Hanging Out With Korean Friends of Friends of Friends

So Pam's got the hookup. Long story but her "mentor" at Brown has a graduate student who is from Seoul. He emailed Pam and told her to give some of his friends a call if we wanted to go out one night and they would show us around a.k.a. we would go drinking. That afternoon, while we were scheduling our night out, some rogue kiwi must have infiltrated its way into my frozen yogurt. While most of you must be like, "Well Dorothy, that would be a fantastic treat to be treasured", I must disagree. Shortly after, I began vomming, per usual when I consume and type of kiwi...not fun. Of course I told Pam I was fine and we weren't going to cancel on Richard and Eugene, but I did feel like the DMZ entered my gastrointestinal system and Kim Jong Il was pissed (like always). But I'm a champ, went out, and had an absolute blast.

FYI, Korean fashion and style are very different from American. First, all girls wear highheels, everywhere, all the time. I don't. Secondly, while showing leg is fine, cleavage is not really an accessory here, so most of my "going-out clothes"...well, let's just say I wear a lot of scarves on the subway. Don't worry, Mom, my dresses are classy, usually, but you know.

Eugene picked us up in his car and we met up with one of his friends at a Japanese restaurant. They had both gone to UMich, so of course, as the child of a Buckeye, I had to say something. And then, we began drinking. They were helping us understand the Korean culture, spitting is acceptable (gross) as is being immediately asked your age, to determine if you are in need of respect or you need to respect someone else. Richard soon stopped by, after his "business meeting", which basically consisted of getting waste-face with his boss a co-workers, a common activity in Korea. It build a community or family sense in the workplace. After we had our fill of sake, soju, and beer, we decided to move to a more Korean-style bar.

Fun fact - the legal BAC in Korea is 0.05, therefore, anything over 0.05 is a DUI. So the Koreans, being the brilliant people they are, developed a system where you drive you car to a bar, get drunk, call a special number, and basically you hire a chauffeur for the night for like 10 bucks, amazing. Obvi, we implemented this system and drove to the next bar. We started to discuss what the extent of being drunk is socially acceptable in Korea. I attempted to explain how "blackout" is not acceptable...well ladies and gents, it IS acceptable in Korea. It is acceptable to get blackout regularly, with your boss, just like Richard did before he joined us.

Eating and drinking go hand in hand here in Korea. Actually, you have to be eating something in order to be legitimately drinking. Otherwise, people just think you are major alcoholics...not what you want. At the Korean-style bar we apparently saw a very famous soccer player who was on the national team here. Of course, he was dancing on a table. After Pam and I saw what time it was we realized we had two options, try to stay out for another 3 hours or somehow convince the guard to let us in past curfew. We were too exhausted to try and stay up, so we woke up a very hostile Korean who yelled at us for 5 minutes, knowing full well we had no idea what he was saying.

Double Deuce in Sinchon

Sorry, I know this is long over due...

As some of you may know, my birthday was on June 9th. Unfortunately, this was a Tuesday, but Dr. Yoo bought me a cake and Pam sang Happy Birthday at work. Later in the evening, two friends from college who both happen to be in Seoul right now, Ahra and Sunmin, met up with me and Pam for drinks. Since Pam and I still haven't mastered the Korean language yet, it was nice to order something without pointing and hoping you end up liking what the waiter brings out. First, we drank some rice cocktail out of chilled metal bowls. Then I consumed a measurable quantity of soju and apple juice. Since it was my birthday, I was supposed to consume the most, so of course I didn't disappoint. Unfortunately, we have recently entered "Monsoon Season" here in Korea, so there was a torrential downpour that met us outside. Since we were already in our neighborhood, cab drivers refused to drive us up the "mountain" to our dorm. We had to walk, it was horrible, and I never want to do that again.

That Thursday, we decided to go to Hongdae for Ladies' Night at Club Q-Vo. After meeting up with Sunmin and Ahra, we all grabbed dinner. Now let me tell you, that was the spiciest food I have ever had, hands down. We all, including the Koreans, were crying and blowing out noses and finally couldn't eat anymore. It wasn't that it didn't taste bad, it was just that when we put the food in our mouths, our tongues would subconsciously push the food back out of our mouths. We then decided to grab a beer at a GS-25, a Korean 7/11 (which they also have). Since we all had no idea about "open container" laws, we weren't sure if we could enjoy our popscicles and beer on the street...we did anyway. Then a cop drove by and we all turned around and ducked down, just like when we are at home. Some things just never change.

