I'm spending my monday afternoon lazing about my apartment and feeling quite content with the past 72 hours. This weekend was another glorious three day weekend and I had a wonderful time.
Friday was Tyler's birthday so as I eagerly watched the clock tick until I got off work and I was pleasantly surprised by a last minute cancelation that freed me an hour and a half earlier than usual. We started the night at a nearby bar called Spicybees that has a decently priced house beer (4,000 won for a large skooner). Tyler and two of our coworkers went there as we waited for everyone else to get off at their usual time. Daeji bulgogi was the dinner plan for the night and we squeezed a good ten people at the restaurant. Another korean restaurant where you get to cook the food at the table, yummy.
After the food, a couple of us headed back to Sinchon to surprise surprise... beer o clock, where a few more people bought tyler birthday shots and then Sean, our designated walker, walked young Tyler home.
At Tyler's b-day lunch, Tyler and one of the Matt's (I now hangout with three Matts here, most popular boy's name of 1985) and I got to watch the live olympic figure skating of Yuna Kim. It was pretty amazing. I remember watching the figure skating when I was really young and loving it. Tyler and Matt oogled the skaters and I laughed at the outfits. Yuna Kim was so talented and it was quite the experience to watch her because the restauarant fell silent as soon as she started. The servers stopped working and all noise ceased as we all watched in awe as she performed perfectly. I was a little nervous for her as I watched because there was so much pressure on her to do well, some of my students have said things that implied that she wouldn't be welcome back without a gold medal. But she was great, and did significantly better than the silver medalist from Japan.
On saturday I met some people from the site meetup.com to go to a microbrewery called Castle Praha in Hongdae. I was a little nervous before I went, it seems like there is an endless supply of crazy people on the internet, but I hoped for the best. They were awesome. We walked around slightly lost for about 45 minutes trying to find castle praha, which looks like a castle but it didn't matter because we all got along. I had a really nice time talking with the three of them and I was really glad I went. Castle Praha was 100 times better than Platinum Brewery beer-wise. The place is a converted church with a castle theme (knights in the hallway) and the inside is quite cave like (I'm noticing the cave thing is quite popular over here). They had three beers on tap, the pilsner, an amber and a dunkle. My favorite was the dunkle, but the pilsner was probably the best pilsner I've ever had (I'm not a pilsner fan and this didn't really taste like a pilsner, which is probably why i liked it). the deal was 10 beers for 35,000 won so I was WASTED when we left! No, just kidding, I split it with two of the guys. And they even had an old fashioned popcorn machine, which reminded me of the Albatross (nostalgic sigh).
On Saturday night I got a call from a friend of mine from high school who is also living in Seoul, which was a pleasant surprise because I didn't think she was back yet. My coworkers and I met up with her and her friends at a cool bar called OI Club in Hongdae. At the door you take off your shoes and receive a feather headband (which I wore!) and then you walk along a narrow corridor that looks like a cave. The bar itself was so cool, the interior looked like an ice cave with small enclaves to sit with your friends, and a dance floor that was covered in balloons and a dj, and the drinks weren't too pricey, I can see myself going back there in the future. We all chatted and laughed and a good time was had by all.
On Sunday a couple of friends and I went to the N. Seoul Tower on Namsan Mt. Tyler, Matt and I were running a little late to meet everyone so we were disappointed to find a mile long line to take to cable car up the moutain... since they are strapping Canadian boys who probably hiked ten miles to school everyday and wrestled moose for fun, they thought we could just power walk up the mountain and get there faster... I could do that too! Right...?
Team Canada set an alarmingly impressive pace up the steep steps as Queen Amerifat huffed and puffed quite a few paces behind. I got to the point where I couldn;t even talk because I was so tired and out of breath. and get this, those unchivalrous hosers wouldn't even carry me! Can you believe that? After about twenty minutes of me seeing my life flash before my eyes and a strange stabbing sensation in my lungs we finally made it to the top of the steps.
We met our friends and went up to the tower. The tower is circular and you can get a 360 view of the city. Unfortunately it was a tad overcast that day so the view wasn't as grand as usual. tha bathrooms have floor to ceiling windows so you can enjoy the view even as you pee! And, like everything else in Seoul, the tower caters to couples. Couple go there will locks that they write notes on and lock them to the railing. I took pictures and will post them.
