Well Wally fans since your last reading things have continued to just get better and better here in good 'ol Seoul. Your boy, as of a couple weeks ago, was getting incredibly homesick as I felt as I had plateaued on my progress here. But I can safely say that is certainly not the case any longer (as if you couldn't already tell from my pics, haha). I have partyied until the break of dawn on more than one occasion this weekend alone. Gotta love 4 day weekends based on mythical half bear/gods forming a nation. Give it up for Foundation Day! But I digress....So a couple weekends ago we decide to go to the wonderful world of Hongdae (I misspelled this in the last post. I live in the Hyundai World Tower, but choom in Hongdae). We proceed to hit the dance floor at Bar Zen. Once they finally stop playing K-Pop it was all good rap from old West Coast to today. It is so funny watching Koreans get so hyped for a song and then not know the words. The Stanky Leg and Cupid Shuffle came on and I was trying to do the dance, but they just didn't know. After becoming frustrated with that side of the bar we moved on over to the other side got a table and bought of bottle of Crown (Yeah Mike Lawler. I am getting on your level). As I'm bumping into everything trying to get to our table (Korea is not made for people over 5'5) I say to everyone that Journey needs to be played right now. And sure enough it came on and I was belting it out. This might be the night that I permanently blew out my voice. It has not been right since. I am constantly raspy and it really is killing my nore-banging....and makes it difficult to teach as well, but nore-banging more importantly. But back to the bottle of Crown. So Mike (another WILS teacher) and I are led to believe that will be sharing this bottle with two of the other teachers. Wrong! 'Ol sneaky Reisha takes one shot and then hits the dance floor never to return and Corynn dips out. Well you all know I am no quitter. As Mike and I proceed to crush that bottle I see he has stop responding to me and has this look of fear in his eyes. At that point I knew he was in trouble as he darted for the water closet. Luckily he got it together and it was a false alarm. So we called it an early night (4am). I came stumbling out of the club as what can only best be described a drunken robot toy soldier weaving from side to side arms out straight. There is a picture of me ordering a kabob. People told me I said it was delicious. So from that weekend I gained a hangover and a renewed confidence in myself to make it here in Korea (I also got a sweet pair of Ray Bans somehow).
So during the week two new teachers arrive. We decide one night after work to hit up Mok Dong in search of fried chicken. We come across one place and I'm like, ''Can't be too bad its got a frog drinking on it''. So we go in and Jenn thinks she asking for chicken when in fact she continually demands that she gets beer. From that point on I now know ''hof'' means beer, not chicken. Well aside from that the fried chicken was no good. All bones. We proceed to find more food as that meal did not do the trick. We search and search and low and behold behind the Tower is an inflatable chicken pointing for us to go down some steps. So of course we did. We came across the BBQ Home and it was bangin'! We got the bbq cheese chicken which was in a sweet and hot korean sauce that was so good. After many pitchers, soju, and my ramblin' Dave and Jenn had to take a cab to their place as the buses and subways had stopped running for the night (my bad Goodwins). But now I know I have a local bar to escape to after a long day.
