So last night was truly bitter sweet. It was definitely one of the most fun night's I've had here, but it was Jessica's last night.
We started out at Grazie's where there was a Beerfest. Kayley and I (Team Russia) quit after the third event. We made it through a beer bong (my first, and probably only, ever), a pitcher chug (Kayley did great! unfortunately the others were better...), and flip cup. After loosing at those three events, Team Russia resigned from the competition so we could actually enjoy the rest of the night. Team America won it all (Good Job Matt and Nick!), Team Canada 2nd, Team Duckling 3rd, Team Russia 4th, Team Korea 5th. After quitting, I ended up meeting some really cool new Korean friends. One of them tried to take me home with him, but the other guys were nice and not creepy haha. Hopefully we will all hang out again, improve my Korean and they can improve their English. After some pictures and crying sessions with Jessica we moved onto BOSS nightclub. Why do people hate this place? Haha, I thought it was awesome. You go in and pay for a table, which ended up being about 10,000won a person. Then you can go dance! I liked the music they played, the free beer we got with a table, and dancing with some of the greatest people I know! Every once in a while though, the DJ plays a few slow songs while "booking" is taking place. Basically it's what you probably think, guys can bid on girls in the club. I don't know the details about this, it's just the time when we go back to our table for a rest, and possibly a drink. We were there until about 5, at least that's when I left. It was so much fun to just be able to let go, to just dance!!
I'm heartbroken to loose such a wonderful person, but we will see each other again! We will keep in touch and I will definitely go visit her in Canada! She has been such a good friend. All my girls here have-Rachel, Nina, Kayley, and Jess. You girls are amazing, you are what has made my life in Korea so great. Of course, True and Matt are also wonderful. ^_^ I love you guys and hope that wherever we go in life, we will always remember the great times, the hard times, and why we love each other. A very wise soul once told me "The most important person in your life, is the person you are with right now". It's true. The people you choose to be in your life, to have an effect on your life, are the people who matter. You 6 are the people I want to be in my life, not only now, but I hope for the rest of my life. You are all passionate, caring, fun people-never forget that. No matter what happens, We will have each other! Again, I love you guys. Sorry for the sappy post. =P Now let's go have some fun!!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Gyeongju's Drink and Rice Cake Festival
This weekend was wonderful. It had a great start at Grazie Friday night where we all eagerly awaited Candy's return from England. She was here in Korea visiting some of her friends for 2 months and just liked it so much she decided to come back and teach for 6 months! ^_^ The night was typical of a Friday at Grazie. Drinking and chatting with friends.
Saturday was much more interesting. Around noon I get a text from Jun Kwon (the owner of Grazie bar) inviting Nina, Travis, and I out for lunch. We were supposed to meet Mi Gyeong, but she never showed up so we met with Jun Kwon and our other Korean friend Rachel and went out to lunch at a delicious samgyeopsal restaurant. Afterwards Jun Kwon dropped us off near Hwangsung park so we could go to the Traditional Drink and Rice Cake festival. We met up with a large group of foreigners we know and the fun began. We went to the Foreinger registration booth where we got a shot glass necklace. It was a ceramic shot glass (which was refered to as the "horn of plenty" multiple times throughout the day haha) with a string around it. From there you take your shot glass necklace around to the soju and wine booths where they pour you shot after shot of different types of Korean alcohol. At each booth you can also buy larger bottles of the product. After going around the booths once we went to a food tent and ordered some food and (of course) some Makeoli. We sat and talked with a bunch of other foreigners who came down to Gyeongju for the festival. After a while we went around the alcohol booths again, checked out the rice cake booths, and sat in the grass drinking all the alcohol we had just purchased.
A note on Korean rice cake. It's not the rice cake you are probably thinking of - the round, crunchy snacks they sell in in Western Countries. This type of rice cake is a really chewy and sticky consistency. Some have different flavors, some had different fillings, and some are covered in different powders or nuts.
After the festival we got some Dak Galbi for dinner and headed to Grazie. Grazie is usually dead on Saturday nights, because we are usually there on fridays, but it was pretty busy. I sat and talked with some people I had just met that day or had only met once or twice. Also got to talk to True for a bit (I was happy that things were normal and I didn't feel awkward at all ^_^). We continued the night to London Hof (this bar is more typical of Korean bars-big tables with big comfortable chairs and couches), and ended with Norae Bang. It was a fun day. Not what I had expected. My original plan had been to go clubbing in Daegu with Nina, Jess, and Rach. But since they weren't getting a bus until 1030 and I was enjoying talking to new people (and didn't want to make the effort to stay in Daegu all night) I stayed in Gyeongju. I'm glad I did. I'm sure I would have had a wonderful time with the girls, but it was great meeting new people.