In the evening we went to a Sinchon guy's bachelor party (coed) and enjoyed drinks in Gangnam. All in all it was a grrrreat weekend.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A slice of pizza but hold the sugar please
There are starting to be bigger gaps in between my posts which means I'm starting to have more of a life over here. As I had mentioned in my last post, my friends and I went to the Platinum Brewery in Apgudong, but unfortunately it did not meet my standard of beer (damn you Trappist for spoiling me). When we got to Platinum we had spent the day in a recreated traditional villiage where we listened to traditional Korean singing, made wishes for the new year (not telling what I wished for), and waited to see an exorcism. We would have stayed to see the exorcism but... it was so cold! Now before you start judging me for being a wimp from California, let me assure you I was wearing two sweatshirts and a jacket, boots, a scarf and I was still freezing. My friends from the east coast (where it gets quite cold) we also shaking in their respective boots. We shivered through the songs and opening scenes, lots of fruit and a dead tatooed pig (..?)
The villiage itself was pretty neat, all the houses had been moved from their original locations to recreate an old village. Once the cold had gotten to us we retreated to the metro to go to Apgudong to have some quality beer. After some unsure wanderings we were thrilled when we finally found the place and snatched the best booth in the joint (so.. the biggest). Tyler and some more sinchon people met up with us and also one of my friends from Gangnam that I trained with joined us as well. The company was great, the beer... not so much. I was pretty disappointed that the top ranked microbrewery served crap beer. I was so excited to try the belgium white beer, waiting in giddy anticipation as the server brought it over to our booth, and what did I taste? Hmm how to describe the horror? Maybe imagine what a budweiser would taste like after it was a year old from sitting in a hot garage. It was skunky, gross, cardboard-y, yeah basically any flavor that has a correlation with old beer. It was so gross. I couldn't even finish it. Ron was nice enough to drink it for me so I could get another beer. Since it was unlimited beer from 5:30-8:30 you would get one glass and it was refilled whenever you finished one.
Since we had a three day weekend the following week flew by. Another sickness is floating around the office and I'm a little worried about it. I'm going to take it easy this week. This last week I watched the entire first and second season of True Blood, I recommend that show to anyone that has free time it's really good. It's about vampires in the south. Anna Paquin stars in it and I've always liked her, anyone rememeber Fly Away Home?
This weekend was pretty short because I had another Saturday work day but I did go to the War Museum near Itaewon with Tyler, David and Sean. It seems like most of the museums in Seoul are free which is really nice. We walked around all the old planes and tanks that decorate the exterior of the museum like huge lawn ornaments. The museum was really nice, one of the nicest museums I've ever been to. After the museum Tyler, David and I headed to Beer O Clock to have some western style grub. I was really torn between a burger and pizza and I ended up settling for pizza, not a wise choice. The tomato products overhere ain't what they is back home friends. They are very sugary, the ketchup tastes so sweet... but the pizaa sauce wouldn't be like that right? RIGHT? Wrong... the pizza was sweet. Well at least I know now what korean pizza tastes like and I'm over it. The worst part was David ordered a burger and I had to jealously watch him eat a delicious burger while I ate my sweet pizza (shuddering at the memory).
So in conclusion:
Korea is superior in their metro system (yeah you heard me AC Transit) and their public free museums, but back home we have non-sweet tomato sauce and REAL begium beer.
The villiage itself was pretty neat, all the houses had been moved from their original locations to recreate an old village. Once the cold had gotten to us we retreated to the metro to go to Apgudong to have some quality beer. After some unsure wanderings we were thrilled when we finally found the place and snatched the best booth in the joint (so.. the biggest). Tyler and some more sinchon people met up with us and also one of my friends from Gangnam that I trained with joined us as well. The company was great, the beer... not so much. I was pretty disappointed that the top ranked microbrewery served crap beer. I was so excited to try the belgium white beer, waiting in giddy anticipation as the server brought it over to our booth, and what did I taste? Hmm how to describe the horror? Maybe imagine what a budweiser would taste like after it was a year old from sitting in a hot garage. It was skunky, gross, cardboard-y, yeah basically any flavor that has a correlation with old beer. It was so gross. I couldn't even finish it. Ron was nice enough to drink it for me so I could get another beer. Since it was unlimited beer from 5:30-8:30 you would get one glass and it was refilled whenever you finished one.
