HC in the ROK!

Holla!
This is my first happy post since I came to Korea about three months ago. It might suck to read this one because I don't express myself well in writing when happy. So, Christmas a came along. Heppy Chlistmas Ebeebody! So I had some visitors come along for the Holidays. Lee, Claire, Natalie, Joanne, Daniel, Alicia (Kendra Hurshmann) and Joanne area all part of this fiasco. Just want to introduce the characters before the stories get along. "If that guy was here, we wouldn't be able to have a shit" (PS. That was just said right now) quote Lee Hines.
So the Christmas fun started on Saturday night. Headed out to Hongdae for some Tin Pan fun. Holy Hell. So Natalie, Joanne, Daniel, Hunyung, and I all head out to the bar. We have some drinks, some bi bim bop and are waiting for Sarah and Mark to get there to get some drink on. So we head to Tin Pan. This place is about the size of the main floor of the 'vil in Wolfville. It was packed! No room to move at all. So we are partyin it up, havin some drinks yadda yadda. I go to have a drink with seven of my friends and the BOOP I was alone for quite sometime. So I got up and went and danced with some strangers. Of course I was hammed and threw a huge bitch fit on the sidewalk on the way home. It was lovely.
The next morning I drag ass out of bed to head to the airport to meet Lee and Claire. I get there and of course I can't find where the shit the arrival is for the flight. So i am wandering around. Picture this. Pants that were just the smallest step above sweat pants, my homeless man coat and a huge asian toque and my glasses. I was a fit sight to be seen. I thought the Koreans looked at me funny when I was lookin' normal....I broke a record. I had the whole Incheon airport stop and take a gander.
So I am walking/sludging around the airport and all of a sudden somebody pokes me in the back...luckily it was Lee and not some agishee tryin to give me a poke. What is it with the ass pokin here? so I meet Claire for the first time wearing Lee's sunglasses and looking like a homeless trucker.
This is getting very elaborate. So we come back to my place and chill for a bit and the drinkin' begins. I introduced this crew to Soju. Oh. PS Natalie and Joanne are sleeping on my floor still.....I have spunk. sorry sorry, I forgot about something. We went to a concert. So, we head to the Seoul Arts Centre to watch this symphonic production of White Christmas. We get there, can't find the right theatre because the arts centre is about the size of halifax peninsula. Jebus it was bit. Of course we try to ask for directions, no luck. Luckily Claire is a thinker and took a picture of a poster. So here we are. Only whities in miles running around showing people a picture of a picture to find our was. The concert was good after we got there. They played the nutcracker...HILARIOUS! They had ballet dancers on the noisiest stage on Earth. You could hear the smash of their landings oer the symphony. When the did the French Dance the dancers brought out a poodle strapped to a wheeled cart and started to drag it around. So we are all pretty knackered at this time and I hear Lee saying in a voice that was louder than intended "GET THE LAMB OFF THE STAGE!" so there we were 4 whities in a concert hall laughing out holes off. So after that we left and then came home and drank. On the way I bought two packs of Dick Sticks....thought that was quite the knee slapper.
The next day was Christmas Eve. So we got drunk of course. I wanted to show my friends the Norebang. So we head out to the Norebang. Get there and get in our room, pay for our hour and start a singin'. But in Korean tradition, many things are free. So we paid for one hour, for about three out of it. Best $15 i've spent in a while. So we leave the Norebang at 5 am on christmas eve night and decide to stop on our way home for some McDicks breakfast. So Christmas Eve party lasted until 6:30 in the morning.
Christmas morning rolls around to the sounds of Natalie saying "I'm gonna go get some plates" then responded with four grunts! So Natalie leaves and after a bit the rest of us get out of bed. Natalie returns home all pissed off because she got in a fight with a korean woman over a cake. Christmas cake is quite the craze here. So we head out to do some shopping. Big mistake on Christmas in Korea. It was so busy that I lasted about 45 mins before I peaced out and sat outside for the locals to stare at me and my cake. So basically we get home and have present time and just chilled out, ate Christmas dinner Konglish style and Daniel, Hunyung, and Alicia (Kendra Hurshmann) came over to go out.
We head to RMT but none of us could get drunk because the previous two days we had consumed 5L of Soju. Our tolerances were too high. So it was an early Christmas night. Oh I forgot. Nat brushed her teeth with apricot scrub.
So Boxing day I had to start back to work and that was cool. Same ol' crap. That's about it. Clint gets back tomorrow. I am pretty excited. Oh. We've been keeping a quote book. Here they are.

