liquor love... and a little history...

Drinking is a past time in Korea that is taken somewhat seriously. In average yearly alcohol consumption Korea ranked 12th in the world (using WHO 2005 data, I know it's old but it's the latest data). For most people that rank means nothing, but that position is higher than both England and France (and of course multitudes higher than the US and Canada). If you are more into pictures check out the graphic aid!. It doesn't fully demonstrate their rank, but it's got pretty colours!

While South Korea sits 12th in the world in total alcohol consumption it ranks first in the world In spirit consumption (Spirit: a strong alcoholic drink such as whiskey or vodka). While whiskey is becoming more popular in Korea, the most common, and most enjoyed spirit is soju. I've mentioned soju before, and even shipped some home for my parents, I figure I'll give a (somewhat) researched history of it. Soju dates back to the 13th century and the Mongol invasions of the country. The Mongols learned how to distil from the Persians, and introduced the concept to Korea upon their arrival. Traditionally soju was made from rice, but from 1965 to 1999 the Korean government prohibited soju to be made from rice due to national shortages. This forced soju manufacturers to switch from rice and start using other common starches, such as potatoes. While the ban was lifted in 1999, competition and price battles kept it more economically viable to keep producing it without the use of rice (more on that in the next paragraph).

Soju is often compared to vodka, they share the same clear form, and a bit of the taste, although soju does taste sweeter due to the fact that they add sugar. The alcohol content of soju usually ranges from 18.5% to 45% (where most vodka's are around the 40% mark, another difference). The varying alcohol ranges can be attributed to price. Instead of raising the prices of soju, manufacturers have started to lower the alcohol content. It's because of this practice that the government requires a minimum 40% level for all soju brewed using rice, thus keeping traditionally brewed soju, traditional. Producers of the drink are fine with this, and feel that they have created a new market for the drink with a lower alcohol level. The lower alcohol allows soju to be enjoyed on a broader scale, and lower alcohol content also allows for higher unit sales.

The leader of the Korean soju market is a company called Jinro. The company currently owns a 55% market share, and is the most popular brand in Seoul. It isn't the leader seller in other markets, as soju is often considered a regional drink, and different regions of the country prefer local brands. The competition is rather petty as Jinro owns a 58% market share. Believe it or not, Korea and soju are major players in the world spirit market.

The market share (58%), coupled with the Korean population (approx 48.8 million), and a first place ranking in spirit consumption allows Jinro to become the highest selling spirit brand in the world. It outsells all other spirit brands, such as Smirnoff, Jonnie Walker, and Bacardi in case sales. While the top rank in sales is a great title, Jinro fell on bad times and due to mismanagement in the 90's Jinro was sold to another major player in the Korean alcohol industry in 2006.

Beer is becoming more and more popular in Korean society, and a major player in that market is the Hite Brewery Company. The brand currently produces two of the most popular beers in the nation, Hite and Max are ranked #1 and #3 in sales. These two brands account for 55% of the market share. The portfolio of the Hite Brewery company is impressive, and leads to a literal monopoly of the alcohol industry in Korea. They own Jinro (58% market share in soju), Hite & Max (combining for 55% market share in beer).

The merger of these two companies took place in 2006, and that has since led to The Hite Brewery Company to produce the majority of the nations alcohol. While controlling one liquor industry is not unheard of, Anheuser Busch as an example, no other company in the world dominates both the beer market & the spirit market. Since the merge The Hite Brewery Company has continued to enjoy growth in both sectors, and Jinro has been the leading spirit brand in the world since it`s acquisition.

I have mixed feelings about The Hite Brewery Company. I quickly grew tired of Korean beer after I arrived in Seoul, although I`ve become much endowed with soju. While I`ve made a decent effort to stay away from their beer, my recent enjoyment of soju keeps me coming back. I wrote this post because I feel it`s interesting to know where things come from. I then found it extremely interesting to know that the Korean market is dominated by one producer, and yet price isn`t a concern. Prices for Hite, Max and Jinro are comparable to the other brands in the market, cheap, despite their clear dominance in the industry. I commend this action, and find yet another reason to thoroughly enjoy everything and anything Korean.

8760 hours pt. i

I walked into the lobby of a motel confused; I thought I was supposed to be taken to the apartment I would call home for the next year. Instead, I was in the lobby being greeted by my then to be, and now current, employer. She wasn’t alone; there were also two girls from Canada whose experience in Korea started only a few hours before mine. That night we were all smiles after a pitcher of beer, and a bottle of soju.