Sunday I woke up a bit too early for having gone to bed at 4 am after 13 hours of drinking. I woke up at 12 so I could meet Mi Gyeong at 1. She ended up not picking me up until 2, then we met Alexander, 재욱 (also referred to as Jude or "korean guy"), and Caspar. It took about 2 hours, due to traffic, for us to drive up to Seokguram Grotto. This is located at the top of a mountain, there are temples and the main attraction is a large Buddhist statue inside one of the temples. We took some neat pictures, had some good conversations, then went out for some samgyeopsal and ice cream. ^_^
Another wonderful weekend with amazing people in a fantastic place.
Saturday was much more interesting. Around noon I get a text from Jun Kwon (the owner of Grazie bar) inviting Nina, Travis, and I out for lunch. We were supposed to meet Mi Gyeong, but she never showed up so we met with Jun Kwon and our other Korean friend Rachel and went out to lunch at a delicious samgyeopsal restaurant. Afterwards Jun Kwon dropped us off near Hwangsung park so we could go to the Traditional Drink and Rice Cake festival. We met up with a large group of foreigners we know and the fun began. We went to the Foreinger registration booth where we got a shot glass necklace. It was a ceramic shot glass (which was refered to as the "horn of plenty" multiple times throughout the day haha) with a string around it. From there you take your shot glass necklace around to the soju and wine booths where they pour you shot after shot of different types of Korean alcohol. At each booth you can also buy larger bottles of the product. After going around the booths once we went to a food tent and ordered some food and (of course) some Makeoli. We sat and talked with a bunch of other foreigners who came down to Gyeongju for the festival. After a while we went around the alcohol booths again, checked out the rice cake booths, and sat in the grass drinking all the alcohol we had just purchased.
A note on Korean rice cake. It's not the rice cake you are probably thinking of - the round, crunchy snacks they sell in in Western Countries. This type of rice cake is a really chewy and sticky consistency. Some have different flavors, some had different fillings, and some are covered in different powders or nuts.
After the festival we got some Dak Galbi for dinner and headed to Grazie. Grazie is usually dead on Saturday nights, because we are usually there on fridays, but it was pretty busy. I sat and talked with some people I had just met that day or had only met once or twice. Also got to talk to True for a bit (I was happy that things were normal and I didn't feel awkward at all ^_^). We continued the night to London Hof (this bar is more typical of Korean bars-big tables with big comfortable chairs and couches), and ended with Norae Bang. It was a fun day. Not what I had expected. My original plan had been to go clubbing in Daegu with Nina, Jess, and Rach. But since they weren't getting a bus until 1030 and I was enjoying talking to new people (and didn't want to make the effort to stay in Daegu all night) I stayed in Gyeongju. I'm glad I did. I'm sure I would have had a wonderful time with the girls, but it was great meeting new people.
Sunday I woke up a bit too early for having gone to bed at 4 am after 13 hours of drinking. I woke up at 12 so I could meet Mi Gyeong at 1. She ended up not picking me up until 2, then we met Alexander, 재욱 (also referred to as Jude or "korean guy"), and Caspar. It took about 2 hours, due to traffic, for us to drive up to Seokguram Grotto. This is located at the top of a mountain, there are temples and the main attraction is a large Buddhist statue inside one of the temples. We took some neat pictures, had some good conversations, then went out for some samgyeopsal and ice cream. ^_^
Another wonderful weekend with amazing people in a fantastic place.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Cherry Blossoms
Saturday was the annual Cherry Blossom Marathon in Gyeongju. My 2 foreign co-workers and I signed up to do the 5k. It was only 20,000 won and we got a nice sports jersey to wear during the marathon. Although, I was kinda hoping for a cheesy t-shirt that said Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon on it like you get at these types of events in the States. The weather was beautiful-clear and warm-but the Cherry Blossoms hadn't come out yet. We walked part of the 5k then ran the rest. It was a great run, I think I might start training and do part of the Columbus Marathon when I get home in October. I've always wanted to do a marathon. I could by no means do it now, but with training I'm sure I could at least do a half marathon.
After the marathon I met with my friend 문영. We got some lunch then went to Tumuli park and walked around. The tombs here are covered with a large mound of dirt and rocks then covered in grass. The park is beautiful. 문영walked up to the top of one of the burial mounds and was yelled at by a little kid to get down haha, let it be known this kid was doing the same thing not 5 minutes earlier haha. After the park we went across the street to the observatory. We got to see some Cherry Blossom trees that had bloomed, kids flying kites, and a rake that had somehow gotten up into one of the trees. We grabbed some coffee and I went home to sleep (had only gotten about 3 hours of sleep the night before, just couldn't sleep..)