"If you're gonna creep, wear some sheep"
"Korea-The Irish of Asia"
"Christmas Carolueh"
"What kind of dog to they eat? - I don't know, but you'd think that different breeds would have different flavours"
"Do you mean Trishalina Brown? - No, I mean Abu Jafar brown"
"What happens in Asia, Stays in Asia"
"Ya ever have a 2 in 24?....More like a 2 in 6"
"I can't believe this is the day that Jesus died...or was born....PUT THAT IN THE QUOTE BOOK"
"This is too much work for someone I don't even really care for to come over on Christmas day"
"Oh, he's the cute one from your building. - I think he heard you. - Oh shit, he speaks English"
"Apricot Scrub...I'm gonna call your dumb moments Scrubbies"

This has been a far greater holidays than I ever expected. This visit has been the perk I've needed for some time now. I wish Japan was closer so we could all hang out more. Just wait for February when I'm off to Japan. Mmmmmm Brazilians.

There has been so much more that has happened, mostly with (Kendra Hurshmann) but I can't even begin to tell those stories. Sweet sweet embrace.

Sunday, please eat me.

A weekend in the life of an English teacher in Seoul is quite the unique entity. For me, the weekend is a time of release. Usually Friday is the day of rest. The new Sabbath if you will. I get home from work and usually go to sleep. This weekend however, my friend from home came to visit. She arrived in Korea only the night previous and needed somebody to help her settle and I needed somebody to be with to bring some familiarity to home back into my life. So Friday night we went for a drink, had McDonalds and then settled down to go to sleep. I have realized just how much I love sleeping on the floor. It is far more comfortable than most would think. In Korea it is the norm to sleep on the floor. I am considering picking up the new habit so I can convert my bed into a sofa somehow. Regardless of all that, we just relaxed and retired early.

Saturday we woke up and went to Lotte Mart, got some booze and rented some videos, had ice cream and just were absolute vegetables for the day. It was lovely. It was great to just sit around and watch shitty movies and hang out. That night we got all cleaned up and made our way to Itaewon. I wanted to show her the Seoul night life…as well as the part of Seoul that feels the most normal when you are in the height of culture shock and homesickness. We made our way into town. Went to Rocky Mountain Tavern, met up with some friends then were off to Geckos to commence the birthday festivities of Andrea and Abby, two people I met through Clint since being here. There was quite a pack of us out there. It was a fun night. We had some drinks, and chatted for a while then went off to Pollys. The place I was anticipating for the whole night. I love this bar. It sort of reminds me of the Anvil in Wolfville, similar lay out, a bit smaller, but just as dirty. But they have the best drink on Earth. The Kettle. Basically, they take a 2L pop bottle, cut it in half, add 8 shots of Soju, Kool-Aid power and Soda. For 5$ you get hammered off your rear in a matter of minutes. It is quite lovely. So we stayed there, had a kettle and danced the night away. Got home around 4 am (an early night) because I had a wedding to go to the next day.

I got up on Sunday (I hate posts like these) and put on my Ken Doll clothes and made my way to my first Korean wedding. Holy shit. This is so hard to explain. It may be deserving of a new post because I am a tad hung over. Nevertheless, I made it through the spectacle of my first Korean wedding and came home. I hung out with Natalie for the rest of the day and as usual my Sunday melancholy set in.

I hate Sundays. It is the day of the week where I am totally alone. I hate being alone. I get horribly homesick every Sunday. It makes it really hard to be here when I know that once a week it is going to feel like somebody had ripped my heart out and forcefully shoved it down my throat. Every Sunday I walk around with a lump in my throat and tear ducts ready to explode. It may sound ridiculous, but that is how it is. Sunday is my enemy. It makes is really hard to have one day a week where everything you did to make Monday to Saturday good days are thrown out the window. It reminds me of the Greek myth where the person is tied to the rock and everyday the vulture comes and rips out his organs. Every Sunday I feel like everything inside my is ripped out. It is like getting dumped every week.

