A Cheosuk Weekend That is Hard to Remember, but One I Will Never Forget

Since last I wrote and you read I have experienced my 1st Cheosuk (Korean Thanksgiving). My kids said that it is suppose to be a time spent with family, celebrating your heritage, and grandparents give you money. Yeaaaaaa mine was spent traveling the country side with a never ending hangover spending money. But I'm okay with that because it was a wild trip that was right in my wheelhouse. So after my last class on Thursday we get gifts from the school president and what was it you ask......A nice bottle of Cab Sav from Cali with a corkscrew. She obviously knows we like to party. So from there I get back to my apt. get a Super Club from Kate's sandwich shop downstairs (very crucial), got in a couple swigs of Makers and it was off to the magical world of Hyundai. But first I had to stop off and do some pregaming at the Family Mart with some soju and beer. Now we're off to Hyundai where I hopping around and next thing I know I'm dancing on a stage pumping up the crowd, and then waking up on my couch with a McDonald's bag full of empty wrappers and Sunny Blast 10 which I believe is their version of OJ, but its carbonated.

So I totally missed meeting up with the new teachers Friday morning to go to the beach in Sokcho. Luckily  the other teachers had not left as they were just as incapacitated as I and I got up with them to catch the subway (I have gotten a cell since the last blog and had missed many texts from the new teachers because I was out like a light). Sleeping all day did not cure my ills and I was feeling terrible riding the subway face pale, but clutching my gatorade which brought me back to life once I could find a seat on the subway. I did realize one thing while riding and that is drunk Asian people are hilarious. They are loud, struggling to hold each other up, just straight plastered and it is accepted. But I digress. We went halfway to Sokcho which in comparison is like we left LA, stayed in St. Louis, and were heading to NYC tomorrow. Well you know we couldn't just stay in. We had to explore. We tried to get into nightclubs which I found out are like clubs in Vegas where you buy a bottle and the owner brings girls to you. But alas this was a small town with limited nightlife and when did find a nightclub they did not let us in so we decided to hit up a nori-bang which is karaoke in a sound booth. I'm finding out you gotta have no shame in your game in Korea so after a few songs I took the mic and took it old school with the Limp Bizkit classic Nookie (Mind you we decided to do this at 3am and said we would only stay for an hour which ended up being two hours). As the sun was rising it was time to hit the floor, literally. As I have come to find out most hotels had a bed but some did not and you slept on the floor with blankets which wasn't too bad.

As we overstayed our welcome and were running out the back door from the people at the front desk we were off again attempting to catch a bus to the beach in Sokcho. Unfortunately the bus did not leave until 8pm so one of the teachers haggled a deal to get us all cabs. We were 90 miles away but they said it would be $100 and they would knock off $20. Something must have changed because it was pouring rain when it wasn't suppose to and now it was $50 a person for the cab ride. This inexpensive trip had now reached a whole other level. But we made it and met with the new teachers and the adventure continued aside from the gullywasher. We shacked up in a nice pink motel, got fresh, and it was off again. I had my first experience with raw fish and even more shocking I am now able to use chopsticks.....hold your applause. Okay you don't have to. After many sojus and beers I thought it would be a good idea to walk around with some aviators and rose in my hair (remember no shame). It was back to the hotel to pregame with some Johnnie Walker and off to roam the streets of Sokcho where I ended up discovering the ingenius game of Danger Can which is a game played in public back home you would more than likely would be swept off to the paddy wagon, but here totally acceptable and harmlessly humorous. And then we ended where after that you ask.....ah yes another nori-bang. After singing a glorious rendition of Dick in a Box it was time to hit the beach. And hit the beach I did. The East Sea met the great west legend of Sir BBFC. After conquering the mighty sea I proceeded to dry off next to the boardwalk body shimmering under a lampost where all my Great White Wally glory was on display for all of Sokcho to see. Once dry I spent the remainder of the morning discussing, rather yelling, about the advantage of having a sweeper rather than having a flat back four in soccer so as to not put the game in the hands of the referee in soccer. My debate opponent was another teacher who is from London and was not seeing my side at all. Ah yes there might have been more outrageous shenanigans drinking outside the Family Mart, but they do not involve me so I will not incriminate anyone other than myself. So after a few beverages outside family mart and grubbing on some duck pogi (sp) it was once again time to hit the floor. Sunday morning, or maybe it was afternoon, became especially rough on the body. Our group got smaller  but the remainder of us trudged on to the next town one step closer to Seorksan. Once again we got the hotel, found a restaurant with some Korean bbq, excellent by the way. After dinner we hit the streets in search of good times and night clubs. We ended up at a bar and from there I can tell you no further as I was told I passed out sitting up with perfect posture. One of our crew was kind enough to direct me back to the hotel. I woke up telling everyone I got roofie coloda, but I think my body was just telling me it had had enough. So it is now Monday morning and we are finally going to take the great mountain of Seorksan. People who know me know I'm not much a hiker, and with a hangover, and sprained ankle I realized this was not going to happen. So I found a nice serene place that was absolutely gorgeous where you could only see the tops of the mountains poking through the clouds. I let the rest of the group go on and I just took time to think back as it was just the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and I remember walking  back from religion class at Radford having only been there for like 6 weeks just in shock glued to my TV and now I am sitting on a mountain in Korea. Its crazy to think how far and how much has changed. So once I heard English again I knew my crew had returned and it was time to get back to Seoul. While walking down the mountain I was being stared by children with mouths opened wide. One in particular froze and pointed at me. All of sudden he said ''Tiger'' and his Dad shoo'ed him up the mountain. So after eating a tasty corn dog and mountain for a bus to come being waved constantly a bus arrived and then broke down 5 minutes later. We caught another bus, to subways, and then cabs making it back to the wonderful Hyundai World Tower. It was weirder to think but even weirder to say when I got there that I was home. I guess things are beginning to sink in. It feels weird as the teachers talk about there fantasy football teams and looked up college football scores I began to become homesick hearing the ECU VT score and thinking about being in Greenville with all my friends and now I'm on the other side of the world. And then hearing my Niners won their 1st game, the Tigers are the hottest team in baseball, and the Noles are about to take it to the Sooners this....Sunday morning. I hope everyone is doing well at home. Until next time, hugs and hand pounds all around.