I gladly woke up to a message from True about having a little party out at his cabin again. I love hanging out at his cabin. I met up with some friends and we all drove out to the cabin. We cooked some food, then drank, a lot. haha. It was fun, playing drinking games, talking with the girls ^_^, dance party, pics. It was a great night. We eventually all fell asleep, but I didn't sleep much at first. Sat outside to clear my head and enjoy the refreshing night air. True's cabin is such a peaceful place. I woke up a few times in the morning, it was warm enough to just sit outside and read for a bit. Once everyone woke up we hung out outside for a bit, listening to some music and then Rach and Jess left. This leaves True, Matt, and myself. We just relaxed around the cabin, which I was more than happy to do. Decided against doing anything too active due to 소주 hangovers (which I somehow managed to avoid). We cleaned up and left, deciding to go to the sea, then changed our minds and decided to go to Bomun, then Matt changed his mind and decided to go home. But right after we drop him off he calls me--he left his keys at the cabin! So off we went back to the cabin to search for the keys, found them. We ended up spending about 2 hours in the car! ugh. Unfortunately by time we finally did drop Matt off neither True nor I were really up for doing much so he dropped me off.
Overall a great weekend-a new goal to train for, quality time spent with some great friends, some good memories made. Hopefully, things will soon be a bit more interesting...
After the marathon I met with my friend 문영. We got some lunch then went to Tumuli park and walked around. The tombs here are covered with a large mound of dirt and rocks then covered in grass. The park is beautiful. 문영walked up to the top of one of the burial mounds and was yelled at by a little kid to get down haha, let it be known this kid was doing the same thing not 5 minutes earlier haha. After the park we went across the street to the observatory. We got to see some Cherry Blossom trees that had bloomed, kids flying kites, and a rake that had somehow gotten up into one of the trees. We grabbed some coffee and I went home to sleep (had only gotten about 3 hours of sleep the night before, just couldn't sleep..)
I gladly woke up to a message from True about having a little party out at his cabin again. I love hanging out at his cabin. I met up with some friends and we all drove out to the cabin. We cooked some food, then drank, a lot. haha. It was fun, playing drinking games, talking with the girls ^_^, dance party, pics. It was a great night. We eventually all fell asleep, but I didn't sleep much at first. Sat outside to clear my head and enjoy the refreshing night air. True's cabin is such a peaceful place. I woke up a few times in the morning, it was warm enough to just sit outside and read for a bit. Once everyone woke up we hung out outside for a bit, listening to some music and then Rach and Jess left. This leaves True, Matt, and myself. We just relaxed around the cabin, which I was more than happy to do. Decided against doing anything too active due to 소주 hangovers (which I somehow managed to avoid). We cleaned up and left, deciding to go to the sea, then changed our minds and decided to go to Bomun, then Matt changed his mind and decided to go home. But right after we drop him off he calls me--he left his keys at the cabin! So off we went back to the cabin to search for the keys, found them. We ended up spending about 2 hours in the car! ugh. Unfortunately by time we finally did drop Matt off neither True nor I were really up for doing much so he dropped me off.
Overall a great weekend-a new goal to train for, quality time spent with some great friends, some good memories made. Hopefully, things will soon be a bit more interesting...
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Gyeongju Spring
Wow. I've been living here for just over 7 months and haven't really said much about the place.
Gyeongju is such a beautiful city, but it's been too cold to really get out and appreciate it. It's been warming up lately though, the Cherry Blossoms are finally out! This weekend was great, on Sunday my friend True Park invited me and about 10 of our friends out to his Dad's cabin in the countryside near Mt. Namsan. The taxi driver dropped us off at the bottom of a slight hill. We had no idea where we were or where we were going and all True had to say when I called him was "just keep walking". haha. It had the potential to be the start of a scary story (much like that time we were on Korean TV...)The Cabin is an awesome place. The experience got off to a bad start, completely my fault. I've been studying Korean for a few months and when I met True's Dad (who speaks no English) I totally chickened out and didn't say anything beyond 안년하세요, even though I knew how to say much more than that. I'm still pretty upset with myself for missing that opportunity, which would have also impressed and made his Dad feel a bit more comfortable. Nothing left to do now but to learn from it and step it up next time...right?! Anyway, the rest of the night was great (sort of ;)) We had some delicious 삼겹살 for dinner outside the cabin, followed by tons of drinking and cream of mushroom soup (made by a Chinese Woman ;)) inside the cabin. I didn't have to work the next day, so drank quite a bit of 소주, was hoping to just crash at the cabin and get back in the morning, but that hint went without notice.