I sit here every Sunday and wonder what people are doing at home. What is my mom doing? How is she? My father, brothers, Tess, Christina, Liam, Jennifer, Laura, Kyle, Patrick….I have a fountain of thoughts the flood my brain knowing that I am missing out on all these times. Not that I would be included in all of them if I were elsewhere, but I abandon familiarity for novelty and on Sunday familiarity asks for just a moment to come out and be felt and it can’t.

I spend almost every Sunday alone. Totally alone, in my apartment, doing nothing. That is another reason I hate Sunday. I am alone. I hate being alone. I came to Korea so I could get used to being alone. I don’t think it is possible. That scares me. The prognosis of love in my life, family, settling down, and picket fences seem slim. I know I am only 24, but I believe in foreshadowing and I see a life of opportunities missed due to principles. My stupid morals. Because I do the right thing. And it scares the shit out of me because I hate being alone, and I see it as an inevitability. For me loneliness is a fate worse than death. People fear public speaking…I fear being alone, but I face my worst fear every Sunday and after the parties, the traveling, the co-workers are gone…what am I left with? Lonely.

To somebody reading this, I sound like a very selfish person. Bitching and complaining because I have to spend one day alone a week. It is much more than that. I don’t know if I can convey what I mean on a silly internet forum or “blog”, but I think about the future a lot (in true Virgo fashion) and I think about those I love; the woman from home who just lost her husband of more than 50 years, the man who never married and keeps company with a dog, all those people I left behind at home because I decided to try and find my own way somehow and I think…those people I left behind are starting lives, relationships, families, that woman, in her 70s starting over, a life of solitude. I just imagine myself in those situations and it scares me that I see me in a life alone, like the man with the dog, but I don’t know if I can handle it. Just from reading this, I seem like I’ve gone loco and I have spent the day alone…not even the entire day.

I’m to the point where I have no idea what I am saying anymore…I’m going to stop.

Possibly the sweetest night ever/pain in the ass too

On November 10 I went to see Beyonce live in concert! This was quite the experience because at home the biggest names that come around are the locals or country...once in a while somebody big comes to town, but not very often. So...we got our tickets through a friend's friend's boyfriend who is with the USO. SWEET TICKETS! We got VIP seating, approximately 10 rows back from the floor. I was so close that I could actually see her without having to look at the big screens. Close enough that when she did her little squat thingy, I saw panties! It was fantastic! If nothing else, seeing that concert made it worth coming here. She sang new stuff, she did a whole Destiny's Child bit! I can't even really put it into words.

Afterward, I went to Itaewon to meet up with some friends at RockyMountain Tavern (the Canadian bar), had a few drinks bought for me. I think the line of the night happened at Rocky Mountain Tavern when after talking to this girl and her friend, she returns to our seat, looks at Clint and I and says "so I assume we are going to have sex later...where are you going?" It was a hilarious moment...then we left. Got to another bar. Made some one night lesbian friends...finally! some lesbians to hang with! I was going through withdrawl! So...I am with my friend, he finds somebody and leaves me there...but luckily not before i get my cab fare from him haha. I was pissed as ol' hell this morning, but really...i got half my cab paid for and I made it home....I think I am just irritable because I have been sick since I got here. Between the food and the air...this place might kill me...but i got to see Beyonce! whoop whoop!