Since we had a three day weekend the following week flew by. Another sickness is floating around the office and I'm a little worried about it. I'm going to take it easy this week. This last week I watched the entire first and second season of True Blood, I recommend that show to anyone that has free time it's really good. It's about vampires in the south. Anna Paquin stars in it and I've always liked her, anyone rememeber Fly Away Home?
This weekend was pretty short because I had another Saturday work day but I did go to the War Museum near Itaewon with Tyler, David and Sean. It seems like most of the museums in Seoul are free which is really nice. We walked around all the old planes and tanks that decorate the exterior of the museum like huge lawn ornaments. The museum was really nice, one of the nicest museums I've ever been to. After the museum Tyler, David and I headed to Beer O Clock to have some western style grub. I was really torn between a burger and pizza and I ended up settling for pizza, not a wise choice. The tomato products overhere ain't what they is back home friends. They are very sugary, the ketchup tastes so sweet... but the pizaa sauce wouldn't be like that right? RIGHT? Wrong... the pizza was sweet. Well at least I know now what korean pizza tastes like and I'm over it. The worst part was David ordered a burger and I had to jealously watch him eat a delicious burger while I ate my sweet pizza (shuddering at the memory).
So in conclusion:
Korea is superior in their metro system (yeah you heard me AC Transit) and their public free museums, but back home we have non-sweet tomato sauce and REAL begium beer.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snow, Cookies, Seoul
This morning I woke up wishing it was an hour earlier as I peeled myself out of bed. Thursday mornings are always a little rougher than the rest because it's the morning after Humpday Beers, as dubbed by Tyler. The Sinchon crew and some Jongno coworkers went to HotSun, the chicken and beer place and had our usual beers and midweek catch-up.
I learned some interesting things last night, besides Kathy and myself, it sounded like everyone had been to their fair share of stripclubs and the comparisons between American and Canadian stipclubs were pretty ridiculous. Apparently Canadian strippers are mean, like, whip-you-with-a-belt mean. My friends recounted their experiences at Canadian stripclubs where they were either humiliated or beaten, that doesn't sound too appealing to me, but I guess whatever floats your boat. One of their friends was tied to a chair and then a stipper poured ice cold water down his shorts, and one of my friends said that at his going away party he specifically didn't wear a belt as a precautionary measure but he still got hit with a belt a couple times regardless.
Since today is Thursday I've been asking a lot of my students what their plans for the long weekend are. This weekend, February 14th is Valentine's Day AND lunar new year. Lunar new year is a very important holiday in Korea and people are expected to spend it with their families. One of my students told me that families make a big feast and spend time together kind of like Christmas for me.
i'm really looking forward to Valentine's Day this year, some of my friends and I are going to Olympic Park and then to Platinum Brewery. The Korean Herald is doing a two week piece on microbreweries in Seoul and needless to say, I'm pretty excited. It'll be nice to drink decent beer again, I miss it so! On Valentine's Day women are expected to give chocolate to men, and since I'm single I'm going to give chocolate to my friends, who all conveniently are guys. A student gave me some homemade chocolate hearts in a cute gold wrapped box yesterday and it was so sweet I took a picture, my first present! (** A lot of students give presents to their teachers here, it's not weird)
Since it's snowing today I opted to go to the grocery store and buy some milk and cookies to go with my coffee and then curl up in my warm apartment and listen to Christmas music (it's really hard to not think of Christmas songs in the snow)
I learned some interesting things last night, besides Kathy and myself, it sounded like everyone had been to their fair share of stripclubs and the comparisons between American and Canadian stipclubs were pretty ridiculous. Apparently Canadian strippers are mean, like, whip-you-with-a-belt mean. My friends recounted their experiences at Canadian stripclubs where they were either humiliated or beaten, that doesn't sound too appealing to me, but I guess whatever floats your boat. One of their friends was tied to a chair and then a stipper poured ice cold water down his shorts, and one of my friends said that at his going away party he specifically didn't wear a belt as a precautionary measure but he still got hit with a belt a couple times regardless.