I never really got to know the two girls I met in the lobby that night. One of them would be fired from my school a week later in a now semi infamous potato chip heist. She would later find another job, but left that contract before Christmas. The other girl fell victim to a freak accident and broke her leg as she was celebrating her birthday. The slip also exposed the business side of Korean Hogwans, as she was viewed expendable and shown the door.

It was a sad ending to what started as a great beginning in Korea for those two. Yet I remain, and on the anniversary of my arrival I realize how much I’ve learned in 12 months. In memoriam I’m going to write a three post series as I prepare for my second 8760 hours (one year).

a correction

my grandparents were given an up to date printed copy of all the blog entries for Christmas (thanks Dad!). That led me to re-read some of my posts, and realize how my perception of this country has shifted. I called them the other day and my grandfather said to me “Sean, any Koreans reading those (blogs) might be unhappy that you imply they are all drunks”. Well, I’d like to change that.

My original posts  all seemed to originate from the same place, and rice beer is a helluva drug. I originally treated Korea as an extension of college, and thought the country was simply a giant party. I wrote about drunken Koreans and plastered weiguks, unaware and naïve to my surroundings. I had true friends openly tell me that three sober days in sixty means you have a problem. I shrugged them off and replied ‘Korea is all about drinking’. My rebuttal was easy because I only surrounded myself with people who drank; bearing witness to an alternative wasn’t clearly visible through the bottom of a shot glass.

I’m not saying that I regret that period of time; I had some great fun (I was smiling in the pictures I don’t fully remember). I was also fortunate to meet some amazing people, some stuck around and others I’ve unfortunately lost contact with. During that time I crafted a somewhat inaccurate view of Seoul to those who read my blog.

I wrote about consistently seeing drunken Koreans, and that was easy because I’m in Korea, much like you see Russians in Russia, and Canadians in Canada. You are also likely to be around drunken people if you are in fact drunk yourself. While Korea does have extremely lax drinking laws, you can purchase and consume alcohol anywhere at any time. I think a problem is encountered when you abuse that privilege. Just because you can drink on the subway doesn’t mean you always should, and for months I did.

While I wasn't completely inaccurate in some prior entries, it isn’t unusual to see stumbling Koreans on the sidewalk at any time of day. What I neglected to mention is that they were often engulfed and ignored by surefooted Koreans busy with their lives. Every culture is likely to have drinkers, and with Seoul having one of the largest and densest populations on the planet, coupled with a superb public transit system, they are going to be more visible here.

I mentioned previously in this post about being naïve to my surroundings, in the first six months I was. Reputation in Korea is very important, and weiguks have an awful one. I’m sure if there was data reporting the amount of alcohol abuse in Korea (on a per capita basis), weiguks could easily outnumber any ethnicity in the country. That is our famous reputation, as drunks, and I perpetuated that for most of my beginning months in the country. Most foreign teachers are in their twenties and the prime demographic to alcohol producers around the world.

It was a lot easier to see that Seoul was a vibrant city when I wasn’t wandering dark lit streets. This city is brilliant, and there are far more activities than power drinking. I don’t want to be taken wrong here though! I’m not denouncing drinking, or those who drink, as I’ve actively searched out micro brews in Seoul (a post co-written with Corwin is in the works). I just wanted to set a record straight that I spent months wrongfully reporting. I am a part of a demographic in Korea that abuses alcohol more often than Koreans.

a year in pictures (pt.I)

I've gone through and selected several photos that span my first year in Korea. I kind of feel bad because I haven't added and to FB.

February: Shortly after I arrived Canada won gold. The game started at 5am in Seoul, Gillian and I stayed up all night and shortly after 8am Canada won. This photo was taken shortly after they won Gold.  Read my post about the Gold Medal Game.






April:  Yeonshinae is a place full of lights, cafe's, restaurants and litter (Above). It is a place I've learned to love since arriving. 



These trees @ Namsan Tower in central Seoul are covered with cherry blossoms (Right). Koreans flock to see, and photograph these trees. It looked similar to mornings after icefog, except it's warm out, and there are bees everywhere.

May: Biking in Yeouido (Above right), and Baseball @ Jamsil stadium (Above). May had the best weather by far. I really wished that weather had lasted longer.