Time spent alone

I seem to spend an abundance of my time alone in Korea. Usually this would bother be, but I seem to find comfort in knowing that few around me can speak my language and the alone time becomes appreciated. I have a lot of random thoughts when I am alone. Not sure what causes it. It may be the dreamer inside, the sociologist, or sometimes, most times, the regrets I have. Today, Friday night, I sit alone in my apartment. This is a usual Friday night here. The social scene is surprisingly like Halifax, relax and do something fun on Friday night and Saturday night you throw your inhibitions to the bottle and act like a baboon. So, back to the point. I was thinking tonight. If I had a soundtrack to my life what would it be? I am not sure where this thought came from. I guess it is partly due to the fact that I have been watching a lot of movies and living in Seoul is sort of like living in a movie. The surrealism of living in a land so foreign is like a movie. You think "that would never happen", but it is. Eventhough it is happening it doesn't really consciously enter your mind that it is happening.
I also read a note on facebook today that my friend posted. "In 2007" it was called. She made a list of all the things that happened in 2007. I realized that a lot has happened in 2007. The biggest event was moving to Seoul....I think that song of the soundtrack would be "Taking The Long Way Around" by the Dixie Chicks. It seems that everybody at home is settling down, but I am taking the long way around.
Another momentus moment of my 2007 was this past summer. Summer is always a great time for me. The sun is shining, I am happy and life seems to take a whole new meaning in the summer. Nothing matters in the summer, but everything matters at the same time. I guess my most fortunate event of Summer 2007 was meeting Laura and Kyle. It was strange how quickly we became friends. I find it even more strange how quickly I got attached to these two people. It was nice to recognize the genuity in these two people and get on the save wavelength and ride it out for a few months, and hopefully for years to come. Laura chose this song for the soundtrack "Parkdale" by Metric. Not so much the words, but the feeling of the song. It suits.
I am realizing how boring this post must be as it has nothing to do with an Asisan Adventure, but I think this year will be one with a lot of reflections and digestion of things that aren't in Asia. That will be one of the largest adventures.
I look at my blank walls and realize that this world is so small. Not in a Disney sense, but really, think about it. Where do you have friends living now? For me...Canada, USA, France, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Colombia, Australia....that is a pretty large spread. Why do we leave our homelands? It is to seek irregularity? We are socialized that everybody is different and unique. Is that true? I think, and this is especially true for me, when you relize that you are like everybody else you seek out something that will make you different from your surroundings. I came to Korea. That makes me different from the majority of people from home. But now that I am in Korea with thousands of English speaking people from around the world...is it really that different? "Ordinary People" John Legend? Maybe.
I feel that some of us embrace regularity because it is safe. Some of us seek change because it isn't safe. I seek change because I have no idea what else to do. Sure, I can stay home and work and 11$ hour job, and get nowhere financially. I can see the world, but when I get home all I've done is see things. What is it all worth? I have no idea. What choices should a person make? "Do what makes you happy".....tried that..not sure if I am happy still. I am not feeling the same as I was at home...is that happy? As far as I know...yes...I could call this happy.
This entry has gotten a little too emo for my liking. I just have a lot of things racing through my mind while I am alone....would'a could'a should'a? Pretty much.

what the shit!?

So today at work was a total fucking write off. It was annoying, hilarious, and just fucking stupid mostly. It is halloween right? So we are having 2 days of parties at work. So my managing teacher has a chip on her shoulder or somehting and it sort of pissed me off today, so I was taking part in the passive aggressive olympics. If there is one thing English speaking Koreans know...it is passive aggressive. So, I am being a cock all day...just in a wrecked mood for various reasons.
So we have the first halloween party...one little girl cried for a complete 1.5 hours. Now that's energy!
The second party was what started to kill me. So we were playing games and we moved onto the face painting. So this kid goes up to my managing teacher and says "Can I have a gun?"...so sure enough she paints a gun on his face. I look at it and seriously my jaw must have dropped a metre. So after a while, I go up to my British co-teacher and say "Look at Christopher" So he does and responds "what is that? looks like he has a cock and balls on his face" I LOSE IT...just laugh my ass off! Nobody else flinches. I guess they don't know English as well as the think.

So thinks are regular after that, we go onto the third party...the middle schoolers...or shall i say the too cool for middle schoolers. So they come in and my managing teacher starts blabbing in Korean and then asks me to help. I look at her, with my co-teacher and say "what's going on? we don't understand Korean" so she explains...not 5 minutes later she is going off in Korean again explaining a game to children of are good enough to understand what she could explain in English. This time I am pissed and say "Hey, what's going on in my language?" It was validating. I embarassed her a little. So as the class goes by she tells us to do some stupid shit, to which we refuse and she bitches at us for...whatever though.....She asked us to tickle the kids...pretty sure that would make me a pedophile to tickle some 14 year old korean girls....

