfilled. Seafood Stew: claims, crabs, octopus, all sorts of shellfish in a tasty but not too spicy broth, along with an assortment of veggies. It was not raw fish, but I am ok with that. Next beach adventure will include raw fish, a lot of raw fish. We are waiting our bus to take us back to Seoul. So good-bye east coast.
Back in Seoul...
Tired and sunburned dispite the not warm weather. I always forget that even if the sun is not hot, it will still burn me. This weekend was for Amber’s birthday. It was mostly a surprise for her. She knew something was happening but she didn’t know where or who was involved. It was a super fun weekend for everybody.
*A pension is just a big hotel room that is big and has a kitchen. Sometimes a pension is a separate building, like a little cottage. This pension was right on the beach and very nice. Everything is Korean style, so they give enough blankets and floor mats for everybody to sleep on the floor.
**Makolli is a carbonated rice wine. Very popular in Korea.
***King’s Cup, which is actually kind of fun. However, I got the kings cup at the end, which was, by then, a mixture of beer, wine, and makolli. I refused to drink it until someone brought me a bottle water to chase it down.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Bloodletting on the Cloven Hoof
This was supposed to be published a while ago, but I got really lazy, sorry. This is an account of the first week or so of Bryan being in Korea. I started it a while ago.
I have been considering for months how to feed Bryan when he first he arrived. I wanted to give him a taste of everything that is delicious in Korea. There is so much good food that it is difficult to get him to eat everything right away. I think I did pretty good though. We have visited all the tiny kimbap restaurants in the area (because mine closed down). We have been to Kimbap Villages and Kimbap Houses and Kimbap Palaces. I also managed to get him some mandu guk, dukkoboggi, sampugsal, hangover stew, mystery seafood, kimchi pajoen (pancakes), and a few other bar snacks. We have sampled Korean versions of pizza and fried chicken as well. And I even cook him a couple of fancy ramyeon meals. I think food the best part of traveling. I am glad that eating in Korea is cheap.
We spend the first week walking around Ssungmun. We didn’t get on a subway until Wednesday, when we visited Sarah for our weekly Wednesday night hangouts. Bryan fell asleep on Sarah’s bed, the jet lag was still affecting him. We also got him on the claw machine, he didn’t win. If he wants to be a good Korean boyfriend, he is going to have to figure out the claw machine. But he has done a good job of carrying my purse at times, so he is almost there. I just have to get him in tighter pants and maybe grow out his hair so that he can get a fashion cut by a “designer” in tight pants and wielding scissors in pink leopard patterned utility belts.
Since Bryan has been here, we have become regulars at the Train hof near our apartment, the one that serves giant towers of beer, 3000 cc’s. “He’s 3000 cc’s of beer, Stat!” They also serve hard boiled eggs as a bar snack and make a mean kimchi pajeon. After a night out on the town, Bryan and sI stopped there for another drink (it was already after 2:00) and while we were there we meet a nice couple who sat with us for drink or two. We drank with them in the Train hof for awhile (referred to us as the Train hof because it is trained themed) and communicated as best we could. For some reason, talking with Koreans who speak very little English becomes much easier when everybody is very drunk. Eventually, the servers told us they wanted to close and asked us to leave. This is where Bryan’s memory ended. We left the train hof and walked down the street to a different bar that was still open. We orderd a piture of beer and then Bryan went to the bathroom and I assumed the boy did too. I sat with the girl (Sunny) and we chatted about her for awhile, when I realized that Bryan had been for long time.
The next afternoon we woke up and the bastard didn’t even have a hang over, and I, who looked after him all night, including sleeping on the floor beside the bathroon for a while, wanted to die a little bit. After moping around and trying to not vomit, I finally recovered enough to feel as though I could keep some eats down. We headed out and walked around for a while to find, because it was appropriate, hangover soup. Hae Jang Guk (해상극) is pork bone soup. It is served with with three bowls, one for the meat you pcik of the bone, one for the delicious mustard like sauce with which it is served and one for the bones. The broth is really delicious as well, with a few spices that I couldn’t identity. Before we left the house, we did some internet research to find out exactly how to order and eat the soup. I had only heard of it and didn’t even know the exact name.