Since today is Thursday I've been asking a lot of my students what their plans for the long weekend are. This weekend, February 14th is Valentine's Day AND lunar new year. Lunar new year is a very important holiday in Korea and people are expected to spend it with their families. One of my students told me that families make a big feast and spend time together kind of like Christmas for me.
i'm really looking forward to Valentine's Day this year, some of my friends and I are going to Olympic Park and then to Platinum Brewery. The Korean Herald is doing a two week piece on microbreweries in Seoul and needless to say, I'm pretty excited. It'll be nice to drink decent beer again, I miss it so! On Valentine's Day women are expected to give chocolate to men, and since I'm single I'm going to give chocolate to my friends, who all conveniently are guys. A student gave me some homemade chocolate hearts in a cute gold wrapped box yesterday and it was so sweet I took a picture, my first present! (** A lot of students give presents to their teachers here, it's not weird)
Since it's snowing today I opted to go to the grocery store and buy some milk and cookies to go with my coffee and then curl up in my warm apartment and listen to Christmas music (it's really hard to not think of Christmas songs in the snow)
Monday, February 8, 2010
Cool places around every corner
For all of you back in the states it's Superbowl Sunday, but here in Korea it is Superbowl Monday, we are fascinating creatures of the future, more amazing than Avatars.. yeah I saw Avatar yesterday.
Today was pretty good so far, I had the internet installed in my house (FINALLY), but not without a comical round two of "Nadja's Adventures in Miscommunication". The landlord came today with the internet guy, who as opposed to my landlord who knows about ten english words, knows none.
I just pulled out my "teach yourself korean" book and stayed out of his way as he fiddled with his tools, until he starting talking at me in korean and pointing to the spot on the floor next to him. So I scooted closer and he pointed at the screen to a page entirely in korean. I recognized the page from Tyler's computer and gathered that I needed to pick a username and password. After three failed attempts to pick a password (I still don't know why it wasn't working) the internet man became fed up and pulled the computer away, typed something in and said, "this your password!" so he picked it for me.
While he continued to work I got up to make myself some coffee that my wonderful parents sent me. My stove is really finicky (remember I live in a less than stellar place) so you have to attempt to light the gas 2-3 times before it actually works. Well as I was on my third attempt to light it the man ran over and brushed me aside and turned it on, giving me a worried look. At moments like this the whole language barrier is quite frustrating, if I had the ability to talk to him I could calmly say, "sir, thank you for your concern but I'm not a total idiot, I know how to turn my stove on. Clearly I have lived here for a month and the place has not burnt down nor have I died in a gas den!" But since I only know a few words and none of them convey the above message I had to accept the fact that I would probably be the dinner story later... "this american girl today, what a dim dilly.."
Now that the internet is up and running I feel like my home is really my home. No more listening to my same old music day in and day out.
This past weekend my coworkers and I went out to Hongdae to celebrate the departure of one of the tutors. It was a celebration because he is not so fond of being here and is very excited about going home. We went to three places, the first one was just an average bar and everyone was taking tequila shots. I'm not a fan of tequila so I stuck to beer.
The next place we went to was awesome, it was called 500. The interior is designed, floor to ceiling, like a cave. There are smaller cave rooms that you can sit with your friends in, and a big long tables in the larger room. The snacks they provide with the drinks are better than most places, caramel corn and tangerines. (** All bars provide carbolicious snacks with drinks, usually fruity puffs or pretzels) I will definitely go back there and next time I'll bring a camera.
We ended the night at a korean hiphop club, which was quite the experience. Back home I'm used to a little law called Maximun capacity, over here that doesn't seem to exist. I was okay with that because I had my coat checked and a small purse, but a couple of my coworkers had some claustrophic freakouts and needed to leave.
People were really nice in the club, a lot of people asked me where I was from and got super excited when I said I was from California (thanks mom for raising me in a top tourist state and not in Delaware), and they are really big on high fives over here, because it's considered an American thing to do. A couple people tapped me and then put their hands up for me to highfive, sure, why not?
The only thing that was creepy, but not as bad as clubs in SF, were the anonymous grabbers. Some things are the same everywhere: creepers. This one guy was being extra creepy, so my friend Sean came over and started being creepy to him and he lurked away. Yeah awesome coworkers!