After the parties are over, we have presentations for project class. I am sitting there, and one my my favourite students is up there talking about her favourite song. I look up at the screen as she says her favourite song is "Love is Sweet"...but the damn slide says "Love is Sweat"....Just as I look up, the British teacher looks over, and no word of a lie, I very loudly say "oh shit" and burst out laughing...right in the middle of her presentation....and all I hear is...in a lovely British accent is "Yeah, love it sweat sometimes" I just buried my head in my hands and convulsed to hold back the laughter.

On the bright side of my day. After work, me and the Brit went to grab a coffee and when we walked in, the lady spoke English, had an espresso maker and a pamphlet with a Canadian flag as well as a copy of "The Little Prince".....I wish it was the french version, but I was happy to see it.

Lately and funny things

So, Korea has drained me this week. Week four is a skank! My visa was disconnected because there is an annual fee. Who knew? I didn't. So, I have no cash or credit until the 15th of November. This will be interesting hahaha. That is really my biggest stress right now. The kids were little bastards this week too. I will get my revenge though. It is fun all in all though. You can do some pretty cool stuff with the kids.
Now for the funny stuff. Koreans are obsessed with English, but don't ask English people if things are correct. For example....who am i kidding...i'll make a list

"Mona-risa Cosmetics"-store in Bonghwasan
"Mary Quant Jelly Baby"-Tee shirt
"Clam Love"-Tee Shirt
"I am Jesus" - Kid in Class
The book is called "There is nobody like me" In Konglish "Nobody Likes Me"
I asked a kid to sit...he said "shit?"
"Women aren't people...they're whores" - another child

That is all I can think of now. Oh. I did make to to Olympic Park. My one thing that sold me on Korea. Of course I didn't get to see the part I wanted. I will find the flag thingy if it kills me!

Bright side. I am going to see Beyonce. That will make me happy...so so so happy. I hope she does something stupid. That would make my day.

PS. I do everything wrong at work, that's ok though because the Korean teachers have to ask me to correct their homework sometimes because it is too hard. That is all for now.

Trapped in Junggye-dong

I ran out of cash. I have no subway money. You can't buy subway money with visa. All I have is visa....I am officially trapped in my neighbourhood....I guess it is an opportunity to explore. Shit!

A little realization

Today I realize just how far away from home I am. I know Asia was freakishly far from North America, but since I've been here the transition has been pretty smooth. Today when I got the news that an elderly man, who was very much a part of my upbringing had passed away I felt so horrible. The obvious reason being that he had passed, but also the inability to attend his funeral is quite upsetting. I realized today that I am not going to see anybody for a whole year. I know that doesn't seem like a long time, but it also seems like an eternity at the same time. The feeling of not seeing anybody for a year isn't one of sadness, because I know the reasons I came and Asia is fulfilling those pre-requisites, but it just feels a bit odd.

A Note of Remembrance

This entry has nothing to do with my Asian adventures, but I just want to put this in here as it is part of my life and something that has helped shape me as horrifying and sad as it was.

A year ago today a friend of mine decided to end his life. This anniversary is difficult to say the least, as is any anniversary of a tragic event. I know it may be cliche to put something in a blog about this, but today I sit here alone in remembrance and mourning and nobody here to share in it with so I share with whoever reads this blog. Today more than any other day of the year I realize that things of annoyance, inconvenience, and the small pains we feel living as humans can be frivilous and blown out of proportion in order to give our problems a feeling of worth. I remember today that there are people who have far larger problems than the small things I worry about. People who keep these problems bottled up inside for so long that the only solution felt is the drastic measure of taking ones life.

As sad as it is, from tragedy comes virtue. Virtue in learning, virture in modesty and virtue of sharing. Although problems most people have are small, they are worth sharing before they get too large. Worth sharing before you have no avenue to find escape. Virtue of perspective. Today I remember my friend, remember how happy he was when we were friends and how fortunate I am to have known him. And although he is gone, while he was alive he was able to pass on happy memories, faith in humanity and a remembrance of how people should be. Listeners, guidance givers, unconditional friends and most importantly his biggest lesson was one he never practiced, and that was sharing your feeling and thoughts because there is always somebody who can relate and somebody who cares enough about you to listen and talk things out.

I will remember you always and cherish the friendship we had.

