5/19
석규 (Seokgyu) is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A friend of Caillean's and I had been talking for sometime, but we had never meet in person. He was home in 대구 (Daegu) for summer break and was bored out of his mind. So he arranged travel plans to Seoul so that we could hang out. That morning I head to work at the bakery, receiving a message from 진 (Jin) that he and his friend had been partying in 홍대 (Hongdae) the previous night and they weren't currently resting it off in 신촌 (Sinchon). I tell him I'm at a nearby bakery and he asks to join me. Of COURSE I agree. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, the bakery was packed. So we move on to lunch... Taco Bell. But unfortunately Korean taco bell only has meat or cheese options, so Jessica was screwed. I suggest another Mexican restaurant, my absolute favorite Taco Loco. In my opinion, they have the BEST burritos I've ever had. And I've had both Chipotle and Qdoba.
The boys were also pleasantly surprised. It was a little quiet, as 진 isn't much for words and his friend , 성규 and I had just met. But still I managed to keep conversation going, but only in Korean. I still am not sure to their English speaking abilities, but I have a hunch their fairly fluent but just choose to use Korean instead.
We enjoyed our luncheon so much that 성규 suggested we go shopping together. We all try on a series of outfits, and I end up with some pretty swagging pants. I seriously feel like a samurai. Straight from like Bleach or something.
I ditch the boys to go meet 석규 in 홍대. It was raining, but it was a beautiful day for a walk. So I made my way along 경의산 trail, stopping into the Blue to say hi to 명근 (Myeonggeun) once more.
I meet 석규 in the pouring rain outside of Exit 8, and we walk to 공차 for his FIRST EVER boba experience. 석규 has traveled around quite a bit, fluent in both German and English, he attends university in Canada. He was born in 서울, but grew up for the most part in 대구. 대구, according to him, is a very... special place in Korea. Succ Succ himself is trained in martial arts. If I can, I'll make him share with us his tornado kick video with us.
He's since had knee surgery after a sudden major growth spurt, and has had to take it easy. But he's still just as aggressive with his swearing abilities. One of the first things he tells me is that he's very good at swearing. To which I just nod like... how on Earth is swearing something one can excel at?
I learned very quickly.
When 석규 swears it is like an art. Like angry poetry with explicit vocabulary. It streams from his mouth in a passionate and aggressive manner that makes you both fearful but entertained at the same time. His lines can last for minutes, even hours at a time.
It is... a gift.
We go to Holly's Cafe to take shelter from the rain, spending the afternoon talking, complaining about men, women, and the complications of being a foreigner in another country. And of course I make a game out of guessing the meanings of popular American slang.
He mentions that his friend Lisa whom he met in German would be coming to join us. So we wait for her, watching through the window for the blond haired beauty. We see her, and tap on the glass. Her and I had never met, but we lock eyes first and she finds her way upstairs. Our bags were resting on each of the seats next to us, so I move my bag as she tries to figure out what side to sit on. My first words to Lisa are, "It's okay, I wouldn't want to sit next to him either."
This playful bantering is how the entirety of our night goes.
석규 had earlier mentioned that the last time he and Lisa had hung out in 서울, she had desperately tried to get him to get a piercing with her. She has a bit of a passion for them, her left ear with four and her right with three. Well today she wanted to make that four. And 석규 was destined to go along.
"So," Says Lisa as she takes a seat next to me, "Piercings, huh?"
석규 looked away nervously.
"I'm down." I say suddenly. Wait... did I really.
"Wait, really??" Lisa asks with exuberance.
"Yeah, sure. Wait how much is it?" I think suddenly. I only had my ears pierced once, the normal way, at Claire's for free.
"15,000 won for the branch that I like. Plus the earring."
I'M IN.
So we go. The other side of 홍대 is home to NaNa Pierxing, a branch famous for its idol preferred piercings, autographs decorate their walls from their special customers.