For Buddha's Birthday a group of us ventured down to Sokcho. Corwin was shaking off the sand (Right), and I was shooting fireworks from the hip (Below). Read my Buddha's Birthday blog.


 












May: One of my first adventures into the world of coffee (Above). I admire the handywork, and perhaps this was the start of a small love affair. 

 

June: The police guarding a train station after Korea beat Greece 2-1

June: Korea went crazy during the World Cup. Several thousand spectators would show up to watch the games @ City Hall Plaza. The screens were huge, the fans were loud, and sitting. Read my blog series about the World Cup.

June: I'd never seen a proper horse race until I went to Seoul Racehorse park (pictured above). I planned a day around horse races and perogies. When we arrived @ Happidus in Anyang, they were sold out. read about potato mandu.




July: I was supposed to get perogies one afternoon when I was playing beach volleyball. Instead I ended up in hospital, and my doctor snapped this shot of me (Above) moments after my knee was put in place. Read about the hospital.

I finally got perogies two weeks later, and honestly they were amazing (Left). I wouldn't say worth it, because I'd trade the ability to run over food anyday.

...when i grow older... (i will act younger)... just like a wavin flag... (pt II)

The amount of national pride for soccer here makes me miss Canada. I had to live vicariously through second hand reports what the nation was like after Olympic Gold. That moment doesn’t last very long, as much as I love Canada, I love what I am doing here. Anywho, back to soccer, the hopes and tension in Korea is pretty awesome to behold. Let me say that i’m not naïve, I’m aware that Korea is not very likely to win the World Cup. Yet that single victory brought about a wave of jubilation like I’ve never seen before in this country, or any since Canada won Olympic Gold in 2004.

A couple of my kids are really caught up in the tournament. I am treated to a daily update in my Reach Out class, Nathan knows just about everything there is to know about the World Cup. I swear he even knows the vegas line on all the games. Every class on monday i entered was chatting about the World Cup, it didn't matter the age, or the english ability. Park Ji-Sung is the same in english..haha...Parents are dressing their kids up in Korean Football gear left right and center. It’s not unusual to spot a red jersey flying through the halls of the school (there are signs that say no running, most of the kids aren’t tall enough to see them. Let alone read them).

I guess I really shouldn’t be that surprised that the kids are caught up in the tournament. At night every Korean seems to be glued to anything broadcasting the games. It doesn’t matter who is playing, Koreans are watching (I was walking around last night and passed a group of 6 men watching a game on their cell phones). I wonder if they cheer against North Korea. Do ya think they hate the North Korean football team like I hate the Vancouver Canucks? The adults that are glued to the TVs are quite like children themselves. I’ve mentioned before that Korean’s like to drink. My time at City Hall on saturday was another fine example of this. I don’t believe there was a sober person near the venue. They say drinking alcohol makes you act like a child, it reduces you an infant like state. So my 12 yr old bookie student Nathan is probably acting the same age as most of the inebriated adults. I should ask him what england's chances are this year...

Well tonight is the second game (Korea vs. Argentina), and I’m stuck at work till 9. The game starts at 8.30. So I’m pretty choked that I can’t go to city hall like I was able to for their first game. Instead I am going to hit up Yeonshinae and attempt to see the second half, without the pomp and ceremony the morning teachers will enjoy at City Hall.

Anywho.. I had a couple of my kids write stories about watching the first game of the world Cup. I’ll include Amy’s story, in all its unedited glory!

I just see world cup. There is Greece and Korea do soccer. When one Korea soccer player corner kick Jung-Su-Lee shout the ball so we had one goal. And the onthor time, when Jee-Song-Park run a bal. Jee-Song-Park shout the ball so we can had a two goal. So we can win! I felt very excited.

...just like a wavin flag... (pt I)

South Korea 2 Greece 0

Back in February I was cheering on Canada cramped up against the ceiling of RMT in itaewon. I cheered my little heart out as we won, why? There is just something about international competition. Nationalism peaks at these points and it’s always something that you remember.

Well, it’s World Cup time. Although I can’t drape myself in the red maple leaf, I can witness another countries obsession with a sport. Thankfully I didn’t have to witness it cramped in a tiny bar. I headed to Seoul Plaza @ City Hall in Seoul. I was forced to meet my friends at city hall, finding them was not easy. The subway station was packed with fans, and vendors hocking all types of garb and noisemakers. The crowd was monitored by the police who blocked me at several subway exits. I was forced to walk the streets to gain my access to city hall. I honestly didn’t think I would find my friends amidst the people. I was frustrated and wet, although I was quickly lifted by the crowd.

