So Friday night started off with Hollis and I making our way to downtown Suji. I brought my camera but the stupid battery was dead, so hopefully I can get some of his pictures later. Downtown Suji is pretty sweet, there is a lot of stuff going on down there. Our first stop was Subway, because we had both been craving it. It did not disappoint. I got the Cold Cut Trio, which is my old standby, and was shocked when they were putting nice slices of what looked like turkey, ham, and some other fresh looking meat on it. Anyone who has ordered a Cold Cut Trio before knows that this is a step up. Next time you're in a Subway ask the person who is making your sandwich what kind of meats are in a Cold Cut Trio. They will not know.
After that we made some power-ju (or poju, as it is also apparently referred to as) and started to walk around and scope the area since it was a little early to go to the bar. We got really cold really fast though, so we ended up just hanging out in the McDonald's and finishing them there. In Korea it is perfectly fine to just sit and chill for a long time in the McDonald's without ordering anything, so that is exactly what we did. Eventually we headed out and started looking for Exit, the bar we were going to. I thought I knew where it was, but anyone who has ever trusted me to know where something is will not be surprised to learn that I was wrong. We wandered for awhile, and with a little help from some locals, we eventually found it.
It was a really nice bar, the music wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be (they played Limp Bizkit, and some of the Koreans went ka-razee, haha), the drinks were cheap, and it was filled with what seemed like 80% of the foreign teachers in Suji (not really, but a lot). One of the other teachers from my school was there and she introduced me to so many nice people. Also, they have Jaeger bombs, just with Bacchus (Smarties-flavored energy drink) instead of Red Bull. So that made me feel right at home. It was a great time, and I hope to become a Friday night regular.
Saturday night it took me a little while to get going, and I actually briefly considered staying in. Then I drank that Korean plum wine, and although it was completely nasty, I give it props for changing my mind. One of the other teachers, her friend and I got on a bus and headed into Seoul. We encountered a few problems with our cabs (problems = went the wrong way for a long time), but eventually got to our destination, a bar called Sensation in Hongdae. I walked up to the bar and looked in the fridge and saw that they had Guinness, so I excitedly ordered one, and handed the bartender 10,000W (~$10). Whe
The bar was a cool place, there were dj's early in the night, and then eventually a few people got up and rapped. Firs
I also met a cool guy from Chicago who went to U of I, he invited me to do this wine making thing with some of his friends, so hopefully I can make some friends outside of school. Also he lives in the Hongdae area, which is by far the best area in Seoul for seeing live independent music. Back when I was at home I started listening to a few Korean hardcore bands, and pretty much the only one that caught my ear was this band called Hollow Jan (I don't expect this link to entertain anyone not named Tim Franklin - the Hyacinthus song is awesome). They are playing at a bar in Hongdae next Friday and I might actually try to go by myself and see if I can make some friends. I have talked to a few people about music, and have definitely met people with good taste, but no one who would really enjoy a hardcore show I don't think. It seems like every person I have a music conversation with attended the Jens Lekman and Bjork show, which is pretty cool. Other concert buzz: The Roots are coming but it is apparently almost $100, and I am going to see Digitalism at the Ritz Carlton in a couple weeks.
Ok, got a bit off track there, back to Saturday night. At about 3:30 we ventured out to find Ice Bar, which was our goal for the night, since none of us knew where it was. After asking a few people we actually found it pretty easily though.
So Ice Bar is what it sounds like, it's a bar made out of ice. You go in and you have to pay 15,000W, and that gets you one drink. I ordered something called a Strongman which had gin, rum, tequila, and some other nasty stuff in there. When I read the description it sounded like a Long Island. Well it managed to be even more gross than the worse Long Island I have ever had (anyone remember Skank from the PT days?). It only proceeded to get more gross when one of my friends kept swiping bottles from behind the bar and adding shots to our drink when the only employee wasn't looking. The best part about the drinks were the ice glasses. They were made of ice - we know - because we licked them (just remembered that... gross. I mean, they aren't washing those things - they're ice! And I doubt every new customer is getting a new glass sculpted for them. So that means... best not to think about it.) It
From there we went to a couple more dance club type places. I kind of zoned out for this portion of the night. I was getting tired and my friends were all dancing and that is just not really my scene. I sat at the bar and talked to a couple people, but the conversations in a club at 4 in the morning aren't usually the most stimulating. Luckily we left soon (both of the other guys we were with at this point had their coats stolen at the coat check. Mine was there, but uh... lesson learned - don't trust the coat check. One guy said that was not the first coat he's lost at a coat check.)
The last stop of the night was a more pubby type place and I had a lot more fun there. We played pool against some dudes from Cote d'Ivoire and totally dominated. Eventually they made us leave the bar, even though I was told that bars in Korea don't close - lies! Anyway, it was about time SOMEBODY told me to go home. At this point I had lost my teacher friend, who was the only other person from Suji. Luckily her friend used to live in Suji, and put me in a cab and told him to take me to the bus stop I needed to go to.