Fast forward to the next weekend. One of the teachers had mentioned to me that the local soccer team, FC Seoul, was having a Foreigner's Day. Free food and beer. So we all ordered tickets and an old familiar face, Abel Garrido of Radford Theta Chi fame, came down to hang with your boy. Two Theta Chis in the USA is trouble enough having two on the other side of the world that's just fucking awesome. So we roll like 16 deep into the World Cup Stadium site of the 2002 World Cup final which at the time was the most watched event on TV ever with just over a billion people. So you know for me it was really cool to be there and soak it in. I embraced the local team and got a hoodie and scarf to go along with my wicked awesome feaux hawk. We get into the game and it was a blast. The fans were going crazy, fireworks, constant chanting. It helped that they were playing the next to last place team in the K-League so there was a lot to cheer about as they won 4-1. All goals were scored by waeguks (foreigners). A hat trick from a guy from Montenegro and 1 from a Colombian. It was awesome to be there with the teachers bonding and for me to actually see some sports as I haven't seen any since I have been here. Suprisingly I have not gone into shock over this. After the match it was decided we should hit up a river cruise as it was only 7:30 which is much too early to go to Hongdae. So we subwayed our way to the point and waited for the cruise enjoying each other's company and lots of soju and beer. The cruise was very nice riding seeing all the scenery. I start zoning out, as I so often do, just thinking to myself, ''I really live here. This is so wild''. Once the cruise was a wrap we sat around trying to decide when to make our move to Hongdae. Some of our group breaks off for the evening while others get their potraits drawn. I stick to the soju. Finally after long ridiculous conversations we hit Hongdae and back to Bar Zen. We get a table, bottle, (yeah Mike) and proceed to choom it out once again. Many ridiculous pics are taken which barely breaks the ice on how out of control this night was (like I said in my last post this is only a blog to incriminate myself not others). I'll just say I was on big brother watch for the remainder of the night. We end up McDonalds where I stare at the menu not being able to decide what I want to eat. So you all know what I did?! Bought the whole damn menu for $14 and ate it all. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa buddy! So after recovering from that weekend it was another week of educating the Korean youth. One of my new student''s mothers brought me gourmet cupcakes that looked like works of art. I didn't want to eat them they looked that good. But I crushed a couple of them and they were excellent. The rest I gave to other teachers (if you want an A in my class don't bring sweets. Give me dakgalbi) More importantly it was Buck's last week before going back to grad school in London. For those that don't know Buck, which most reading probably do not, he's a kid who knows how to have a good time. He makes me look tame....at times.
So now this past week the last teacher arrives. We also have two teachers, Buck and another who is going to retire in the Phillipines leaving. We had a goodbye for the latter at the president of WILS place. This was my first homecooked meal since leaving the states and it was soooooooooooooooooooooo good. So good it hurt. So while I am stuffing my face I strike up a conversation with the new teacher Alissa. She goes on to tell me she's from Fairfax and went to UVA and I talk about something about school, family, acting a fool in Charlottesville and what not (you all know I am a rambler). Well I bring up my cousin somewhere in the conversation and immediately she was like, ''How do you know Sarah-Elizabeth'' to which I politely reply that she is my cousin. We have Thanksgiving at her place every year. Well I come to find out that Alissa's sister is sorority sisters with Sarah from VT and now roommates with her in Arlington. Sarah had told her that her cousin was going to be teaching English in Korea. Of all the dinner tables in Korea, haha.
Now we have reached this weekend. The 4 day weekend of Foundation Day and with it being Buck's last weekend and Alissa's first weekend you knew it was going to be a loooooooong weekend (one which my bank account really does not appreciate, but when has that ever stopped me from having a good time). While pregaming waiting for the right moment to strike Hongdae I come walking in to the room hearing people saying ''I don't know if I'm ready to enter the world of Wally'' to which I Buck reply ''Yeaaaaaa buddy get it in!'' Yes people I have arrived. We go out rockin' Hongdae at Ho Bar III (Ho means good in Korean. Get your minds out of the gutter people) and knocking back some crown and cokes, irish car bombs, just chooming the night away. Then it was off to FF which they say stands for Funky Fresh, but I would have to say it should stand for Frat Fun as it looked exactly and felt like the Pumpkin House at Radford. Well you know I jump on stage and just start revving up the crowd belting out classics like Welcome to the Jungle and Otherside by the Chili Peppers acting a crazy fool. Many shots later we take the party to the streets and a game of Danger Can breaks out. After our heads stopped hurting and I eat a couple gyros we wander the streets in search of a nore-bang. Somewhere around 5am we find one, our group holding now at four strong. Soju and beer in tow we hit the booth and sing it out. I try my hardest to sing Journey but as I struggle to get a note out it just isn't happening and I have to be saved by others so as to not have my score be incredibly low. So with no voice we walk out of the norebang to a bright new sunny day. Still in shock by the light of the sky we go to McDonalds where I proceed to berade the French soccer team for surrendering the 2006 World Cup. I had to apologize for my remarks soon after. Nothing like going to bed at 8am. The weekend still in diapers so on Saturday night we decide instead of going out to have a chill drinking night in the Tower or what I like to call Tower Hour(s) A night of drinking games?! This was right in my wheelhouse. I proceed to do my normal routine of buying a ridiculous of booze; soju, magguilli, beer, wine, and vodka. I roll into the party and realize we don't have any cards. No worries. I can just go downstairs to the Family Mart and grab a pack. I snag a Gatorade as well and next thing I know I'm $20 lighter. I look at the register and then the cashier. I see my card getting swiped and I am just in shock at what just happened. I look at the cards in a plastic case wondering how in the fuck they cost $20! And then I read the side of the pack. They are odorless cards........Oh now I get it. So word to the wise for everyone out there. Don't get odorless cards! So after I drink a little vodka sprite to recover from my shock I proceed to begin the night of drinking games with Up and Down the River to Fuck the Dealer to Kings and then to Asshole. I definitely was in my element explaining these games. Nothing like a good game of Kings to get to know your fellow teachers. So we party into the night and morning getting into all sorts of ridiculousness and pictures. Great people make for incredible nights. I find myself wandering from the park with a beer in hand to once again being at McDonalds. This time I say to myself that I do not want hotcakes so some friendly folks decide to order for me and get 5 mcmuffins, 5 hash browns, and 5 ojs. Exactly what I wanted and I ate it all. Perfect cap to another night and saying bye to Buck who had to fly that morning to get to class on Monday. Donkey punch!