The atmosphere was electric. The cheers and chants went on despite the rain that steadily fell. Most people wore body condoms to keep the rain off their clothes; I didn’t make the same purchase and held my umbrella up occasionally. That’s right the giant weigook held up an umbrella to further prevent the tiny Koreans from seeing the screens. I’m a horrible person, I know, at least the umbrella was see through. The Koreans would wave red inflated noisemakers and inflated hands to the rythems of the cheers. As the night wore on, and darkness fell, the crowd transformed into a sea of glowing red horns. These cheap LED lights were everywhere, and they were cheap $2. I paid $10 when i saw AC/DC.

The game itself was intense; the fans never seemed to stop cheering. The few moments of silence were quickly interrupted when some Korean over the loudspeakers started up another cheer. I didn’t think that Korea would score. Yet I knew if they did this place would go nuts, and when Korea did score, boy was i right. The picture of me chugging Hite was actually take moments before Ji Sung Park scored Korea’s second goal (you can see my eyes on the screen, not on the camera). The crowd went insane in the moments after that picture, people jumped up and down screaming for a couple minutes solid. Ji Sung Park is a Korean hero. He is the most famous Korean footballer, he plays midfield for Manchester United, and every time the he was shown on the screens the crowd would chant his name.

One of my friends was able to secure a two four of Hite beer in tall cans. We proceeded to drink along with the other Koreans that surrounded us. By the end of the game I’d say most of the people were drunk, but at the very least they were high after their nation’s victory. The crowd after the game was amazing. I spent the last 20 minutes of the game silently suffering, because I had to go pee (eerily similar to the other time I mentioned peeing in my blog, what’s wrong with me??). Anywho, I wasn’t going to miss the final whistle for anything, let alone my bladders pleas for release. After the game I quickly made my way to the bathroom. I knew the crowd in Seoul Plaza was huge, yet it was in my efforts to reach the bathroom that I realized that there were people everywhere, and not just in the plaza. The mass of people spread outward around the plaza.

"Back in South Korea, where nearly one million people watched the game at public gatherings, a busy Seoul boulevard turned into a sea of red with screams of joy reverberating among the tall buildings. Strangers hugged each other in elation and jumped in unison." TSN article..

I have been I Korea for 4 months now, and I have never seen Koreans like this. This is not the Korea i'm used to. They are usually drunk, yes this is normal! but they are quiet drunks. Saturday night the streets were filled with Korean’s loudly cheering and chanting. It was awesome to witness. That game was something that I’m not likely to forget. Their next game is Thursday night at 8.30. I work till 9 and will not be able to be at City Hall, I will however try to get to World Cup stadium to catch the second half. If they make it through to the round of 16 that would truly be something to witness.

twenty 5 all year..

For some reason i got it into my head that 25 is a big birthday. i have no idea why, but this concept that 25 is a major birthday hit me at some point when i was 24. It wasn't for partying reasons (for the most part i was tame when i was 24).. or any reason that would land me a better present from people. Although geiko is lowering my car insurance for the car i no longer possess without actually even switching to them!

In fact is that i'm not even a huge birthday person. Last year my birthday was small, and besides a whale sighting, really low key. I'm not huge on having the spotlight solely on me, hard to believe for some, but i can be pretty humble. Yet i still had this idea that 25 should be big.

Many ideas were tossed around in the weeks leading up to my birthday. I wanted to go somewhere new, at an area of seoul i'd never ventured to before. This place called Monkey Beach seemed to be the right fit. It's a thai beach themed bar in Apgujung, complete with buckets of booze. I figured why not, whats the harm, i said that compeletly dismissing the horror stories i'd heard about the place.