Wally

This Isn't Where I Parked My Car?!

So yeah I did it! I am teaching English in Seoul. Its crazy to think a week ago my Tuesday didn't exist (damn international dateline) and now I'm knee deep in teaching. It didn't even cross my mind that it was Labor Day weekend. Having no internet, cable, or cell phone has really made me feel disconnected not only to everyone back home but even to people here (and very homesick at times). I feel so out of place at times and I easily slip into that, ''What the fuck did I get myself into!'' feeling, but I realize this is what I wanted so I need to just suck it up and focus on one little thing at a time. The teachers have been really supportive taking me out and showing me the ropes. I definitely made an impression from the first day (I know that no one is surprised) as I was completely jet lagged and it was everyone's mission to keep me awake dragging me around downtown Seoul. All I needed was some soju at dinner and the tangents and one liners were flying. Luckily they don't know alot of the material is recycled, haha. Its so different over here but yet its the same. Its a huge city, but you have to learn to get around just like everywhere else and now I have as of yesterday. Not feeling like I'm locked up in my apartment definitely is a confidence booster. I think the teachers have figured out I like to party so they have come knocking on my door to hit up a soju tent in the middle of the night. Who needs to sleep when you don't go into work until 2:00pm?! Doesn't matter that I was sleeping. I threw on a shirt, some flip flops, and I was good to go. Working in the afternoon and evenings there's no real need for an alarm.

The kids here are just as precocious as back in the states running around like crazy and I have to lay the rules down on them (no therapeutic restraints needed). There's a lot of pressure to get everything in and for now I'm definitely struggling to fit in all the material. But that will change with time. Adjusting the new culture and my surroundings will ease the stress making it easier for me to excel here, but I can say I do miss my at-risk youth back in the Noke.

My 1st weekend was interesting. I don't get out of class until 9:30pm Friday and went straight out to an area called Hyundai. Its pretty much anything goes drinking on the streets, fire breathers, just wandering in to bars and clubs. Some playing old 90's music and others breaking out some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle techno. Needless to say I woke @ 1:30pm Saturday with a Gatorade next to me and a random wrapper in my pocket. Don't know what I ate, but I'm sure it was good. The food is good here and even though I can't use chopsticks that does not stop me from throwing it back.

Korean Thanksgiving is coming up this weekend which means a 5 day weekend! It looks as though I'll be hiking the 3rd highest mountain in Korea and then hitting up a beach on the other side partyin' down for the weekend. Its so crazy to think that college football is going on and I have no idea what is going on and I am missing out on all the tailgating. I'm in my own little bubble over here and even writing this blog or catching up with everyone on Facebook it doesn't feel the same. I miss everyone so much, but at the same time this is a great experience that I feel more confident about each day. Luckily one of the teachers has the NFL ticket so I can stay abreast with one sport atleast.

So yeah I know this might not be the most thrilling blog, but its a start. As of now I don't have a camera, but once I register with the Korean immigration I can get the internet and cell and I'll get the pics flowing. My apartment is on the corner and I have two incredible views of the city (especially at night). I can see the Olympic soccer stadium where the 2002 World Cup final happened.  So until next time hugs and hands pound all around!

Wally