Fireworks Festival

This past weekend was the Seoul International Fireworks Festival. I guess it is kind of a big deal. I met up with Janine at Gecko's and was suppose to meet up with a bunch of friends as well. Of course I couldn't find them, so Janine and I went out on the town alone. We had some dinner. The best Calimari I have ever had is at this place. I think I found a new dining place on the weekends. Janine and I took a cab out to whatever island the fireworks were on and on the cab ride were able to watch most of the fireworks from a bridge over the river to get to the island. I was amazed at the amount of people there. There must have been close to a million people crowded around this island and surrounding area to watch the fireworks. Once they finished Janine and I walked to 7/11 to get a street drink (this is becoming a tradition) and walked back into town. We just bummed around and ran into my friends who I hadn't seen in a very long time and decided to meet them in Hongdae. Hongdae is another university part of town. So we go, got lost, got ripped off by a cabby and finally met up with my friends at Tin Pan, a bar in Hongdae. It was packed, it felt like the Anvil on a saturday night. It was ok though. By this time, after not finding our friends, or people going home on us the night was pretty much lost and we weren't having the greatest time. We left Hongdae to go back to Itaewon to spend the night. I just wanted to go to sleep so bad! So we went to the Hamilton Hotel. Janine said there was a Jinjabang there. From what I gathered it was a hostel of sorts, but with access to hot tubs and a sauna. Was I ever wrong. It was the sauna of the hotel. 10$ to stay the night, access to the hottubs and the sauna and a sleeping room where people can just sleep on the floor. Good enough. I was tired enough to sleep on the floor. So we get there. I go into the area and there were people just sleeping on benches, floor, some people in the shower. A lot of them naked. I felt like I was going to enter another movie...this time a porno. So i just round a corner to sleep in, and after the persistant snoring kept me awake for about an hour, i went to sleep. It was really odd, just to see people walking around naked like nobody's business. I got up pretty early and came home. I'm not sure how I feel about the social scene in Seoul. I am sort of disappointed thus far. I hope more weekends to come are better. I've had fun, but it really hasn't been at all like the minute expectations I had. Next weekend I am suppose to go to a birthday party. Hopefully that will be a little more regular. I need some regularity. I'm feeling quite a bit of regret this weekend of being in Seoul.

