We Loved a Little and Laughed a Lot

This is probably the last post I am going to write before I get home. As per my last post: Our Korean professor, Dr. Kwon, really wanted to take us out. So the whole group went to a Korean BBQ place. Unfortunately, many people fell victim to the drinking culture. Dr. Kwon was basically challenging everyone, especially the boys, to a Soju drinking contest. I am of the opinion that if I were meant to drink as much as a man, I would probably be one. So I respectfully declined. However, I could see how it would be more awkward to refuse if you were either a) Korean b) a boy. The normal quiet and mild mannered Dr. Kwon was a little too crunk....and not going to lie I'm a little scarred for life. Then we of course went Karaoking.

I've been super busy writing papers and whatnot. I was able to experience more Korean nightlife on Friday and Saturday which is always amusing. One observation, no one dances! Last night we went to another hip-hop club and seriously everyone just stands around looking psuedo-gangster. They seriously formed a circle around us and were just staring at us dancing, bobbing their heads every now and then. The place we went was hilarious though because on the sign it literally said: "NB1: Black Music" I have a picture of it which I will put up later. I thought that was a bit incorrect as I would say that black people are disproportionally responsible for a ton of different musical genres. But hey.....ignorance is worldwide.

Speaking of the cultural influence of black people I was watching some Korean music videos of probably the most famous Korean singer/actor Rain and everything about him is a rip off of Justin Timberlake who is himself a rip off of Michael Jackson:


Getting to NB1 last night was a little tense. As we were driving there we passed through some people protesting American Beef. There were so many protesters and police in riot gear that it was really unsettling. It was very interesting seeing the range of emotions regarding this beef issue. Some Koreans that I have spoken to a frustrated with what they view as the backwardness of their nation because they see the reduction of trade barriers as not only being beneficial to their nation as a whole but also as symbolic of complete modernity. Yet if I'm talking to a Korean about politics then that clearly means they know English very well and are in all likelihood out of step with the majority of Koreans. At the same time our cabbie accused the protesters of being commies. So it's a mixed bag. In general, I really admire the degree of political activism here in Seoul. In particular, college students are especially bad ass in this regard. For example it was student protests that led to Syngman Rhee to step down as president. Similarly, the beef protests were started by a couple of students. Imagine if there was that level of political participation from students in the United States. CRAZY!

I'm a strong believer in that no one can have power over you unless you give it to them. So i've been trying a new approach with people staring. I just started waving at anyone who looks at me. It's been pretty amusing. I passed some high-school age kids that pointed and I just pointed back and made this face like "OMG KOREANS!" It seems to make the people looking at me uncomfortable but I'm enjoying myself. However, I definitely don't win the award for best foreign person response to being stared at. A friend of mine, who is white and doesn't speak Korean, was riding the subway to work and could tell that the people around him were talking about him because of their body language. So he picked up one of the Korean language newspapers they have on the train and pretended to read it, which resulted in....silence.

I moved to Chungmuro on Sunday. The place where I'm staying, Han Suites, is really nice. More importantly, they have the most attractive man I've seen in all of Korea working at the front desk. He speaks English really well although that's pretty much irrelevant as he's too attractive to talk to. All and all, I continue to live an undeservedly fantastic life. I have had such a great time. My one regret is that I ran out of days to go to Seoul Tower. Home soon, then nyc/nj then back to the grind. Where does the time go?

Songs I like today:
"Thanks a lot" by Neko Case
"All is full of love" by Bjork
"I Get Out" by Lauryn Hill