I really wish I had a nice camera because looking out into the club was quite a sight, so many people dancing to the music, it looked like the crowd was a living organ. Green lights flashing and the dj playing korean and american hiphop and you can dance however you want because there are enough people that no one will notice your dorky moves.
Tyler found a local Canadian sports bar called Beer-O-Clock and for all you Davis people, it really reminds me of a nicer version of G Street. It's right around the corner from our apartments, but here's the best best best part.....they have western style brunch on sundays! That is quite difficult to find over here. I had my first tatse of bacon in over a month and a half and it was even better than I remembered. Bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee for 9,000, I was very happy.
Today was pretty good so far, I had the internet installed in my house (FINALLY), but not without a comical round two of "Nadja's Adventures in Miscommunication". The landlord came today with the internet guy, who as opposed to my landlord who knows about ten english words, knows none.
I just pulled out my "teach yourself korean" book and stayed out of his way as he fiddled with his tools, until he starting talking at me in korean and pointing to the spot on the floor next to him. So I scooted closer and he pointed at the screen to a page entirely in korean. I recognized the page from Tyler's computer and gathered that I needed to pick a username and password. After three failed attempts to pick a password (I still don't know why it wasn't working) the internet man became fed up and pulled the computer away, typed something in and said, "this your password!" so he picked it for me.
While he continued to work I got up to make myself some coffee that my wonderful parents sent me. My stove is really finicky (remember I live in a less than stellar place) so you have to attempt to light the gas 2-3 times before it actually works. Well as I was on my third attempt to light it the man ran over and brushed me aside and turned it on, giving me a worried look. At moments like this the whole language barrier is quite frustrating, if I had the ability to talk to him I could calmly say, "sir, thank you for your concern but I'm not a total idiot, I know how to turn my stove on. Clearly I have lived here for a month and the place has not burnt down nor have I died in a gas den!" But since I only know a few words and none of them convey the above message I had to accept the fact that I would probably be the dinner story later... "this american girl today, what a dim dilly.."
Now that the internet is up and running I feel like my home is really my home. No more listening to my same old music day in and day out.
This past weekend my coworkers and I went out to Hongdae to celebrate the departure of one of the tutors. It was a celebration because he is not so fond of being here and is very excited about going home. We went to three places, the first one was just an average bar and everyone was taking tequila shots. I'm not a fan of tequila so I stuck to beer.
The next place we went to was awesome, it was called 500. The interior is designed, floor to ceiling, like a cave. There are smaller cave rooms that you can sit with your friends in, and a big long tables in the larger room. The snacks they provide with the drinks are better than most places, caramel corn and tangerines. (** All bars provide carbolicious snacks with drinks, usually fruity puffs or pretzels) I will definitely go back there and next time I'll bring a camera.
We ended the night at a korean hiphop club, which was quite the experience. Back home I'm used to a little law called Maximun capacity, over here that doesn't seem to exist. I was okay with that because I had my coat checked and a small purse, but a couple of my coworkers had some claustrophic freakouts and needed to leave.
People were really nice in the club, a lot of people asked me where I was from and got super excited when I said I was from California (thanks mom for raising me in a top tourist state and not in Delaware), and they are really big on high fives over here, because it's considered an American thing to do. A couple people tapped me and then put their hands up for me to highfive, sure, why not?
The only thing that was creepy, but not as bad as clubs in SF, were the anonymous grabbers. Some things are the same everywhere: creepers. This one guy was being extra creepy, so my friend Sean came over and started being creepy to him and he lurked away. Yeah awesome coworkers!
I really wish I had a nice camera because looking out into the club was quite a sight, so many people dancing to the music, it looked like the crowd was a living organ. Green lights flashing and the dj playing korean and american hiphop and you can dance however you want because there are enough people that no one will notice your dorky moves.
Tyler found a local Canadian sports bar called Beer-O-Clock and for all you Davis people, it really reminds me of a nicer version of G Street. It's right around the corner from our apartments, but here's the best best best part.....they have western style brunch on sundays! That is quite difficult to find over here. I had my first tatse of bacon in over a month and a half and it was even better than I remembered. Bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee for 9,000, I was very happy.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Anyang Halla
It's a tuesday morning and I have a gap between classes, so I thought it would be a good time to update my blog. Last weekend I started Friday night by going out with a couple coworkers and grabbing some bbq pork. Most restaurants in Korea don't have private bathrooms, and the public ones are usually in the staircase, they are cold, dirty, and normally out of toilet paper so I was ecstatic when I found a clean private bathroom in the bbq pork place. Score!
