5/2
I wake up to the smell of vinegar mixed with seaweed and a cold feeling on my side. I squirm out of bed realizing I had konked out to the soothing sound of Ramsey chewing restaurant owners out on Kitchen Nightmares. Confused as to why my PJs were soaked in the pungent substance, I immediately assume the worst...
Is it... PEE?
I throw the covers off of me only to find the culprit... A tipped side of cold soup that I had eaten with my dumplings.
Relieved that my childhood bladder issues were not coming back to haunt me, I roll out of bed with the sudden need to actually pee. I step out of my room with my soupy pajamas to see the costa rican boys at the table with half empty glasses all around.
"Hi." I manage to utter in a mouse like tone as I quickly skirt around them and disappear into the bathroom. I cross just as quickly on my way back to my room, hoping they weren't able to see that my left half was a whole shade darker in saturation. Safe again, I change into clean... DRY... pajamas and straighten out my duvet so that it covers the spill. I check the time... only 3 am... and a message from my mother. It was an urgent question about her friends computer issues, so I replied to the best of my knowledge on how to help. She then proceeded to ask if she could "invite her friend to our Kakao chat". To which I only assumed was MAW (Middle Aged Woman) for "can Kathy download Kakaotalk?"
How wrong I was.
Suddenly my phone is ringing at full volume, flashing brightly in my face as my mom attempts to video chat me. I answer, because decision making is not something I do well when I'm half awake. Unfortunately, my mother had forgotten about the exact time difference. I inform her that it was, in fact, three am and that I was sleeping just before she called. But that was likely obvious by my appearance. She apologized and promised to have me call when I was up and at 'em.
Around 7 am, I find myself being awoken by the sound of clinking dishes and boyish laughing in the kitchen. God, do these boys ever sleep?
With little opportunity in sight to sleep anymore, I change into fresh clothes and put on a new face, pushing myself out into the sunny streets of Seoul. As per usual, I make my way to Starbucks and order the usual. To my surprise, the barista I ordered with didn't ask if I'd like to drink my coffee at Starbucks or if I was taking it to go. This answer matters as Seoul is really pushing a Go Green campaign and Starbucks is right on board with the trend. People who stay are given a mug to reduce waste, iced cups have the fancy new sip lid, and you have to ask your barista for a straw or stir stick... and the straws are paper now.
Upstairs, I set up shop to work a bit, taking a few minutes to call my mother once more. As soon as I finish the call, a Starbucks employee comes up the stairs and directly at me. She tries to tell me in broken English that I'm not supposed to have a take-out cup if I plan to stay. I inform her (in Korean) that I was planning to leave before finishing it. A look of relief washed over her face as she proceeded to very quickly tell me in Korean that I had to put it in a mug. Which made zero sense to me. Why would I have to put it in a mug when I already dirtied a take-out cup. From the look on her face, she was as confused as I was and was just doing her job. I comply and follow her down the two flights of stairs to have another barista fill the smallest mug they had with the last few drops of my latte... Even she laughed out how ridiculous it was. I apologized for the confusion to which she recognized that she hadn't asked if I was staying or going. I smile and take my new mug up the stairs and continue to work.
After my latte, I decided it was finally time to attempt something I'd been dying to try since the first time I entered the gay unicorn cafe... 꿀고구마 쥬스! I order a small from the self service touch screen machine, and wait as I ponder the drinks contents. Is it really a "juice" if it comes from a potato? Then again, there's carrot juice and kale juice....
But potato juice?
And its delicious! I was DRINKING. a POTATO.
Wild.
Not completely satisfied, I enter Pomato, a basic Korean food chain. Here they serve a variety of dishes such as 돈까스, 쫄면, 비빔밥, and 라면. But the best here is their 김밥. So I ordered two lines of mini 김밥 to go. On my way home, I accidentally found myself in the middle of a fashion show outside of U-plex. Defiantly dressed individuals paraded back and forth in graffitied fashion, flaunting a courageous and modern art style.
After seeing a good portion of the show, I remember the steaming 김밥 stinking up my bag and flock back to my house. I enjoy half of each roll with... you guessed it... more kitchen nightmares.
Bored and having a good four hours before I'd meet 민규 for dinner, I decided it was time for an adventure.
I followed the bridge into 경의산 park and took a refreshing walk through the old railroad station, shut down but had since become an outdoor art and statue gallery.