I also finally went out to Anapji pond with Kayley and her friend Andrew who was visiting from the U.K. It is a beautiful place, it's perfectly lit up at night. I'm not much of a photographer (but have been more interested in photography lately so maybe someday I will be able to take wonderfully artistic photos!) so I didn't take any pictures, but it is a great place to just take a stroll with friends. Andrew's last night here was on Monday. We had one last get together, had dinner at a 김밥천국 then went out for Makgeolli (traditional korean rice wine). The Makgeolli place we went to was a bit more run down than the other places I had been, but it was a great place. They gave us some 삼겹살 and kimchi as a service (free) and we sat around a table and played Korean drinking games ( 3,6,9, the chopstick pointing game, baskin robins 31, the finger game, the counting game) It was a great time. It really was a shame that Andrew had to leave so soon.
I'm excited for spring to be here! I want to get back out and enjoy this beautiful country. Starting this weekend with the Cherry Blossom Marathon! I will definitely try to blog more often, if nothing else than for me to look back on in a few years.
WOW! I just realized I never blogged about the time I was on Korean TV!!
Ok, so one day I got a call from Nina. She use to take Korean Lessons at the community center and a representative called there asking for foreigner's names. They called her and invited her and 3 friends to taste traditional Korean food for a TV show. Nina, Cara, James, Felisa, and myself met this guy at the bus station and drove out into the countryside. Out in the middle of nowhere was this traditional Korean house(? when we asked what it was he told us it was an "experience" haha-so we were out in the middle of nowhere with some random Korean man at an "experience") where there was a table set for us. They brought out two dishes, one was Codfish skin wrapped around some sort of meat. It was not enjoyable. The other was Codfish skin wrapped around veggies, it was pretty good. They taped us saying how we couldn't believe it was fish skin and how good it was haha. After the taping they brought us some chicken soup and then drove us back to the bus station. It aired later that week and was a very short clip, but it was a good "experience" haha.
Gyeongju is such a beautiful city, but it's been too cold to really get out and appreciate it. It's been warming up lately though, the Cherry Blossoms are finally out! This weekend was great, on Sunday my friend True Park invited me and about 10 of our friends out to his Dad's cabin in the countryside near Mt. Namsan. The taxi driver dropped us off at the bottom of a slight hill. We had no idea where we were or where we were going and all True had to say when I called him was "just keep walking". haha. It had the potential to be the start of a scary story (much like that time we were on Korean TV...)The Cabin is an awesome place. The experience got off to a bad start, completely my fault. I've been studying Korean for a few months and when I met True's Dad (who speaks no English) I totally chickened out and didn't say anything beyond 안년하세요, even though I knew how to say much more than that. I'm still pretty upset with myself for missing that opportunity, which would have also impressed and made his Dad feel a bit more comfortable. Nothing left to do now but to learn from it and step it up next time...right?! Anyway, the rest of the night was great (sort of ;)) We had some delicious 삼겹살 for dinner outside the cabin, followed by tons of drinking and cream of mushroom soup (made by a Chinese Woman ;)) inside the cabin. I didn't have to work the next day, so drank quite a bit of 소주, was hoping to just crash at the cabin and get back in the morning, but that hint went without notice.
I also finally went out to Anapji pond with Kayley and her friend Andrew who was visiting from the U.K. It is a beautiful place, it's perfectly lit up at night. I'm not much of a photographer (but have been more interested in photography lately so maybe someday I will be able to take wonderfully artistic photos!) so I didn't take any pictures, but it is a great place to just take a stroll with friends. Andrew's last night here was on Monday. We had one last get together, had dinner at a 김밥천국 then went out for Makgeolli (traditional korean rice wine). The Makgeolli place we went to was a bit more run down than the other places I had been, but it was a great place. They gave us some 삼겹살 and kimchi as a service (free) and we sat around a table and played Korean drinking games ( 3,6,9, the chopstick pointing game, baskin robins 31, the finger game, the counting game) It was a great time. It really was a shame that Andrew had to leave so soon.
I'm excited for spring to be here! I want to get back out and enjoy this beautiful country. Starting this weekend with the Cherry Blossom Marathon! I will definitely try to blog more often, if nothing else than for me to look back on in a few years.
WOW! I just realized I never blogged about the time I was on Korean TV!!
Ok, so one day I got a call from Nina. She use to take Korean Lessons at the community center and a representative called there asking for foreigner's names. They called her and invited her and 3 friends to taste traditional Korean food for a TV show. Nina, Cara, James, Felisa, and myself met this guy at the bus station and drove out into the countryside. Out in the middle of nowhere was this traditional Korean house(? when we asked what it was he told us it was an "experience" haha-so we were out in the middle of nowhere with some random Korean man at an "experience") where there was a table set for us. They brought out two dishes, one was Codfish skin wrapped around some sort of meat. It was not enjoyable. The other was Codfish skin wrapped around veggies, it was pretty good. They taped us saying how we couldn't believe it was fish skin and how good it was haha. After the taping they brought us some chicken soup and then drove us back to the bus station. It aired later that week and was a very short clip, but it was a good "experience" haha.
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