The weekend started extremely odd. Gillian, perhaps one of my best friends in korea, was sidelined with a random attack of bladder stones. I celebrated my birthday on the 10th, the day happened to be a saturday, NOT my actual birthday. I really don't know why i included that in here, i mean it only makes sense, why party on a sunday when you can party harder on a saturday. Yet a co-worker told me you can't party on a day thats not your actual birthday (i think it was an excuse not to come out, they didn't). The way it was mentioned to me though, like its an asinine concept, partying on a day thats not your birthday, i mean in that case you could invent make up birthday party days, like everyone getting older on new years, shit like that. OH......wait the koreans do that, (i am really starting to wonder how i didn't know they drink a lot here??) Even jesus is always born on the same day! he just dies on different days every year..

off topic i know, ANYWHO. The night progressed pretty swimgingly at first. i was dancing on tables, it was the first time i'd had rum since entering Korea. I really miss rum, its my power drink, if you can have a power animal i figure you can have a power drink. There was even this special dance stand, yeah i went up i danced my heart out up there. i felt like a glorified chip and dale's dancer, minus the whole no shirt thing, but either or. i was getting looks, i considered them 'good' looks because neither buckets nor bottles were thrown in their wake.

The night took a quick turn for the worse, i ended up feeling sick and was forced to retreat to an alley near the bar. I spent a while out there, i was seriously contemplating ditching my own birthday party. When i returned to the bar, i returned to chaos. One of the girls' jacket and purse was missing. Really messed up. The purse and jacket were never found. The night of celebration quickly became a night of terror!.. haha.. okay it wasn't halloween, but i felt sick, like a piece of shit, and sparta was out a purse full of belongings and her jacket.

it really led me to the reason i'm posting this. The following day, my actual birthday. I spent most of my day alone, i went for pizza with tex. But my overwhelming thought was that i'll be 25 all year. Although i was quite pissed that my night seemed to be stolen from me, similar to the purse and jacked that grew legs and walked away. But one day is simply that, i'll be 25 all year, and i will be spending most of that year in korea. I have the ability to make anything big myself, i don't need the den of theives to make my night/day. perhaps 25 is my year of philosophy.. wait.. who am i kidding...

return if seal is broken..

When the preschool kids show up for their first day at SLP their parents have to supply the school with a spare change of clothes. This is for numerous reasons, what if the kid gets dirty? or, well, who am i kidding. The change of clothes is in case of 'accidents', either the kid shits or pisses himself. The morning teachers do not change the kids, the kids are ferried off to the kitchen teachers who have mastered the art of poop and pee cleanup. I think this is a smart concept, although i don't think i was ever sent to daycare with an extra change of clothes. This would kind of be interesting to know (mom & dad), perhaps a cultural difference? If i'm aware there is a change of clothes would i be more or less likely to defile myself??.. since i was not aware, i am going to safely assume i was an angel*

The trains in Seoul run on very interesting schedules. They are open longer during the week than they are during the weekend. Its an interesting debate, although not one i overly care about. I more or less want to get home at a respectable hour during the week without dishing out money for a cab. Tuesday nights are wing night in korea, well at Rocky Mountain Tavern (the Canadian Bar).. i can leave work at 9, be in Itaewan by 9.40.. if i want to make it home on the train i have to leave within two hours. (11.40 for those of you who have difficulties or, don't want to add). 11.50 is pretty much the last train home for me, i miss it, i'm cabbing it..

Last tuesday my schedule basically looked like that. i popped into Itaewan for a quick in and out, wings and beer. Well everything was fine until the train station on the way back. (this is where i start to link my two thoughts!). As we are all standing on the train platform i start to have this urge to pee. I figure at this point i can handle it, its nothing. I did however debate whether or not i could quickly go and make the last train. I decided against it. Well trains aren't the smoothest form of transport, you hit every light, you don't miss stations. there is no quick sneaky route home to avoid the usual traffic congestion. About 20 minutes into the trip home i was totally uncomfortable. Things were not looking good, i started to get cramps, yes physical pain started to manifest. This started to occur at the halfway point, i was still nowhere near home.

By the time i'd reached 30 minutes, i was extremely uncomfortable, at this point i had let it slip to my coworkers that i was struggling. The quick stops and starts of the train felt like tiny kidney shots. I didn't even want to do the pee dance, that would have opened the floodgates. i was trying to focus, pull some jedi mind tricks or something. About 4 stops from Gusan i couldn't handle it anymore. I was done, i was about 7 minutes from home, SO close. I couldn't do it.. i hastily said my goodbyes to my coworkers, and bolted off the train. Okay i did not bolt, that sudden of a movement would have caused me to require a spare set of clothes. I can simply describe my walk with a childhood game.. Remember that game where you walked with an egg on a spoon. the whole point NOT to tip the egg off the spoon.. think of that kind of concentration mixed with a penguin shuffle. That about sums up my abilities at the time..

i finally made it to the bathroom.. they are quite easily marked in the subway stations. The signs even have distances to the bathroom, 50m, 20m, and so on. This is both a good and bad thing, because when you know the bathroom is close, your body relaxes a tiny bit (and that tiny bit is usually the straw that breaks the camel's back). I've always come the closest to shitting my pants in my own house cause i know how close the toilet is. Because i had nothing better to do, i timed my piss.. i peed for over a minute straight. i'm talking full stream, for over a minute.. thats seriously fucked up, i didn't know i could hold that amount of liquid.. i am not a camel...