Weekend number one

The first weekend here was one of new experiences from shopping to block parties to French speaking Koreans. Saturday afternoon Clint and I went shopping somewhere in downtown Seoul. We first went outlet shopping, nothing out of the ordinary other than being followed around like celebrities. I guess white people in pairs is quite novel here. Then we went to some market. It was like being in a carnival. Lights everywhere, packed with people, and yelling vendors we wandered around Seoul looking for good deals. I felt a little odd because nobody would even speak to me, but others were getting great service. Soon I realized it wasn't becasue I was of a different race, it was because I was of a different size. Nobody would talk to me at the stores because I was too big for their merchandise. So, if I don't bring many gifts home, don't be offended it is just because I am too fat to buy things in Korea so they won't help me.
The mall was really strange to me. There were no stores. Just a vast open area with booths of sort where shops were set up one after next in rows. There was no seperation other than clothing racks. Just like a flea market. Soon after shopping, slight dehydration and utter exhaustion of being on our feet for the past seven hours, Clint and I decide to forgoe our planned outing in Itaewon for some drinks at home. So we head off to the subway, on our way to Bonghwasan to HomePlus for some booze. We get on the subway, the last one of the night eager to just relax and have some wine. Part way home they announce the stop for Anam. Anam is a part of Seoul, known because it houses Korea University. I hear something odd though. "This stop is Anam, last stop" What? Last stop? We are still about 15 minutes from where we need to be? I look at my watch, midnight. Subway closes at midnight, but surely it will finish going the line before closing. No. At midnight, the subway closes wherever you are. Good Luck and Godspeed, now please get off our train. Fuck. So, Clint and I get off after some shooing from the train attendant and we walk into Anam wondering what the shit are we going to do? 7/11 is a good idea. Let's get a drink and sit on the subway.
On our way to 7/11 we notice a lot of red t-shirts. Korea University everywhere. Pubcrawl? not sure. So we decide to explore. We grab some hooch and make our way down the street into a dark, dank alley where we stumble upon a block party. Korea University students yelling, screaming, singing and doing cheers in the middle of the street. Since this is very different from home, we decide to cop a squat on a curb and watch the festivities. Many people walk by, of course looking at the whiteys as they pass until two of them stop. Come up and start yelling. DRUNK OFF THEIR ASSES! They shake our hands, and have seat. Ok....what's going on?
"Bonjour, comment ca va?....oh sorry sorry, English, I don't speak English well" Says a drunk Korean...So he tries to speak English and this is where I made my first mistake. I replied, out of pity of some sort "je parle un peut de francais si c'est plus facile pour toi" It was like Christmas for this man. He face lit up like somebody who just won the lottery and we start to talk. I have no idea what about really, I just went along with it. His friend just kept yelling "I don't speak English well" and falling over.
As we sit there, talking to the French Koreans, they ask us to play. Play? What the hell does this mean? My Konglish is really off. Like play in bed play? No thanks, not today haha. They were asking us to go drink with them. This night was already odd enough so we told them we had to leave. We start walking away and they grab us, ask for out phone numbers and say they will call us to drink sometime. Sure...ok...goodbye. Not that easy. The insisted on walking us to a taxi. Nice enough. So they get us a cab and they are talking something in Korean behind Clint and I who are very briskly walking toward a taxi. They grab us agian, arms around our shoulders just talking up a storm in whatever language they could form a sentence in best. Finally they get a taxi for us. The let Clint in the taxi, but blocked me off from getting in. What is going on? Are they going to take me home and make me their elf? Jesus, I want to go home. This would never happen in Canada, they would just shoot you in the street at home. I am in a panic of course, Clint in the cab and me not able to get in. So soon enough, I just sort of give him a shove and am like. I am going too! Let me in the taxi. They didn't realize we were heading for the same destination. So he lets me in the taxi, tells him where to send up and we are off. Finally. Oh wait. Look out the window....who is running outside the taxi waving like people used to wave go the Little Goddamn Hobo? Our new Korean friends...hanging heads in the taxi yelling good bye good bye! Thankfully the cabbie was like "oh shit" and sped off. Safe on our way to home plus. A few minutes later, some good ol' Reba McEntire we arrive to HomePlus to get drinks and relax. Korea is full of odd shit!

Enter Itaewon

Wednesday was Korean Independance Day essentially. I don't know what they called it, I didn't really care to learn. It was a day off, so that meant Tuesday night I would go out. Clint packed me up, and took me to Itaewon. Itaewon is a safe zone for foreigners. It is a place where whiteys can go and see other whiteys. There is some sense of multi-culturalism in Itaewon. It is a little slice of home. Mind you, a slice of home that has been dropped on the floor and stomped on, but homey nonetheless.
First stop with Clint, Ashley, Maggie, and Daniel was Wolfhound. An Irish pub in the middle of Seoul. Decent place, good food and great company. After we ate we Ashley and Maggie departed and Clint, Daniel, Joe and I were on the town. We wandered over to Bungalo. This is the coolest bar I have ever seen. You walk up a few flights of stairs and on each landing there are hot tubs. The whole place sort of looks like a rainforest jungle with plants and vines and lights....a little more like a spa than a bar. On the top floor, is the main area of the bar. I walk in and am told that I have to take my shoes off. What the hell? Shoes off? That seems gross...but open mindedly I take my shoes off and put them in a bag and carry them along. Once I get further into the bar I realize that the bar is a sandbox and the seats are swings to sit in. It was like sitting on a tropical beach of sorts. The drinks were amazing and so we stayed there for a while. After we decided that this place was getting a little boring we went on wandering to see what else we could find. We ended up at another bar.
The owner was in love with white people. He gave drinks and was very forward to say the least. I think the most interesting thing that was said was "I like mash potatoes. You like rice cakes?" Take that as you will. After that we moved along, drank in the street a bit. Best thing about Korea is the ability to go into a convenience store, but booze and just drink in the street. After some wandering, some mandu (best food on earth) it was time to go home.
I get in a cab and like the trip here was warped into another movie: The Fast and the Furious". THIS GUY WAS INSANE! Driving through Seoul, going seriously 120 most of the way...I am doing all I can not to shit my pants, the trip seems to be taking forever so after frantically checking my map i manage to ask him if we are going to the right place. He sort of grunted and noded and in about 5 minutes after that I arrive at the closest subway station. 5:00am and still a 20 minute walk home. The taxi was pretty cheap though. About a 40 minute ride for 17$.
On my way home, I get a call from Daniel, he had locked himself out of his place. I invited him to come stay with me for the night as it was 5:00 am. He was still in Itaewon. So I waited at the subway station for 35 minutes and finall Daniel arrived, and I got home at 6:00 am. What a day! Work at noon the next day....Oh Korea