Going into an unfamiliar restaurant for the first time to try out new food for the first time is one the most intimidating things to me. We walked around for a long time before I had the courage to finally step inside a restaurant. The server came over with the menu, which is really just a piece of paper and you check the thing you want. Obviously it is all I Korean and even though I knew what to look for, it still took awhile to find the exact combination of characters. The snowman followed the by the h, finally stood out. Then once the food is finally served there is always that impression that I am eating it incorrectly. The servers here are likely to quickly see how you doing it wrong and correct you as best they can with their Korean and your English. It can be a little embarrassing, as if you don’t know how to eat.
Bryan and I tired to figure out if there were any popular foods in Canada that you would need to learn to eat correctly. We decided that the hardest part for a person unfamiliar with North American cuisine would be all the options. In Korean there are almost never options, you order and that is what you get. In Canada, you have to specify all sorts (scrambled, rye, bacon) there are almost always follow up questions with endless options. Everything else seems straight forward, but then I would suppose to Koreans, all the food they eat would seem straight forward too.
I have been considering for months how to feed Bryan when he first he arrived. I wanted to give him a taste of everything that is delicious in Korea. There is so much good food that it is difficult to get him to eat everything right away. I think I did pretty good though. We have visited all the tiny kimbap restaurants in the area (because mine closed down). We have been to Kimbap Villages and Kimbap Houses and Kimbap Palaces. I also managed to get him some mandu guk, dukkoboggi, sampugsal, hangover stew, mystery seafood, kimchi pajoen (pancakes), and a few other bar snacks. We have sampled Korean versions of pizza and fried chicken as well. And I even cook him a couple of fancy ramyeon meals. I think food the best part of traveling. I am glad that eating in Korea is cheap.
We spend the first week walking around Ssungmun. We didn’t get on a subway until Wednesday, when we visited Sarah for our weekly Wednesday night hangouts. Bryan fell asleep on Sarah’s bed, the jet lag was still affecting him. We also got him on the claw machine, he didn’t win. If he wants to be a good Korean boyfriend, he is going to have to figure out the claw machine. But he has done a good job of carrying my purse at times, so he is almost there. I just have to get him in tighter pants and maybe grow out his hair so that he can get a fashion cut by a “designer” in tight pants and wielding scissors in pink leopard patterned utility belts.
Since Bryan has been here, we have become regulars at the Train hof near our apartment, the one that serves giant towers of beer, 3000 cc’s. “He’s 3000 cc’s of beer, Stat!” They also serve hard boiled eggs as a bar snack and make a mean kimchi pajeon. After a night out on the town, Bryan and sI stopped there for another drink (it was already after 2:00) and while we were there we meet a nice couple who sat with us for drink or two. We drank with them in the Train hof for awhile (referred to us as the Train hof because it is trained themed) and communicated as best we could. For some reason, talking with Koreans who speak very little English becomes much easier when everybody is very drunk. Eventually, the servers told us they wanted to close and asked us to leave. This is where Bryan’s memory ended. We left the train hof and walked down the street to a different bar that was still open. We orderd a piture of beer and then Bryan went to the bathroom and I assumed the boy did too. I sat with the girl (Sunny) and we chatted about her for awhile, when I realized that Bryan had been for long time.
The next afternoon we woke up and the bastard didn’t even have a hang over, and I, who looked after him all night, including sleeping on the floor beside the bathroon for a while, wanted to die a little bit. After moping around and trying to not vomit, I finally recovered enough to feel as though I could keep some eats down. We headed out and walked around for a while to find, because it was appropriate, hangover soup. Hae Jang Guk (해상극) is pork bone soup. It is served with with three bowls, one for the meat you pcik of the bone, one for the delicious mustard like sauce with which it is served and one for the bones. The broth is really delicious as well, with a few spices that I couldn’t identity. Before we left the house, we did some internet research to find out exactly how to order and eat the soup. I had only heard of it and didn’t even know the exact name.