I ended up taking a cab the rest of the way home.. i felt like it was some sort of walk of shame... i mean i had to get something out of my system.. i was returning to my apartment with a sheepish grin on my face.. actually in that regards it wouldn't be a walk of shame.. it would be a victory lap.. complete with the 'yeah i did it' swagger..

Everyone knows that when you break the seal you're fucked.. you will pee every half hour for the rest of the night.. my problem is that peed when i got off the airplane two months ago... i just wonder who will carry my spare set of clothes for me the day i don't make it.. i'd kind of be afriad if a kitchen teacher shows up at that moment..

a smashing good time..

Saturday was a a strange day for me.. i pulled an all nighter on friday, perhaps not the smartest choice.. but hey i'm not perfect.. i figured the best solution to cure this tired state was to simply drink more.. i somehow thought going out on saturday night would be a good idea.. i started off by chugging soju before i met the girls in itaewan..

the night was actually going quite well until the last bar we went to.. we ended up at homo hill again.. the same couple that dragged us there last time are leaving in the next couple weeks so for their last hurrah it fit.. when we arrived in the bar we were greated.. well not so much greated with but there was two girls passed out in the boothlike benches that lined the front of the bar.. one of these girls would wake up to leave and upchuck on my coat.. after that occured i decided to step outside for some fresh air.

when i was outside i heard some yelling coming from behind me.. it was some guy yelling at two gay men making out about 30 or so feet behind me.. he was spewing out religious jargon.. his favourite sentence was 'you are an abomination to the lord jesus christ'.. anywho this man was being pulled away by an indian girl with whom i believe i had talked to in the bar earlier that night.. i was looking at her trying to figure out if she was the girl i was talking to.. well the crew cut individual turned his attention to me.. (the crew cut is the fashionable hair choice for the military..in case you didn't know.. wow. okay i didn't mean to insult anyone's intelligence).. story.. um.. so the marine dude turned his rantings to yours truly.. i yelled back 'buddy i'm straight.. shut up'.. he kept ranting.. at this point he had ventured about 60 feet and stood around 30 feet up hill from me.. there were two gay couples at the top of the hill whom i believe were taunting him..

at this point he grabbed another one of his friends beer bottles.. looked back at me.. and let er fly.. i was leaning against a wall, and well i should congratulate the guy he had pretty good aim, the bottle grazed my left hip and smashed on the wall beside me..there were many problems with this scenario... first! why the fuck did he throw it at me.. the people egging him on were in front of him!... not behind.. and why look at me.. i guess i was the closest one to him.. but even still.. NEEDLESS to say i was pretty pissed off.. as he walked away he continued to yell that i and the people around me were abominations of the lord jesus christ.. the night ended there and then.. i got outta dodge.. i was seriously at a loss for words.. and shaked with adrenaline or something the rest of the night..

...at this point i can't really say i'm too impressed with the military in seoul.. i've likened them to condoms.. noone really likes using them.. yet we need their protection.. because no coat hanger could remove north korea...

A Lesson Learned

February 22 (Part 2)

This is a very strange country, i swear there is no crime. Basically every corner store has chips and fruit lining the street in front, and i have yet to see a person watching this product. I have also walked past several speakers with IPod's just laying around them.. completely unguarded.. Cell phone stores have their demo phones sitting in the streets.. I find this really strange. i mean i had to hide the change in my jeep for fear of people smashing the window to get in. Yet here they leave valuable's just.. well just out there..

let's take a second to flash back to the staff part on friday night. Alex and Cate are two girls who came out from ontario (They were the girls that i partied with my first two nights in this country, and with whom i'd visited my first noreabang).. The Director of SLP had put bottles of Jack Daniels, Tequilla, and Vodka on the table at the bar we went to.. Alex took full advantage of the offering, as did we all!!.. although Alex probably more than most couldn't stop gorging.. she was loser drunk early in the night.. Kate had to take her home sometime around midnight..

