Korean Vibrations, Vol. II

This life has great potential for Fantastic.
My school is one minute from my house, I just joined the "fitness center" (to continue the progress Al Mike and Megan thankfully pushed on me at the world's greatest gym, Body Tribe) that is above my school, and everything I need is within a ten-minute walking radius: food, subway, noribang ("song room" = karaoke!), shopping, 3D movie theater, and everything else is close on the subway. The next thing I need is to GET PAID, so I can fully participate in this city! Having to watch my spending is really boring, especially since I keep finding myself in social situations that require cash. April 10th, get here faster!!

Last night, we* checked the vibez of a free Korean lesson near the Women's University (Sookmyong), then headed to Homo Hill in Itaewon for darts, an hour of singin in our noribang, and dancin to Korean pop music in a venue full of very attractive (gay?) boys and girls. I danced with one especially tall boy (my second choice, only to the 6'8" cross-dresser who didn't even give me a second glance when I shimmied across the floor for some hip swingin, and, who was not in drag that particular evening). After two or three giggly songs and lots of jumping around, I gave Second Choice my email address, even though he spoke probably two words of English and probably only likes boys. I gestured excitedly for him to send me a message, though I'm certain I can add this one to the Good Practice archives.

At 3 am, we caught a cab back to Guro, to replenish electrolytes and calories via kamjetang aka potato soup aka spinal cord soup, "the antidote to a hangover." We made friends with a group of 5 men (one was sprawled across the bench in the restaurant, passed out, face down) who knew probably 7 words of English between them. The oldest one in the group, possibly their boss, really wanted to communicate something to me, but lacked the language skillz necessary. Instead, he reached out to shake my hand every five minutes, closed his eyes, squeezed my hand tight, and said "thank you," with a slight bow of his head. It's still a mystery as to what he was really trying to convey, though I suspect something possibly offensive, because one of his friends started saying "sorry, sorry!" (which sounded like "saudi, saudi!" in his Korean accent) and making the "he's crazy" gesture behind his boss' back for my benefit. Finally, around 5 am, our groups parted ways, with lots of laughing and flashing of peace signs. I even got two phone numbers out of the deal. (Again, Good Practice archives.)

Potential? Wrong. Fantastic already achieved.



* "We" = me and Jack (Jack and I?), the British ESL teacher from my school, who arrived in late November. It's very convenient having an expat friend who lives two floors down and is willing to show me what is the what, as far as universal entertainment (eatin & drankin) goes, in this country.