Going into an unfamiliar restaurant for the first time to try out new food for the first time is one the most intimidating things to me. We walked around for a long time before I had the courage to finally step inside a restaurant. The server came over with the menu, which is really just a piece of paper and you check the thing you want. Obviously it is all I Korean and even though I knew what to look for, it still took awhile to find the exact combination of characters. The snowman followed the by the h, finally stood out. Then once the food is finally served there is always that impression that I am eating it incorrectly. The servers here are likely to quickly see how you doing it wrong and correct you as best they can with their Korean and your English. It can be a little embarrassing, as if you don’t know how to eat.
Bryan and I tired to figure out if there were any popular foods in Canada that you would need to learn to eat correctly. We decided that the hardest part for a person unfamiliar with North American cuisine would be all the options. In Korean there are almost never options, you order and that is what you get. In Canada, you have to specify all sorts (scrambled, rye, bacon) there are almost always follow up questions with endless options. Everything else seems straight forward, but then I would suppose to Koreans, all the food they eat would seem straight forward too.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Do Each Day's Work Each Day
Bryan arrived. He is finally here, making my apartment smell like boy and always bed hogging. I have been spending my nights squished up against the wall. Although, I really shouldn’t complain, in fact I should thank him. His immanent arrival gave me a good reason to spend money on that Hello Kitty toilet seat that I have been coveting for so long. I was considering Bryan and his skinny skinny bum; I thought it would be good girlfriend of me to purchase a toilet seat for him. I know that boys like to take their time pooing and prefer comfortable seats to sitting directly on the rim. The seat is beautiful and little sparkly.
I also spent money a few other luxuries, like toothbrush holders and I bought him his own pair of shower sandals. I’m a good girlfriend. I also stocked up on ramyeon, cereal, and other easy eats to keep him happy and feed. I also bought a large bottle of soju, which we have yet to break into, despite his being here a full week. (He finished it off last night.)
I spent the weekend before his arrival trying to keep myself busy. Thankfully, it was the weekend celebrating Buddha’s Birthday.
On Saturday, I forced to Sally walk with me through the rain to the Miasangori station (three stops south of Ssangmun) to the huge E-Mart. I wanted to find the perfect toilet seat and pick up a couple of other things for the boy. E-Mart is a giant store that has everything you could possible need, including a huge grocery store. They didn’t have the Hello Kitty seat I wanted, lame. They did, however, have really nifty dinosaur toothbrush holders. I got a pink one for me and blue one for him. I also bought a Dalki pillow case and another pillow. I will share many things, but I will not share my pillow. I was also going to get another blanket because I hate sharing those, too, but blankets (even non-Dalki blankets) were really expensive. Thus, I have had many restless nights warring over blanket rights. I win some and I lose some.
After the E-Mart adventure, Amber invited us over for pizza, which we had delivered from about three doors down. We ordered in person, but then Amber walked the delivery guy over to where she lives, three doors away, to show him her apartment and he delivered the hot and delicious pizza about half an hour later. She also introduced herself, so that she can order by phone next time.
Sunday (one day to Bryan), I met some of my friends for a breakfast brunch at, get this, Big Rock Brewery. Yes, that is correct, the Canadian Brewery. There is a restaurant and Brewery in Gangnum (south of the Han River). We had a decent breakfast and pint each. The place was crawling with waeguks and even some waeguks hipsters (whom I am pretty sure were a band).
After breakfast, I headed to Insadong while the others headed to church (lame). I thought I was going to meet Dave and Lisa who said they would be there early afternoon. However, they slept in, so I wandered around a very busy Insadong for a couple of hours until they arrived. Shortly after, the church kids showed up too.
Insadong and area was the site of the main celebrations for Buddha’s birthday and the Lotus Lantern Festival. All the streets and parks in the area were lined with lanterns and the near-by temple (a big functioning temple) was completely covered in lanterns. It was beautiful. We wondered around for a while, taking in the festivities and then finally the parade started. It was a fest for the eyes. I have never thought of the traditional Korean clothing as beautiful, but seeing large groups of women in matching hanboks of green and gold, or purple and sliver, was lovely. As was the swishing sound as they walked by carrying lanterns. Also, there were many floats, including fire breathing dragons and adorable Baby Buddha’s hanging out with Pororo . The parade was mostly various universities, schools, and other organizations carrying lanterns. It was cool.