Well apparently, Alex decided to take advantage of the food hanging out and about in front of a store.. The rumour mill pegs it that she took a bag of chips.. although it doesn't really matter what it was. because Alex decided to test the 'no crime' mentality and well.. the koreans put the food out front of their stores, along with CCTV cameras.. so much for 'no crime' in korea! The store owner caught Alex on camera taking the chips (a purchase around $1)...

Some other information...There aren't that many hogwan schools around this area... that is code for ' NOT MANY WHITIES '...so we are easy to track down.. and the store owner took the film to the director of the school, she confirmed it was Alex... she showed the film to Alex, and promptly fired her on the spot.. Had Alex taken the chips in any other community.. itaewon for example (see previous post about itaewan if you're confused)... this would not be the end result. it would just be a stupid drunk action...

This occurred about two hours after we returned from our health check..Right about the time i was starting to feel good again.. i couldn't believe the news.. seriously.. ALL that planning.. ALL those months of work. GONE.. over a bag of chips.. i sat in my tiny desk, in my tiny chair with this huge cloud looming over.. i couldn't believe it.. i silently wished my hangover back.. in fact i would have given anything to have gone back to sunday non-funday.. it felt like a changing moment, it didn't directly involve me, i barely knew this girl. yet i had ban privy to the stories of hope and excitement those first nights... it leaves me terrified about the results of my health check...for the rest of the day i was left with an uneasy feeling.. i tried to go out that night but ended up getting lost, frustrated i returned to the 'love' motel and slept..

Day & Night

February 21

i got to see both sides of the foreigner area of Seoul on Saturday night (itaewan).. i originally went for a walk there in the afternoon.. it is about a 40 minute subway ride from where i live in Gusan, but at least it's on the same subway line.

once i arrived in Itaewan it almost a game of spot the Korean (instead of the usual spot the whitey).. there were so many foreigners in that part of the city.. i quite literally felt like i was back in some random north American city.. although the Korean flags flying from every street light provided me with a constant reminder to where i really was.. i have to honestly say that i wasn't that impressed with the area.. i mean seriously i didn't really come to Korea just to find places that remind me of home.. while it is nice that i know where the spot is.. but i currently love the forced change i have imposed on my life. so i loosely explored the area, only half heartedly admiring my surroundings.. i quickly and quietly escaped back to my Asian adventure within a couple of hours..

I did return to Itaewan that night however, while i was sitting in McDonalds jacking free wifi, two of the SLP teachers saw me in the window and came upstairs. It didn't take them much to convince me to come out with them, kind of like offering a fat kid a donut.. i graciously accepted...

the night was good.. the night was long.. the night had many highlights and lowlights....including being pantsed in a gay bar... some random slipped his hands in my belt loops and tugged.. NOT my idea of a good time.. mostly the bars reminded me of Lethbridge, packed with twenty somethings, and a university vibe... although far too many crew cuts...stupid military....

Sunday would not live up to its hype of 'Sunday Funday' i was completely out of it.. i sat and watched/fell asleep to a couple hours of the Olympics and like 5 episodes of NCIS7.. i eventually made my way home to fall asleep to Transformers.. although sunday was still 'fabulous' for exactly those reasons...up to that point i had yet to watch korean TV..

Dawn 808

February 20

i swear this is not a paid advertisement.. but it seriously should be...

after the entire staff of Eunpyeung SLP was treated to dinner at a korean BBQ.. one of the new afternoon korean teachers, ine, asked me if i was going to continue drinking.. i said yes.. and she suggested i try this hangover prevention drink called Dawn 808.. although i was extremely hesitant i agreed (the cost of the drink was 5000wan.. about 5 bucks.. and here, thats a lot of money).. my natural response is to call bullshit when presented with such an asinine proposition..but i was tempted.. SO there i was buying a can of Dawn 808. the can was roughly half the size of a red bull.. accompanying the korean symbols were two phrases in english 'Dawn 808' and 'hangover solution'.. i was instructed that you are supposed to drink the stuff before or while you drink...

the taste?... Dawn 808 doesn't taste good, or bad...it just tastes weird.. my thought.. like drinking liquid raisons... after i finished the drink i returned to the bar...got annihilated.. (i fell between two parked cars on my walk home)... basically, i feared the morning..

however, the next morning.. wait!..who am i kidding.. it was two o'clock the next afternoon, before i rolled over.. haha..anywho.. i slowly raised my head.. you know the cautious raise while you are waiting for your head to throb and remind you that you are a dumbass.. well guess what.. Dawn 808 worked!!!.. i had no hangover.. NOTHING.. no headache.. no 'fog'.. my body hurt a little.. but i was out till 6am and danced for most of the night.. nothing unexpected as far as aches and pains go.. but there was no mental anguish.. seriously!! Dawn 808 works..


worry not people!!.. i've been told that you can pick it up in North America.. try some asian supermarkets and let me know..