I followed him to the back room where they did cartilage piercings, which is what I've wanted for EVER. But too afraid. His voice was surprisingly soft, asking if I was able to understand Korean. I told him yes and just asked if he would speak slowly. He agreed and handed me English instructions to take home for post-care, then carefully instructed me on the process and gave some tips for car. I was really proud of myself for understanding a fairly good portion. Because Lisa wasn't given as much information as me, plus she's a little less fluent.
There was one prick, then he said to wait, and I did. Then a second prick. He asked if I was okay. I said yes! With a little jolt. He said one more. Oops.
Third prick and it was finished. I now have a third hole in my ear.
My first piercings, I wasn't even able to feel. So I wasn't sure what to expect with a cartilage piercing.
It hurt. A lot more.
But by the time I was up and walking I was fine, it was just a quick pain. Maybe I had stood up to fast, cause as I crossed Lisa to the front of the store, my vision blurred at the corners of my eyes. My stomach curling in nausea.
My two new friends expressed how much they loved the new style on me, but as Lisa disappeared into the back, I felt more than uneasy.
I tell 석규 that I'm going to go grab something at the convenient store across the street for my nausea. I pick up a grapefruit sparkling water out of the cooler and as I'm shutting it, notice a shadow standing behind the door.
"Boo!"
Succ Succ Boi jumps me. Yeah real smart, try to scare the girl that's about to pass out.
I purchase my special water and we return to the Nana's just as Lisa is taking the cat walk out to model off her new inner conch stud. It glimmered and was more than adorable. She mentioned that it hurt WAY more than the others.
석규 babied out.
석규 suggests beer. I suggest 전 (jeon). So we settle for one of the best 전 restaurants in 홍대, a restaurant with 전 measuring out to 41 cm across (>16 inches). We sat down in a traditional style niche in the wall. just below the stairs. It was comfortable and like living in a tiny house.
석규 doesn't like 전 while drinking beer so we let him pick out a second dish to share from the menu.
"You know 닭발?"
"닭발???" Lisa and I cry in horror.
닭발 = chicken feet.
"Do you like it?" I ask. Succ Succ admits to being a fake Korean, as he has never had chicken feet. It is said to be one of the best dishes in Korea. We make sure he actually wants it. Like actually. He says yes, so I do the ordering.
We decide on 소맥 and received a second bottle of 소주 as service. With extra 소주 and not enough beer, 석규 decides to introduce us to the newest trend, 꿀주 (gkoolju | honey soju).
So Succs fills a shot glass 3/4 full of soju, then surprises us with topping it off with beer. He hands it to me, and I ask if I'm supposed to shoot it or just sip it.
Shoot it.
Alright kids bottoms up.
I pucker up, waiting for the expected 소주 bite. But it never comes, only a sweet after taste.
MAGIC.
It tastes like someone added a drop of honey to the bottom. But it was really just plain beer. Amazing.
Three plates of kimchi later (because I'm a Kimchi girl like that), we finally get our ginormous 전.
Then I invite the amazing... 닭발전말리 (dalkbal jeon malri | chicken feet jeon roll).
It was amazing. You can fill it with a variety of things. I made the ultimate:
- 전 | jeon
- 닭발 | chicken feet
- 고추장 | gochujang
- 콩나물 | bean sprout
- 단무지 | pickled radish
- 김치 | kimchi
- 초간장 | jeon dipping sauce
It was FIRE~ 🔥🔥🔥
Lisa had to leave early, so with 3/4 a bottle of beer left and a hole bottle of 소주, I waited while the two stopped by a pharmacy so 석규 could help her get the necessities for post piercing care. Lisa and I said our adieus, and made a promise to meet once more before I left.
석규 returns shortly, tossing a bag of wound managing gel and spray at me. I thank him for purchasing it for me, even though I had planned just to go on my own. But I was appreciative nonetheless.
We spend another half hour together before we finish our beer, leaving half the bottle of 소주 behind. We part and I walk home in the now comfortably cool night. It was no longer raining, and I enjoyed a peaceful walk home under a deep purple sky. As I walked, I realized how much I absolutely love my life here... and how much I wanted to stay despite my minor troubles. Its not Utopia, but its my Soul place.
Comments
Post a Comment