It definitely didn't take long for us to experience a seemingly normal night out in Seoul. Friday was a night of galbi (Korean BBQ where they bring you raw meat and you cook it yourself on the in-table grill) and drinks.
We kicked the night off with a soju toast to teachers leaving (Julianne and Eric going back to Winnipeg), teachers coming (Kelly and I), teachers staying (Andy and Leah from Minneapolis at our school, Mark and Julia from St. Catherine's at another branch in Girem), and friends visiting (Julia's mother Ginny and her friend Carol). For those who've heard of the fabled soju, it really isn't the instant death it's cracked up to be. It's only 20% and tastes like watered down vodka and can be mixed with Sprite (called cider around here), although apparently it leaves you with a wicked hangover. Its main attraction is that it's available everywhere and is only 1000 won/bottle, probably between mickey & 26er. 1000 won is approx. $1USD.
After the delicious meal, which cost only 9000won/person for food & drinks (soju and beer), we went to HaBar and drank a little more while playing blackjack and poker. I went down in a blaze of futility. We headed back to the Hotel Noblesse around 4:00 and had our last run-in with our lion-riding beauty.
Saturday saw us move in to our new apartment, which was left in good shape by our outgoing teachers from Swift Current, Saskatchewan. They wisely described themselves as Regina-ers. The move went smoothly, our Internet and cell phones were left running which was nice.
Saturday night we headed to the foreigners district in Itaewon. Leah, Andy, Kel and I had mixed experiences with what I think was Vietnamese food (Kelly's was expensive and resembled a mix of bland cold cuts from Sobey's deli and resembling cartilage) and wine before we headed to an Irish pub for drinks and darts. Met some cool people from across North America, and in a story too long to type a dude from Washington State willingly took a dart in the wrist. And I mentioned we were in a filthy Irish pub with glass from a broken window left on the floor all night until they swept at close. The guy was lucky that an infection didn't immediately take over his arm.
For whatever reason this bar closed, unlike most of the others in the city, so we went to Polly's lounge for some dancing at 3:30. After a few more drinks and chats with some interesting people (including a rare black dude from South Africa who tells me, quite believably, that he can't get a fair shake) we realized it was 5AM and we might as well wait until the trains start running again Sunday morning at 6 rather than take a cab back. Like I said, the bars don't close and there's no way to know what time it is unless you look outside and it is bright, as it was in this case.
So we partied for a while longer, went for some breakfast, then arrived home around 830. Andy and I had a soccer game to play at 11 so we decided not to sleep or else there was a 0% chance we would go. Watched some Seinfeld, walked around a bit, then met Eric at 1045 and headed to the field to meet the Korean staff that would make up the game. I fully expected soccer to be a skill like bike-riding, where once learned it was always generally possessed. I found out it was like Canadian history, where everything can be forgotten in a real hurry and I was starting from scratch. I was AWFUL. Not sure if it was the fatigue or general crappiness, but I couldn't make a play if a dart in the wrist depended on it. As a kicker, a sprint of even 20m left me feeling as if death were a realistic possibility. Just an terrible time all around.
Now is Monday afternoon and we've got our first set of classes this afternoon. Heading to school early so we can get our lesson plans down and figure out how the hell we will entertain a bunch of rowdy 6-year-olds for 35 minutes. Maybe I'll hand out pennies and tell them they are now riche (add an E sound on the end of every English word if you want it to be understood).
Check out some of our pictures on facebook: http://wluca.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2082644&l=48dcb&id=187905622
and our apartment:
http://wluca.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2082651&l=e34e6&id=187905622
We kicked the night off with a soju toast to teachers leaving (Julianne and Eric going back to Winnipeg), teachers coming (Kelly and I), teachers staying (Andy and Leah from Minneapolis at our school, Mark and Julia from St. Catherine's at another branch in Girem), and friends visiting (Julia's mother Ginny and her friend Carol). For those who've heard of the fabled soju, it really isn't the instant death it's cracked up to be. It's only 20% and tastes like watered down vodka and can be mixed with Sprite (called cider around here), although apparently it leaves you with a wicked hangover. Its main attraction is that it's available everywhere and is only 1000 won/bottle, probably between mickey & 26er. 1000 won is approx. $1USD.
After the delicious meal, which cost only 9000won/person for food & drinks (soju and beer), we went to HaBar and drank a little more while playing blackjack and poker. I went down in a blaze of futility. We headed back to the Hotel Noblesse around 4:00 and had our last run-in with our lion-riding beauty.
Saturday saw us move in to our new apartment, which was left in good shape by our outgoing teachers from Swift Current, Saskatchewan. They wisely described themselves as Regina-ers. The move went smoothly, our Internet and cell phones were left running which was nice.
Saturday night we headed to the foreigners district in Itaewon. Leah, Andy, Kel and I had mixed experiences with what I think was Vietnamese food (Kelly's was expensive and resembled a mix of bland cold cuts from Sobey's deli and resembling cartilage) and wine before we headed to an Irish pub for drinks and darts. Met some cool people from across North America, and in a story too long to type a dude from Washington State willingly took a dart in the wrist. And I mentioned we were in a filthy Irish pub with glass from a broken window left on the floor all night until they swept at close. The guy was lucky that an infection didn't immediately take over his arm.
For whatever reason this bar closed, unlike most of the others in the city, so we went to Polly's lounge for some dancing at 3:30. After a few more drinks and chats with some interesting people (including a rare black dude from South Africa who tells me, quite believably, that he can't get a fair shake) we realized it was 5AM and we might as well wait until the trains start running again Sunday morning at 6 rather than take a cab back. Like I said, the bars don't close and there's no way to know what time it is unless you look outside and it is bright, as it was in this case.
So we partied for a while longer, went for some breakfast, then arrived home around 830. Andy and I had a soccer game to play at 11 so we decided not to sleep or else there was a 0% chance we would go. Watched some Seinfeld, walked around a bit, then met Eric at 1045 and headed to the field to meet the Korean staff that would make up the game. I fully expected soccer to be a skill like bike-riding, where once learned it was always generally possessed. I found out it was like Canadian history, where everything can be forgotten in a real hurry and I was starting from scratch. I was AWFUL. Not sure if it was the fatigue or general crappiness, but I couldn't make a play if a dart in the wrist depended on it. As a kicker, a sprint of even 20m left me feeling as if death were a realistic possibility. Just an terrible time all around.
Now is Monday afternoon and we've got our first set of classes this afternoon. Heading to school early so we can get our lesson plans down and figure out how the hell we will entertain a bunch of rowdy 6-year-olds for 35 minutes. Maybe I'll hand out pennies and tell them they are now riche (add an E sound on the end of every English word if you want it to be understood).
Check out some of our pictures on facebook: http://wluca.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2082644&l=48dcb&id=187905622
and our apartment:
http://wluca.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2082651&l=e34e6&id=187905622
2 comments:
Ian you are a great story teller. I can't wait for more!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Hi - It's your mother speaking...I just wrote you a lovely note and lost it?! Anyway, I'll write again, later. Just know that I'm thinking of you & am glad to see that you have such a cute apartment and are settling in.
Love, Mom
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