The club, on the other hand, was absolutely hysterical. Most of the kids seemed young, like they were in middle school, which had to be false since every one had to be 18 to get in. The outfits these boys and girls were wearing were epic...everything from bunny ears and short skirts to "thugs" in wife-beaters and Tims. Yet most of all, I was confused by all of the dancing. I suppose and am used to the "bump-and-grind" of American clubs, but seriously, some of these kids looked like they were trying out for Riverdance. (I assumed they were trying to crip-walk. I must admit, I cannot crip-walk either, but I also don't attempt to pretend to do so in public.) Pam got yelled at for taking pictures, which you are apparently not supposed to do in Korean clubs. Also, drinks are really expensive so I recommend that you pre-game before you go out.

Pancakes and Bulgogi Burgers

I apologize to all of my faithful readers since I've taken far too long to write a new entry. Mostly, I've been trying to acclimate to Korean life and culture. Last Sunday, Pam and I went to Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum of Korea. If any of you find yourselves in Seoul, I highly recommend visiting these places. Afterward, we walked around the "Beverly Hills" of Korea, Samcheondong-gil Street. Although very fancy, it was kind of weird to see Italian restaurants every 10 feet. And no, I didn't see Korean Tori Spelling. We did find an apparently famous restaurant that serves a delicious seafood pancake. After lunch, we found the South Korean president's house, took some pictures, then ran away because some police were glaring at us. Once we had our fill of fashion shops and police, Pam and I walked towards a subway stop to go to 63 City, home of the highest art musuem in the world, an aquarium, and an IMAX movie theatre. Obvi, we had to go. While walking, we passed this huge building that was surrounded with Seoul police, one stationed every 5-10 feet around the circumference of the building. These guys weren't really doing anything, just standing there, guarding. Of course I looked at Pam and said, "What the heck building is this? Who do these people think they are?" Then I saw Old Glory flapping in the wind in the building's courtyard. Yes, I realized my mistake, waved and said hello to our embassy.

So anyways, we find the subway station, ride to 63 City, and buy the "All Inclusive" Pass. This pass entitles us to watch one of the most horrifying children's films of all time on an IMAX. I mean I'm liberal and support environmental conservation, but this was propaganda. Basically, this movie was about how the human race is going to die unless we save the environment. Somehow they managed to include anime, trains, a semi-human race evolving from dinosaurs, and bodysuits. Yet, the kids loved it. Next was the aquarium, which was awesome because there was this tank that have those skin-eating fish that you can stick your hand in. It tickles. The art museum was okay, but there was a Marilyn Monroe Andy Warhol painting, always cool.

Once Pam and I returned, we decided to try the "Bulgogi Burger" at McDonald's that are boss was raving about. Yes, I know I went to a McDonald's, but Korean ones serve this special burger with bulgogi meat as the patty. But don't worry, we won't be back...it was gross. I like bulgogi and I like burgers, but the two don't work together. Pam and I should have known because literally no one was eating that thing in the entirety of the 4-floored McDonald's. Fail.

"No, I don't know Beyonce"

Today was South Korea's Memorial Day and Dr. Yoo told us to go to Insadong for the day. After some struggle with the Metro Pass system, Pam and I managed to get on the right train. (Dr. Yoo told us most Koreans can speak English...well, they can't.) Anyways, Insadong is this artsy district with Korean crafts and art galleries and tea houses. I found Topohaus, this funky little gallery that has this redic artist that paints creepy, chubby kids eating candy. She's amazing and I want to buy her art, but it's probably a couple thousand American dollars, oh well. For lunch, Pam and I found a place that served "mandu", also known as dumplings, which are fantastically delicious. You actually have to wait for the pot they bring you to boil on this little cooker before you eat anything...something we learned the hard way.