I went home in the evening and actually managed to suppress my excitement and anxiety for the following day enough to sleep. I woke up pretty early though. I had to get groceries for Bryan and I had to buy the toilet seat. I tidied my apartment and then mostly paced nervously. I got to school and could barley concentrate knowing that he would be landing soon. All day I had beeen obsessively checking the flight schedules at Incheon Airport to make sure his flights were on time. I took my cell phone to my class because I knew he would need to call me when he arrived. Which he did, my phone started to vibrate and the ring. I answered it, much to the amazement of my little kids. We kept the conversation quick and to the point, which required a lot of restraint on my part. Of course, my students were super curious and I explained that friend was visiting me from Canada and he just arrived. They made fun of me for having a boyfriend. They are eight.
My classes actually went by pretty quickly, I was very excited and peppy in each class, they couldn’t get me down, even my worst kids. After my last class, I practically ran out of the school, announcing to the teachers that I was going to go find my boyfriend. Their smiles followed me out the door. I kept a count down calander at work, each day colouring in the square, numbers slowly dwindling. All the teachers were aware that my boyfrined was coming today and all the teachers were excited for me.
I took the bus to the subway station in order to get there faster. As I was crossing the street at the subway station to get to the Dunkin Donuts (our agreed upon meeting place), Bryan called me again to tell me he just arrived at the Dunkin Donuts, I told him I was almost there. I crossed the street, and practically running, found him on the street, throwing myself into his arms. I was so excited to finally see him. He looked so good. He was there finally in person. I hope that someone witnessed our reunion and appreciated the fact that we clearly had not seen each other in a long time.
We walked back to my apartment (boy knows how to travel light). I took him out for mandu guk and wondered around Ssungmun for a bit before things got x-rated. During our walk, we actually ran into my director and I had to introduce him to Bryan. He said that Bryan was handsome. I agree.
I also spent money a few other luxuries, like toothbrush holders and I bought him his own pair of shower sandals. I’m a good girlfriend. I also stocked up on ramyeon, cereal, and other easy eats to keep him happy and feed. I also bought a large bottle of soju, which we have yet to break into, despite his being here a full week. (He finished it off last night.)
I spent the weekend before his arrival trying to keep myself busy. Thankfully, it was the weekend celebrating Buddha’s Birthday.
On Saturday, I forced to Sally walk with me through the rain to the Miasangori station (three stops south of Ssangmun) to the huge E-Mart. I wanted to find the perfect toilet seat and pick up a couple of other things for the boy. E-Mart is a giant store that has everything you could possible need, including a huge grocery store. They didn’t have the Hello Kitty seat I wanted, lame. They did, however, have really nifty dinosaur toothbrush holders. I got a pink one for me and blue one for him. I also bought a Dalki pillow case and another pillow. I will share many things, but I will not share my pillow. I was also going to get another blanket because I hate sharing those, too, but blankets (even non-Dalki blankets) were really expensive. Thus, I have had many restless nights warring over blanket rights. I win some and I lose some.
After the E-Mart adventure, Amber invited us over for pizza, which we had delivered from about three doors down. We ordered in person, but then Amber walked the delivery guy over to where she lives, three doors away, to show him her apartment and he delivered the hot and delicious pizza about half an hour later. She also introduced herself, so that she can order by phone next time.
Sunday (one day to Bryan), I met some of my friends for a breakfast brunch at, get this, Big Rock Brewery. Yes, that is correct, the Canadian Brewery. There is a restaurant and Brewery in Gangnum (south of the Han River). We had a decent breakfast and pint each. The place was crawling with waeguks and even some waeguks hipsters (whom I am pretty sure were a band).
After breakfast, I headed to Insadong while the others headed to church (lame). I thought I was going to meet Dave and Lisa who said they would be there early afternoon. However, they slept in, so I wandered around a very busy Insadong for a couple of hours until they arrived. Shortly after, the church kids showed up too.