Pleased with my ability to recreate this goddess of a body, I grab my jacket and make my way to the subway station.
Is it... PEE?
I throw the covers off of me only to find the culprit... A tipped side of cold soup that I had eaten with my dumplings.
Relieved that my childhood bladder issues were not coming back to haunt me, I roll out of bed with the sudden need to actually pee. I step out of my room with my soupy pajamas to see the costa rican boys at the table with half empty glasses all around.
"Hi." I manage to utter in a mouse like tone as I quickly skirt around them and disappear into the bathroom. I cross just as quickly on my way back to my room, hoping they weren't able to see that my left half was a whole shade darker in saturation. Safe again, I change into clean... DRY... pajamas and straighten out my duvet so that it covers the spill. I check the time... only 3 am... and a message from my mother. It was an urgent question about her friends computer issues, so I replied to the best of my knowledge on how to help. She then proceeded to ask if she could "invite her friend to our Kakao chat". To which I only assumed was MAW (Middle Aged Woman) for "can Kathy download Kakaotalk?"
How wrong I was.
Suddenly my phone is ringing at full volume, flashing brightly in my face as my mom attempts to video chat me. I answer, because decision making is not something I do well when I'm half awake. Unfortunately, my mother had forgotten about the exact time difference. I inform her that it was, in fact, three am and that I was sleeping just before she called. But that was likely obvious by my appearance. She apologized and promised to have me call when I was up and at 'em.
Around 7 am, I find myself being awoken by the sound of clinking dishes and boyish laughing in the kitchen. God, do these boys ever sleep?
With little opportunity in sight to sleep anymore, I change into fresh clothes and put on a new face, pushing myself out into the sunny streets of Seoul. As per usual, I make my way to Starbucks and order the usual. To my surprise, the barista I ordered with didn't ask if I'd like to drink my coffee at Starbucks or if I was taking it to go. This answer matters as Seoul is really pushing a Go Green campaign and Starbucks is right on board with the trend. People who stay are given a mug to reduce waste, iced cups have the fancy new sip lid, and you have to ask your barista for a straw or stir stick... and the straws are paper now.
Upstairs, I set up shop to work a bit, taking a few minutes to call my mother once more. As soon as I finish the call, a Starbucks employee comes up the stairs and directly at me. She tries to tell me in broken English that I'm not supposed to have a take-out cup if I plan to stay. I inform her (in Korean) that I was planning to leave before finishing it. A look of relief washed over her face as she proceeded to very quickly tell me in Korean that I had to put it in a mug. Which made zero sense to me. Why would I have to put it in a mug when I already dirtied a take-out cup. From the look on her face, she was as confused as I was and was just doing her job. I comply and follow her down the two flights of stairs to have another barista fill the smallest mug they had with the last few drops of my latte... Even she laughed out how ridiculous it was. I apologized for the confusion to which she recognized that she hadn't asked if I was staying or going. I smile and take my new mug up the stairs and continue to work.
After my latte, I decided it was finally time to attempt something I'd been dying to try since the first time I entered the gay unicorn cafe... 꿀고구마 쥬스! I order a small from the self service touch screen machine, and wait as I ponder the drinks contents. Is it really a "juice" if it comes from a potato? Then again, there's carrot juice and kale juice....
But potato juice?
And its delicious! I was DRINKING. a POTATO.
Wild.
Not completely satisfied, I enter Pomato, a basic Korean food chain. Here they serve a variety of dishes such as 돈까스, 쫄면, 비빔밥, and 라면. But the best here is their 김밥. So I ordered two lines of mini 김밥 to go. On my way home, I accidentally found myself in the middle of a fashion show outside of U-plex. Defiantly dressed individuals paraded back and forth in graffitied fashion, flaunting a courageous and modern art style.
After seeing a good portion of the show, I remember the steaming 김밥 stinking up my bag and flock back to my house. I enjoy half of each roll with... you guessed it... more kitchen nightmares.
I followed the bridge into 경의산 park and took a refreshing walk through the old railroad station, shut down but had since become an outdoor art and statue gallery.
I followed the trail all the way into 홍대 for some light (heavy) shopping.
On New Year's Day, there had been a fire in 홍대. It took down a whole street of buildings, and was near devastatingly close to the subway entrance. Coincidentally, I had been present at the time of the fire, only a few buildings away, and had bought a pair of earrings from one of the stores at victim. I was determined to find out what had been done with the remains of the burnt buildings, although I know the earring shop had been recovered in early January (I know because its my favorite place to pay 90 cents for semi-quality earrings). As I grew closer, I realized the charred wooden structures were no longer present, and had been replaced with large metal bars and a construction barricade.