Work

After arriving in Korea on Sunday night I had to work Monday night. Thanks for the sleep Korea. I really appreciated it. The previous night was a late one because after the excitement of seeing friends I had missed for a couple years I had my energy back. Monday at 5:00 pm. I go to work. BR English Jr. School. Soon to be mentally renamed Korea Hippy Haven. The idea behind the school is brain respiration. Proper energy to your brain for optimum learning of English. I learned exercise and medidation. At least I would be forced to exercise four times a day.
My co-teachers seemed nice, apprehensive and I was tired as shit and didn't really care. Work is work, and it will work out, and beside, there was a holiday on Wednesday anyway. I could sleep then.

The Trip

I decided to come to Korea about 2 years ago. Obsticle after obsticle, I finally was able to apply, get a job, and come. The whole process took way too long. I for screwed over by my recruiter, visa applications, and all the beaurocratic crap one needs to go to leave the country, it took me about four months to get everything set up to come to Korea.
I left Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 29th for Korea. The farewell was tearful and already full of regret. It felt like somebody had taken all the energy that I had stored up saying that this move was a good one and shook it like a snowglobe to make me feel like a fuck. I didn't want to get on that plane in the last minutes before boarding. I wanted to run back into the loading area and just stay home, be safe, in familiarity.
After I went through customs I ran into my ministers wife. Oddly enough, she was going to the United States as well that morning and I was able to talk to her. That was a life saver. She was able to boost my morale and things were fine. I also met a danish chick who calmed me down. I was a mess...fear was written all over my face. I finally got on the plane.
The first place scared me shittless. It was the smallest crap of a plane they could have sent me to New York in, and better yet it was names after a clothing company. American Eagle should not be an airline name....they are pants. I get to New York, anticipating my hour lay over. I get lost of course. Finally I make it to my gate and wait to board the second plane; a whopping 14 hour flight from New York to Incheon Korea.
I board the plane and I am one of maybe 12 white people on the plane. I am sandwiched against the window in a Korean airplane...Koreans are small people. I was like the Jolly Green Giant jammed into a smart car. Needless to say it was uncomfortable. So I sat there, knowing that I was beyond the point of return. Sitting to the most fowl breathed woman I have ever met, and nobody able to speak to me, and me not able to speak to anybody. So I sat in silence for 14 hours. A lot of thought went through my head that's for sure. Many of those I don't remember, but many of those that made me feel one of the deepest feelings of sadness and fear that I have ever felt.
The flight was pretty regular. I got to see the Hudson Bay, the Artic, China, Russia, and Korea all from 30 thousand feet. It was pretty amazing. Flying over the Artic was the most amazing thing I could ever imagine. It looked like what some describe as heaven. Just an eternity of bright light and the purest white I have ever seen. Javex should take a lesson on white from that business. Once in Incheon, I tried to stand to get off the plane. That was hard. My ass was so numb from sitting that I could barely walk. I managed though to get my luggage and meet up with my taxi driver for the hour and a half drive to my school. I don't remember much of that drive. I was so exhausted from not sleeping for about three days that I was hurled into a state of surrealism and everything felt like I was watching a Hugh Grant movie. I made it to the school, met with some teachers from my school who took me out for dinner and showed me where I lived. Finding my apartment was hilarious. Nobody knew where i was suppose to live. they knew it was the 6th floor. After walking in on some poor guy just chillin in his underwear and wandering around looking for my place we found it. It is small, quaint, and something that i will be able to make livable.
I was in Korea. A half a world away from where I belonged, but for some reason after all the fear and problems it felt right. I was welcomed by some friends and very soon, Korea felt like it would be a good year and experience.