Insadong and area was the site of the main celebrations for Buddha’s birthday and the Lotus Lantern Festival. All the streets and parks in the area were lined with lanterns and the near-by temple (a big functioning temple) was completely covered in lanterns. It was beautiful. We wondered around for a while, taking in the festivities and then finally the parade started. It was a fest for the eyes. I have never thought of the traditional Korean clothing as beautiful, but seeing large groups of women in matching hanboks of green and gold, or purple and sliver, was lovely. As was the swishing sound as they walked by carrying lanterns. Also, there were many floats, including fire breathing dragons and adorable Baby Buddha’s hanging out with Pororo . The parade was mostly various universities, schools, and other organizations carrying lanterns. It was cool.
I went home in the evening and actually managed to suppress my excitement and anxiety for the following day enough to sleep. I woke up pretty early though. I had to get groceries for Bryan and I had to buy the toilet seat. I tidied my apartment and then mostly paced nervously. I got to school and could barley concentrate knowing that he would be landing soon. All day I had beeen obsessively checking the flight schedules at Incheon Airport to make sure his flights were on time. I took my cell phone to my class because I knew he would need to call me when he arrived. Which he did, my phone started to vibrate and the ring. I answered it, much to the amazement of my little kids. We kept the conversation quick and to the point, which required a lot of restraint on my part. Of course, my students were super curious and I explained that friend was visiting me from Canada and he just arrived. They made fun of me for having a boyfriend. They are eight.
My classes actually went by pretty quickly, I was very excited and peppy in each class, they couldn’t get me down, even my worst kids. After my last class, I practically ran out of the school, announcing to the teachers that I was going to go find my boyfriend. Their smiles followed me out the door. I kept a count down calander at work, each day colouring in the square, numbers slowly dwindling. All the teachers were aware that my boyfrined was coming today and all the teachers were excited for me.
I took the bus to the subway station in order to get there faster. As I was crossing the street at the subway station to get to the Dunkin Donuts (our agreed upon meeting place), Bryan called me again to tell me he just arrived at the Dunkin Donuts, I told him I was almost there. I crossed the street, and practically running, found him on the street, throwing myself into his arms. I was so excited to finally see him. He looked so good. He was there finally in person. I hope that someone witnessed our reunion and appreciated the fact that we clearly had not seen each other in a long time.
We walked back to my apartment (boy knows how to travel light). I took him out for mandu guk and wondered around Ssungmun for a bit before things got x-rated. During our walk, we actually ran into my director and I had to introduce him to Bryan. He said that Bryan was handsome. I agree.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Cute and Beautiful Mango
A cute boy made me buy expensive pineapple today. He saw me waiting to cross the street and gave me a huge smile and wave, pineapple in hand. I looked behind me, usually my first reaction. When I realized that he was smiling at me, I swore in my head, if I had been walking I would crossed the street elsewhere, but I was already waiting. I knew he would make me taste his pineapple. I crossed the street and tried to stay in the middle of crowd, but he had me marked. He cut a piece and made me eat it. Then he grabbed my hand (he had soft hands) and pulled me over to the pineapple truck. Then he charged me 4000 won for a bag of cut pineapple. At first he wanted me to buy three bags, what would I do with three bags of pineapple? I paid and quickly left, rather embarrassed. I was on my way to Dunkin Donuts for an iced coffee beverage (it was that kind of day). After I bought my coffee, I took the long way back to school so that I wouldn’t have to pass the pineapple sellers again.
And on Saturday I transvestite made me eat his candy. I was rushing to the subway to meet Sarah as she passed through Ssangmun. A transvestite was talking into a microphone in front of the LG store. I just assumed it was for a LG promotion (usually dancing girls in little tiny skirts are the promotion, I kind of liked this change). However, as I drew I near, I could see him single me out, I tried to walk faster. No good, he caught my arm and pulled me over to a table while yelling things at me. On the table was a nougat type traditional candy. He continued to yell things at me and then grabbed my hand (he was wearing gloves) and forced me to take a piece of candy. I took it and quickly ate it, assuring him it was delicious, but that I was in a hurry. As I rushed away, he continued to yell at me. It wasn’t a mean yelling, just a loud yelling.