Its amazing what a little determination can accomplish.
I picked out an outfit for date night, and feeling proud of my finds, I scurry on home to get ready.
As I walked away from the mass herds of foreigners and natives alike that roamed 홍대's busy streets, I entered the refreshing quite nature of the park. One thing that I've learned since coming to Korea is how to be quiet. Mostly because I have a limit to how much I can communicate anyways. And as a very extroverted and talkative individual back home, living here has become a real life-changer.
I observed two grandmothers, waddling slowly and hand in hand. A little boy comments about the size of a small, puffy dog as it and the owner passes. The owner giggles in agreement. Butterflies flutter about from flower to flower. People of all ages read in the shade underneath bridges and trees.
Learning to shut up sometimes is a very important lesson in life.
At home, I peppered myself in shimmering serum, curled my hair, and tried on my new outfits.
and totally forgot
about
rush hour
Usually, I never run into anything too terrible during the after work hours in Korea. The usual was just a cramped subway or dodging a lot of people. But instead of closing the doors and taking off. The doors closed....... and then opened.
And then closed.
And then opened.
Two subways passed in the opposite direction as we continued this pattern. And nearly ten minutes pass before they're finally able to shut the doors and keep them shut.
And then they continued to open and shut (although far fewer times) at each stop.
What was supposed to be a twenty minute ride turned into a 35 minute ride.
민규 and I meet outside Exit 2 at 구로디지털 station, he promises to show me the best 김치전 I've ever eaten in my life, also inquiring if his friends could join us later on.
We arrive at the restaurant, the place is popping and to no surprise we are given a spoon with a number 4 written on it as our placement in line for a seat. Finally inside, we are met with walls plastered with poster upon poster upon posters for 막걸리. There's an array of flavors, both on the main menu, more on the wall, and even more on a second menu exclusive to 막걸리. We both agree to start first with a bee pollen flavor, since neither of us had ever heard of it.
Figuring the food would take awhile, we settle a debate as to which flavor we'd try next with a round of 가위 바위 보! I lose, but still we order my request of Melonia flavor.
We finish the first bottle, it was a so-so taste. Very floral, would not drink again.
The melonia, which 민규 was skeptical of, was decided unanimously to be delicious. We polish off half the bottle before we are finally graced with the basket of 해물김치전 we had ordered sometime ago. The waitress could barely set it on the table before we dived in. Piping hot, spiced to perfection, and it was CRISP.
I LIVE for crispy 전 ... and this was close to a thick potato chip.
Next up, my choice again for 꿀 막걸리. Half way through 민규's recently wedded friends join us, and we share the remainder of the bottle with them. After a good toast and some introductions, we decide to go to a second restaurant for 사시미. As we ponder what to drink, a pair of green clad mascots bounce over to our table to sell off their beer. Terra was advertised all over, and 민규 had mentioned earlier he was dying to try it. A bottle for us each and a stack of fresh fish. We enjoy a slow and light hearted dinner part 2.
After dinner, the couple admits that their bathroom is under construction, and lacked a working shower. They were absolute geniuses as they shared their master plan of visiting a nearby sauna to shower up there. We walked them there and bowed our heads in gratitude for the dinner and great company. Together, 민규 and I head towards my home where he drops me off. Outside, a muddle of foreign girls munch on convenient store ramen and snacks. I assume they are my roommates, and 민규 does too as he whispers to me, "Your friends?"
I give him a smack on the lips and send him home before stepping into my apartment. I begin to make my bed with my slightly damp but at least clean sheets from this mornings bizarre. A soft knock raps at my door.
I open it to find the girls from before with a large cardboard box.
"Chicken?"
I giggle as I inform them I'm pescatarian, (I do indulge in chicken and beef on occasion but I was full at the moment), but thank them anyways. I offer them oreo sticks, which is native only to America. I inquire if they're from Japan, and they excitedly nod their heads. I thank them with an awkward Domo Arrigato and they shake their heads saying "No, no, it's okay."
As I wash my face, the bubbly girls approach me again and offer a package of 신라면. I take it, although I know I'll never eat it, and thank them gratefully.
And with that I finally am able to go to bed. And it was only 12 am.
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