We walked around after lunch, visited some shops, then meandered over to the Buddhist temple, Jogyesa. This temple had three massive golden Buddhas on the inside, which was pretty impressive. I wanted to buy some prayer beads and Buddha bracelets, but every thing had a special designation in Korean (I'm assuming like Peace or Happiness, so I'm going to need a Korean buddy to translate before I make a purchase). After that, we went to find out about a Templestay, where you are supposed to live at the temple for a few days to really understand the monastic lifestyle. Our "helper" hadn't spoken English in a while, so it was an adventure to try to find out how to schedule one of these things. As I explained we were staying at Yonsei University, she exclaimed "BEYONCE?", to which I had to reply, "No, I don't know Beyonce." She got really flustered, started laughing, hit her computer monitor and almost broke it. Awesome. I kind of wanted to start the "Single Ladies" dance right there to make her feel better, but I may break that one out at Club Saab, the "gangster-rap" club of Seoul...if they can handle it.

Insadong is also known for their tea houses, so Pam and I decided to have a little snackie-poo around 3. The Shin Old Tea House looked more like a Korean Buca di Beppo, but it was fun sitting next to a cage of finches. The "Five-Taste Tea" was weird, sweet, and reminded me of Kool-Aid and Vitamin Water, but it's apparently very healthy so I drank it up. The tea "cakes" that came with it were also a bit on the strange side, as Pam described, "That green one tastes like seaweed wrapped in fat." Yum.

First Full Day

So I'm living in a dorm room, Mu-Ak Building 3A, Room 104, to be exact. Although I may be a college graduate, I apparently have to follow more rules than freshmen at Catholic colleges. We have curfew at 1am. If we are not in the building by that time, we get locked out until 5:30am. Also, no males are allowed in our room, ever. Not that I was planning on entertaining any gentlemen callers, but really? The air conditioning is currently being remodeled, so hopefully we will have an update by June 8th. But anyways, I'll get to the good stuff. My project partner, Pam, and I have to walk to the Yonsei University School of Nursing building every morning. Unfortunately, the Yonsei campus is not as compact as Johns Hopkins, nor as flat, so after a mile stroll through a forest, we arrive at our destination.

Since it's almost Finals Period here at Yonsei, no one has spoken to us. Well at least that's the excuse Pam and I are making up. Our whole floor is apparently filled with medical and dental students, but I've only seen one neighbor. The one nursing student who has offered to show us around can't speak English. I'm pretty sure Dr. Yoo, our PI, is going to have to bribe some of theses kids to hang out with us.

We also made our first trip out into Seoul, in the Sinchon district right outside the Yonsei gates. Nothing too exciting happened. Pam and I managed to order lunch with the little Korean "Arrested Development" taught us. I had to buy some toiletries, so we stopped in some type of Korean Rite Aid. Since I didn't want to buy expensive imported Colgate toothpaste, I went with Korean brand "Clinx", the Anti-Calculus variety. I have no idea what "Anti-Calculus" means in regards to toothpaste, but I agree with the statement, so I bought it. The paste actually doesn't taste that bad. We came back, exhausted from our trek back up the mountain that is between Sinchon and our dorms and took a mega-nap for four hours, or a "mini-coma" as Dane Cook would say. I woke up, ate some chips, then went back to bed.

Operation Avoid Airport Quarantine

As many of you may know, I contracted a bit of a cold a few days before I left Baltimore. Naturally, I was terrified that Korean authorities would assume that I would try to infect their population so I immediately began a regimen of vitamins and Tylenol Cold medicine. It didn't matter though because I was still sick when I boarded the plane. About halfway through the flight, we were handed "Health Questionnaire" sheets, asking us if we've had any of the following symptoms - runny nose, sore throat, coughing, and fever. When I first started to think about lying, I saw that the penalty for such acts resulted in a year in prison or some pretty hefty fine, so I checked two of the four, accepting my fate in the Incheon Airport quarantine.

After we de-planed, we were told to go to the Health Check station. As I was ready to vomit due to extreme nervousness about being locked in an aiport hospital for 2 weeks, some guy took my temperature, asked me if I just had those 2 symptoms, and passed me through, no problems at all.