Beer On

February 19th

.. Beer-On.. a little bar cleverly tucked away on the second floor of a building in yaen chi nae.. the bar boasts several couches, an electronic dart board, and a pool table...the pool table is the exact replica of the one i desire to own.. leather drop pockets, classic green felt, and a simple wood design with ornately carved legs.. wait.. did i just fantasize about a pool table??.. fuck.. um.. yeah.. let's just say the place is great, and that i drank a tad.. finally the true reason for the entry can be revealed.. and no, it wasn't the pool table..

the next morning i woke up to the joyful sound of my alarm.. my head was pleasantly throbbing along to the shriek of the alarm.. as i lifted my head off the pillow, i realized the pillow tried to follow me.. my first thought?.. wtf is on this pillow? i quickly felt my face to feel for the residue...that residue turned out to be the blood from a tiny gash on my right cheek.. the blood had dried to the pillow over the course of the night.. while i was raking my mind as to why i was cut.. i rolled over into a pile of french fries left on my bed.. two questions arise?

first.. the cheek.. as i got home from the bar i must have headed directly for the bathroom.. then proceeded to ditch my clothes there (all my clothes were scattered on the floor there when i woke up)i don't remember that, but i do remember my attempted exit.. i didn't realize the door was not fully open.. and WHACK, SLAM, BANG (or any other 1960's batman shout out you fancy).. the edge of the door struck my face.. i went ass over tea-kettle and joined my clothes on the floor.. i didn't know at that time the door had cut me during the process.. i think i crawled from the bathroom to my bed..

second.. the french fries...the french fries were actually a pretty easy one to figure out.. i quickly remembered that jill and i had picked up the fries after Beer On... they make amazing drunk food!... i think my uneaten fries were remnants of the blow to the head.. i mean i could make an extravagant back story.. something along the lines of alice in wonderland, but i think the blow to the head coupled with the booze knocked my ass out.. now i'm not saying i got my ass kicked by the door.. but there are these moments where you are vulnerable, and the right move at the right second creates a perfect storm.. like the perfect time to start a tickle war.. that moment when you know you've got the upper hand, when you're prey is lulled into a false sense of security.. random analogy?? not really...

although i have no idea how the fries got to my bed...

Korea

Korea

written..february 15th..sorry for the delay..

usually i write something with a little more of a narrative flare to it... although today i just kind of feel like throwing facts at you. i guess that is what jet-lagged people do.. we don't like to pussy foot around.. because at this point i'd simply like to spew out facts like a bulimic would food in a bathroom....

1. no sleep on the airplane really pissed me off.. i could not get comfortable.. i watched 4 movies, countless tv shows, and sat in envy of guy in front of me sprawled across two seats.. lucky bastard..

2. Minivan's can reach speeds in excess of 170km/hr.. i wore my seatbelt and wondered if i should cheer on the driver, or scream out directions in case i was actually in a rally car race..

3. i was teased with the thought of sleeping when i reached my motel, instead i was whisked away to dinner with michelle kim (my new boss) kate, and alex (two new co-workers). after dinner i ensured a good proper sleep by getting drunk with my new co-workers (my boss went home after dinner).

4. booze is cheap in asia.. a fact i forgot.. a giant pitcher of beer for eleven bucks... also a bottle of soju (a korean equivalent to vodka) for three bucks.. although one should not confuse these with premium drinks on any accord.. they are simply a means to an end..

5. completed my first ever solo karaoke...my first song.. goodbye yellow brick road.. for some of you, you will know the significance of that choice.. for others, you can just know it's just a great song.. we asked the waitress if we were any good.. with a stone cold expression on her face she replied "no".... i appreciated the honesty..

6. two of my three nights in korea.. i have succesfully gotten drunk...

7. for every meal except for one, i have had no fucking clue what i was ordering.. all have been delicious, all menu's entirely in korean...except for one.. mcdonalds.