Easter Sunday, I was walking past a church and some kids (in church sashes, Korean Christians love their sashes) were handing out hardboiled eggs. As I walked past I could see them whispering. Then two of them finally got up the courage. They ran over to me, shoved three hard-boiled eggs in my hand and then giggled. I said thank-you (in Korean) and then said “Happy Easter”. They were rather tickled at this.
Sometimes I hate hate hate standing out all the time. I never blend here, I can never just disappear into a crowd or go unnoticed. However, clearly, being an visible outsider has its advantages sometimes. Like the ladies in the grocery store under the school know Sally’s and my name. The ladies in the Kimbap place know what we like to eat and despite them know zero English, we can still joke around. Sometimes people are so excited to have us in their restaurants and they give us free stuff. I don’t know if this makes it worth being so obvious all the time, but it makes it not so bad.
But tragedy! The Kimbap restaurant shut down today! It is totally closed and gutted. Does this mean the end of Kimbap? Do you know how far the nearest one is? Like four blocks and I have to cross a street. Also, I was really excited to show off Bryan to the ladies. They would have laughed at him so much. I am actually heart broken. There were four different women who worked there and one man and they were all so friendly and funny. I am hoping it is just a reno, but I’m not hopeful. Stuff changes so fast here, it will probably become something lame, like a store full of cute clothing that I can wear.
And on Saturday I transvestite made me eat his candy. I was rushing to the subway to meet Sarah as she passed through Ssangmun. A transvestite was talking into a microphone in front of the LG store. I just assumed it was for a LG promotion (usually dancing girls in little tiny skirts are the promotion, I kind of liked this change). However, as I drew I near, I could see him single me out, I tried to walk faster. No good, he caught my arm and pulled me over to a table while yelling things at me. On the table was a nougat type traditional candy. He continued to yell things at me and then grabbed my hand (he was wearing gloves) and forced me to take a piece of candy. I took it and quickly ate it, assuring him it was delicious, but that I was in a hurry. As I rushed away, he continued to yell at me. It wasn’t a mean yelling, just a loud yelling.
Easter Sunday, I was walking past a church and some kids (in church sashes, Korean Christians love their sashes) were handing out hardboiled eggs. As I walked past I could see them whispering. Then two of them finally got up the courage. They ran over to me, shoved three hard-boiled eggs in my hand and then giggled. I said thank-you (in Korean) and then said “Happy Easter”. They were rather tickled at this.
Sometimes I hate hate hate standing out all the time. I never blend here, I can never just disappear into a crowd or go unnoticed. However, clearly, being an visible outsider has its advantages sometimes. Like the ladies in the grocery store under the school know Sally’s and my name. The ladies in the Kimbap place know what we like to eat and despite them know zero English, we can still joke around. Sometimes people are so excited to have us in their restaurants and they give us free stuff. I don’t know if this makes it worth being so obvious all the time, but it makes it not so bad.
But tragedy! The Kimbap restaurant shut down today! It is totally closed and gutted. Does this mean the end of Kimbap? Do you know how far the nearest one is? Like four blocks and I have to cross a street. Also, I was really excited to show off Bryan to the ladies. They would have laughed at him so much. I am actually heart broken. There were four different women who worked there and one man and they were all so friendly and funny. I am hoping it is just a reno, but I’m not hopeful. Stuff changes so fast here, it will probably become something lame, like a store full of cute clothing that I can wear.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Pictures of Cherry Blossom Festival - Amber's Camera
At the Korean Folk Village. This man is being tortured.
During our walk up the Korea Scenic Road. From the left: Amber, Dee, The Friend, Song-Hoon, Sarah
Like when I am photographed with my family.
On the Korea Scenic Road. These are green tea fields.
At the Folk Village, Amber made me wear this hat and pose. Then she told me the story. Apparently, when child pee the bed, the parents make the put on these hats and then go to the neighbours house and ask for salt.
Eating boiled silk worms in the morning. Delicious.
On the Korea Scenic Road.
Man or mannequin? At a toll booth.
These girls wanted to have their picture taken with us. Being white makes us celebrities in Korea.
At the first temple. Lanterns for Buddha's upcoming birthday.
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