We finally arrive to last night. I think to myself that it is going to be a relaxing Sunday night. Go out for some delicious dakgalbi and hit up Little America better known as Itaewon. I attempted to gather up a big group but to no avail due to moving issues, hangovers, and lack of communication as my phone ran out of minutes and the internet crapped. But no worries as Reisha and I hit up the dakgalbi joint and then went to Garten Beir where I got a beer that would rival Sir Bob when he's not six to midnight. I chug that back and then we go off to Itaewon to meet up with some of her friends. I look around and feel like I am back in the states. I decide on a pub called Baby Guinness. I am sipping on my beer yawning away enjoying people watching as a bunch of Irishmen are getting all sloshed. Reisha's friends arrive and it was on from there. One Irish Car Bomb lead to a jager Bomb to crown and cokes. People were buying drinks for the whole bar but then it closed. A bar closing before 2 in Korea? This isn't America. So we move onto the next spot which was awesome, Bungalow. You go in and you just feel infinitely sexier. The music is on point and there is a room with sand and swings. Such a hot place. Well I look on the menu and what did I see, A MAKER'S AND GINGER! I couldn't believe my eyes. All this time I have been drinking jack and cokes because they didn't know what bourbon was. And they had captain and cokes too (I'm looking out for you John). But unfortunately the bar closed on us so we kicked it to Club Zion (Shabba!) As I look around I notice I'm the only person in the bar of caucasian descent. You know that didn't stop me as I was all up the dance floor channeling my inner Pal Wiley and Ashley Carter. After much dubstepping we pushed on to Hongdae. Little did we know we got a stunt driver from the Fast and Furious as our cab driver as she was flying around cars, crossing yellow lines, and speeding like it was her job. Well seeing as it was 5:30am and the club closed at 6 we still hit up Club Naked got on the floor fighting the exhaustion. With the sun rising once again riding back on the bus to the Tower I realize I have it really good here. Great people and an awesome city. I am very lucky to be at WILS. Talking with other teachers at other schools they say that they aren't as tight so to have the group we have at WILS that hangs out is awesome and I am very appreciative. Living away from everything you've known forces you to grow as a person whether you are aware of it or not. What you are familiar with is so far gone you have to learn to make decisions without the influence of those who have helped make you who you are up to this point. Instead you are put in a new environment having to rely on people you've never met who have different views and life experiences that you take in as you begin to understand something outside of your own way of thinking. Even with a majority of the teachers being from VA and/or having gone to UVA we all are very different people, but being here where you are out of your comfort zone you learn to come together. Its such a surreal yet incredible position to be in, which is exactly the reason I wanted to come here. I needed to be able to see if I had the chops to make it on my own. Try something that was going to challenge me and put me in uncomfortable situations where I can't just sit back and think everything is going to work itself out. And so far I think I have faired quite well for myself. I haven't forgotten where I've come from but I am learning from this experience to make me who I want to be.
Hopefully this entry has sparked ya'lls interest and makes you want to come on out. The door is always open. I still have another night before school starts back up so who knows what could happen. Right now I am sitting downstairs in the PC Bar clouded in smoke with everyone playing Starcraft and the guy beside me is train smoking like a champ and then proceeds to hack up a lung and spit into the ash tray. I'm so fortunate to be sitting one partition away. But anyway........ Until next time keep your feet on the ground and keep raising your glass. Gun Bae!
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