I got on the bus, and looked at my clock, because I knew it was going to take about 40-45 mins, and I was going to be needing to pay attention in order to see which stop to get off at. All of that was for naught because some period of time later I was awoken by the bus driver yelling at me in Korean and pointing towards the door. I looked at him with clear distress in my eyes and just said "Suji?" He pointed at the bus stop across the street.
So I trudged across the street, the sun was now up and I had no clue how far past Suji I was. After waiting for about 5 mins, a few cabs started pulling up and stopping in front of the bus stop. I walked up to one and said "Suji Middle School?" I had been told no less than 20 times how to say this in Korean, because that is the one landmark that almost any cabbie will know that is near our place. At this point my brain wasn't in the mood for "remembering", so English was going to have to suffice. A few of the cab drivers talked amongst themselves and eventually one of them motioned for me to get in.
Once we were riding I started counting how much cash I had left, since I knew it had been an expensive night. 7,000W in bills, and another 2700W in coins. Keep in mind I have no idea how long this ride is going to be. Pretty soon we are cruising at like 50mph and the meter is racing above 8000W. I tap the cabbie on the sholulder and hand him all of my money and then hold up my palms. He counts it at the stop light, and keeps driving, I was kind of hoping he would just take sympathy on me. But fortunately we quickly arrived at the only area of Suji I recognize and I had made it back safely! And it was only 8am!
So yeah, the weekend was nuts, but actually kind of reminded me a bit of Chicago. There is nothing anyone here can throw at me I haven't already experienced back home in the drinking department. Brett, Josh, Matt: thank you, I think?
Other stuff:
1) I just ate Papa Johns and it was delicious! They have a crazy extensive menu here, but I was boring and just got a supreme. I have eaten pizza over half the nights I've been here, but mostly from this place called Pizza School that is ALSO delicious, and cheaper. Papa Johns still gives you the Garlic Cheese dip, but no pepperoncini peppers. They also throw in sweet pickles (why? gross) and tabasco (awesome, saving that for later).
2) Just read about the Golden Globes. There are a lot of movies I haven't seen. I have super fast internet now (no longer stealing wireless) and am currently downloading: Frost/Nixon, Revolutionary Road, Milk, The Wrestler, and Vicky Christina Barcelona. Considering I haven't watched any movies since I've been here, I should have them all watched by never. I was very happy to see Slumdog Millionaire, John Adams, and Anna Paquin do well!
3) Had my first day of full teaching today. I had to cover for another teacher at the Suji branch. Instead of 55 minute classes, they have 25 minute classes. So I taught 10 mini-classes today. Which means I sang "If You're Happy and You Know It" 10 times! And loved it a little more every time! These cute little Korean kids remind me of this song --> Kids Are So Small.
Bye!
Don't you just look precious in a silver, furry hoodie! Cote d'Ivoire? I guess that's what you well travelled, cosmopolitan types call the Ivory Coast?
ReplyDeleteBe careful.
If you go to a new country and don't manage to get completely lost at some point, you're doin' it wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think I really noticed your absence for the first time last night...tear.
So after you put on those silver coats, did you get a tour of Dr. Evil's secret layer..muahh ha ha ha ha ha.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear that you were able to test the bar hours on your first weekend - I expected no less from you. It is really surprising to me that you would be in a cab and potentially not have the money to pay for the ride. That's just so out of character...
ReplyDeleteIce kills germs, so you don't even need to wash it! It's science! Right?
ReplyDeleteOnly you would get in a cab, at 8 in the morning, while hammered, and ask to be driven to a middle school.
As soon as you mentioned getting on a bus, checking time, etc. I knew right where that story was headed. Nice work making it back though. Have you lost any wallets yet?
ReplyDeleteAlso - thanks for the band link. I'll check them out - let me know how they are live. A Korean hardcore show sounds amazing.
Have you eaten any local food? It seems like you are only eating pizza, McDonald's, and Subway.
@Curmudgeon - they actually really didn't want to say Ivory Coast. First they were like, "do you know Ghana? It's near there." Then they were like, "Do you speak French?" Finally they just said Ivory Coast. But I ain't no dummy, I know how to say Cote d'Ivoire.
ReplyDelete@Reverend - Brilliant! I can sleep better now.
@Tim - I have only gone out for Korean food a few times. We eat Korean food every day for lunch, and by the time night time rolls around, I'm starving, and I want something I know I'll like.
The skeletons in the music video made me wonder again why there's a skeleton hanging in one of the theme rooms. Do Koreans have a skeleton thing? I'm going to ask my Korean friend tomorrow.
ReplyDelete