On Saturday I woke up not feeling that great (understatement) and when I was abruptly woken up by my cell I was irrationally mad "Whose calling me at this ungodly hour?!" I flipped my phone open to the unfamiliar voice of my landlord. Through broken english I got the gist of what he was trying to convey to me: stay at home. repair men are coming. five minutes. I then looked at the time, 1:20pm, ok fine, not exactly the "morning" but I felt awful.
I unlocked my door and waited for my landlord. When he came in we exchanged a series of points and gestures. I pointed at the broken light and the dripping faucet in my bathroom and he tried speaking Korean at me while I stared at him blankly.
"You stay, STAY." He said.
"Um, ok.."
"Stay home. Repair men... today, tomorrow, monday... okay?"
"What?"
At this point I had already spent two afternoons waiting for these repair men when they were actually scheduled to show up and now he wanted me to wait in my apartment on a Saturday?
"I have to leave at 4." I said, and held up four fingers and then pointed at the door.
"4?"
"Yes, I (point at myself) have to leave (point a door and make korean crossed arm symbol for "no" or "stop") at 4 (hold up four fingers)"
He nodded and left, and I hoped he had understood me. After he left it occurred to me that I had no food, no water and I really wanted to take a shower but I could not do or get any of these things while I waited for the repair men. I snuggled back into my bed and watched the Simpson's while I waited.
Luckily I have nice friends in Korea so Tyler brought me some Chois Tacos (delicious) while I waited for the repair men.
After the repair men finally came it was almost time to go to the Hockey game. Our friend Jae was bringing us to the Korea Halla game vs the Japan Eagles. *** Jae also informed me that people cannot get into the SKY universities with a hockey scholarship so I retract my previous statement.
When I first got to Korea one of the recruiters for my company gave me the english magazine Seoul and there had been an article about Kim Ki-sung, one of the Halla players, he's possibly going to go play for the NHL and he's the top player on Halla. I had mentioned this to Jae, so on the ride to Anyang Jae told me that if Halla won, Kim Ki-sung said I could take a picture with him. (Jae went to university with Kim Ki-sung) I got really excited and nervous and then my "dear" friends Matt and Tyler started calling me a Puck Bunny. I didn't know what it meant but I knew it couldn't be good.
Me (on the defense) "What is a puck bunny?"
Matt, "It's a girl that has a thing for hockey players."
Me, "I don't have a 'thing' for hockey players!"
Matt, "uh, you dated one, you're a puck bunny."
I grumbled to myself while I waited for a retort that never came. This is what happens when I am the only girl. Then Jae asked what a puck bunny was and Matt described it as the equivalent of a groupie and that's when my purse came in quite handy as a weapon.
The game was great, and there was a huge Canadian turn out, in our section there must have been about 35% westerners and all the guys that were sitting behind us were Canadian. In Korea the liquor laws are different so people can bring their own booze to the game, so the guys behind us were chugging vodka out of the most conspicuous bottle they could have brought.
Halla won and we went downstairs to meet Kim Ki-sung. I'm not sure if people take pictures with athletes in Korea because the whole situation felt very awkward. Everyone shuffled me over to Kim Ki-sung and I just sort of stood next to him until Jae started chanting "put your arm around her!" No sooner had he done so did I hear his girlfriend (who was standing behind us) say something in Korean and he whipped his arm away. Awkward. In the final picture I have a goofy smile and he had his hands conservatively at his sides.
In Korean hockey they don't play by the violent north american rules, so there were no fights. But I kept subconsciously expecting a fight the entire time. Tyler noted, quite accurately I think, that Hockey makes you blood thirsty. The guys behind us kept yelling "FIIIIIGHT!!!" To no avail. The closest the game came to a fight was when one of the foreign players, Brock Radunske #25, got annoyed and shoved one of the Japan players. Maybe he forgot what country he was playing in, he IS Canadian.
Then I ended the weekend quite pleasantly but going to a spa with Kathy, we went to "Sinchon Rest" where we paid 6,000 won and got to enjoy hot tubs and saunas for as long as we pleased. They even have napping rooms at spas if you want to take a break. I left with my skin feeling so soft and nice, I will definitely go back there.
On Saturday I woke up not feeling that great (understatement) and when I was abruptly woken up by my cell I was irrationally mad "Whose calling me at this ungodly hour?!" I flipped my phone open to the unfamiliar voice of my landlord. Through broken english I got the gist of what he was trying to convey to me: stay at home. repair men are coming. five minutes. I then looked at the time, 1:20pm, ok fine, not exactly the "morning" but I felt awful.
I unlocked my door and waited for my landlord. When he came in we exchanged a series of points and gestures. I pointed at the broken light and the dripping faucet in my bathroom and he tried speaking Korean at me while I stared at him blankly.
"You stay, STAY." He said.
"Um, ok.."
"Stay home. Repair men... today, tomorrow, monday... okay?"
"What?"
At this point I had already spent two afternoons waiting for these repair men when they were actually scheduled to show up and now he wanted me to wait in my apartment on a Saturday?
"I have to leave at 4." I said, and held up four fingers and then pointed at the door.
"4?"
"Yes, I (point at myself) have to leave (point a door and make korean crossed arm symbol for "no" or "stop") at 4 (hold up four fingers)"
He nodded and left, and I hoped he had understood me. After he left it occurred to me that I had no food, no water and I really wanted to take a shower but I could not do or get any of these things while I waited for the repair men. I snuggled back into my bed and watched the Simpson's while I waited.
Luckily I have nice friends in Korea so Tyler brought me some Chois Tacos (delicious) while I waited for the repair men.
After the repair men finally came it was almost time to go to the Hockey game. Our friend Jae was bringing us to the Korea Halla game vs the Japan Eagles. *** Jae also informed me that people cannot get into the SKY universities with a hockey scholarship so I retract my previous statement.
When I first got to Korea one of the recruiters for my company gave me the english magazine Seoul and there had been an article about Kim Ki-sung, one of the Halla players, he's possibly going to go play for the NHL and he's the top player on Halla. I had mentioned this to Jae, so on the ride to Anyang Jae told me that if Halla won, Kim Ki-sung said I could take a picture with him. (Jae went to university with Kim Ki-sung) I got really excited and nervous and then my "dear" friends Matt and Tyler started calling me a Puck Bunny. I didn't know what it meant but I knew it couldn't be good.
Me (on the defense) "What is a puck bunny?"
Matt, "It's a girl that has a thing for hockey players."
Me, "I don't have a 'thing' for hockey players!"
Matt, "uh, you dated one, you're a puck bunny."
I grumbled to myself while I waited for a retort that never came. This is what happens when I am the only girl. Then Jae asked what a puck bunny was and Matt described it as the equivalent of a groupie and that's when my purse came in quite handy as a weapon.
The game was great, and there was a huge Canadian turn out, in our section there must have been about 35% westerners and all the guys that were sitting behind us were Canadian. In Korea the liquor laws are different so people can bring their own booze to the game, so the guys behind us were chugging vodka out of the most conspicuous bottle they could have brought.
Halla won and we went downstairs to meet Kim Ki-sung. I'm not sure if people take pictures with athletes in Korea because the whole situation felt very awkward. Everyone shuffled me over to Kim Ki-sung and I just sort of stood next to him until Jae started chanting "put your arm around her!" No sooner had he done so did I hear his girlfriend (who was standing behind us) say something in Korean and he whipped his arm away. Awkward. In the final picture I have a goofy smile and he had his hands conservatively at his sides.
In Korean hockey they don't play by the violent north american rules, so there were no fights. But I kept subconsciously expecting a fight the entire time. Tyler noted, quite accurately I think, that Hockey makes you blood thirsty. The guys behind us kept yelling "FIIIIIGHT!!!" To no avail. The closest the game came to a fight was when one of the foreign players, Brock Radunske #25, got annoyed and shoved one of the Japan players. Maybe he forgot what country he was playing in, he IS Canadian.
Then I ended the weekend quite pleasantly but going to a spa with Kathy, we went to "Sinchon Rest" where we paid 6,000 won and got to enjoy hot tubs and saunas for as long as we pleased. They even have napping rooms at spas if you want to take a break. I left with my skin feeling so soft and nice, I will definitely go back there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
