Seoul Guide 1.1
August 20, 2005
Ok, I've been in Seoul for 6 days now. I have more or less figured out the transport, food, and traffic situations, but one thing I hadn't considered needed figuring out was the 노래방 (karaoke) situation. But last night I was introduced to that "scene" by a friend. Let's just say that it was an interesting experience.
This friend is a Korean that was studying in Perth, and since we hadn't seen him for a few months, we met up for some drinks and food - Korean-style. Getting drunk was a given, although I refrained from getting absolutely trashed. Foreign country, don't know my way around, probably forget what little Korean I know if I drink too much, and all that other fun stuff.
Anyway, we had a good evening... met about 8:30pm, had some food from a street vendor, went to a traditional pub for some cultural introduction, and to sample 'dongdongju' not sure how to spell that in Korean, but basically it's a rice wine that tastes like a cross between 소주 and Baileys. Actually quite nice. After leaving this establishment at about 11:30pm we headed across to another alcohol supplier - trust me, everything is an alochol supplier, and 소주 is literally the same price as water! At this place we (to be read as the Korean friend, and my other friend, but not me) had a bottle of what is Korea's equivalent to 'sake', and then two bottles of 소주... it wasn't getting pretty. And even though I had the want to head home before the subway shut, I thought I better not leave as my fellow white friend probably wouldn't have made it home... aren't I nice?
But yes, both of these people are pretty trashed. And suddenly, "do you want to go to 노래방?" ...yeah, sure, why not we say, or words to that affect.
After walking into the closest 노래방 available, our friend began arguing with the manager... our Korean listening skills not quite up-to-par, we hadn't much of an idea what was going on. Thinking that the argument was something about us being foreigners, and so we left. Went into the next available 노래방... sure enough, another argument, and another abrupt departure. However the third 노래방 was more pleasant, we were accepted, so we took our booth.
Unfortunately, more drinks arrived within seconds - this time a bottle of whisky, of which I had a shot poured and never drunk, whilst the rest of the bottle was finished over the course of the next rather interesting hour. An eye-opener to Korean 'culture'.
All seemed well, our friend sang a song. It looked like it could have been fun - although a little noisy, and the trashy echo was doing my head in, but alas, we can't have it in. But apparently we can have women with our 노래방.
Yes, women.
Not more than 20 minutes after arriving, three rather attractive, although overly dressed in semi-formal apparel, made an entrance into our booth. Are they lost?
No.
Our friend has paid for what he calls "special service".
We tried to get him to explain in detail by what he meant by "special service" but once drunk he loses his near-perfect English ability. But I think I got the gist of what was meant, and I'm sure you get the gist also.
After introducing ourselves, we explained to the girls that we have no idea what is going on, and that I for one am married, and my friend is engaged. They seem a little taken aback by this and question me with "Even though you are married, why does it matter since I (the girl, my girl) am not". As hard as we tried to explain what "marriage" means in our society, it makes no difference as I was recently told that it is assumed that roughly 90% of married Korean males will, and do, cheat on their wives - and it's accepted as long as money is still flowing towards the wife.
The girls finally submit to the fact that we aren't budging on our position, so a normal conversation starts for a little while. Until of course our friend decides we are insulting him by rejecting his offer, or something like that. I'm sure that what appeared like anger from him was mostly alcohol related, as was the decision to take us there, but I think it's inexcusable that he just assumed we would go along with since we are in Korea and should act like Koreans.
In the end, we just upped and left him there in the 노래방 as it was the only way to save ourselves from the, let's be polite and say "uncomfortable" situation that he put us in. I am unsure as to whether he made it home or not, and frankly I couldn't give a fck!
We made it home, with no help from him. Luckily my initial intentions of staying sober for the reasons of foreign navigation had been a success. I halted a taxi - which can be difficult if you're a foreigner - but alas, he pulled over and I gave him directions to our home... we made it... I was so pleased with myself for that :-D
The fun not over, as I had to help foreign buddy up to our fourth floor room - only stairs available - his legs totally useless. And whilst we made it in at 3am and I was up and 8am feeling relatively refreshed and a full load of washing and ironing to complete, foreign buddy hasn't left said fourth floor all day, and has only made it out of the room for vomit-related activites.
A lesson learned?
This friend is a Korean that was studying in Perth, and since we hadn't seen him for a few months, we met up for some drinks and food - Korean-style. Getting drunk was a given, although I refrained from getting absolutely trashed. Foreign country, don't know my way around, probably forget what little Korean I know if I drink too much, and all that other fun stuff.
Anyway, we had a good evening... met about 8:30pm, had some food from a street vendor, went to a traditional pub for some cultural introduction, and to sample 'dongdongju' not sure how to spell that in Korean, but basically it's a rice wine that tastes like a cross between 소주 and Baileys. Actually quite nice. After leaving this establishment at about 11:30pm we headed across to another alcohol supplier - trust me, everything is an alochol supplier, and 소주 is literally the same price as water! At this place we (to be read as the Korean friend, and my other friend, but not me) had a bottle of what is Korea's equivalent to 'sake', and then two bottles of 소주... it wasn't getting pretty. And even though I had the want to head home before the subway shut, I thought I better not leave as my fellow white friend probably wouldn't have made it home... aren't I nice?
But yes, both of these people are pretty trashed. And suddenly, "do you want to go to 노래방?" ...yeah, sure, why not we say, or words to that affect.
After walking into the closest 노래방 available, our friend began arguing with the manager... our Korean listening skills not quite up-to-par, we hadn't much of an idea what was going on. Thinking that the argument was something about us being foreigners, and so we left. Went into the next available 노래방... sure enough, another argument, and another abrupt departure. However the third 노래방 was more pleasant, we were accepted, so we took our booth.
Unfortunately, more drinks arrived within seconds - this time a bottle of whisky, of which I had a shot poured and never drunk, whilst the rest of the bottle was finished over the course of the next rather interesting hour. An eye-opener to Korean 'culture'.
All seemed well, our friend sang a song. It looked like it could have been fun - although a little noisy, and the trashy echo was doing my head in, but alas, we can't have it in. But apparently we can have women with our 노래방.
Yes, women.
Not more than 20 minutes after arriving, three rather attractive, although overly dressed in semi-formal apparel, made an entrance into our booth. Are they lost?
No.
Our friend has paid for what he calls "special service".
We tried to get him to explain in detail by what he meant by "special service" but once drunk he loses his near-perfect English ability. But I think I got the gist of what was meant, and I'm sure you get the gist also.
After introducing ourselves, we explained to the girls that we have no idea what is going on, and that I for one am married, and my friend is engaged. They seem a little taken aback by this and question me with "Even though you are married, why does it matter since I (the girl, my girl) am not". As hard as we tried to explain what "marriage" means in our society, it makes no difference as I was recently told that it is assumed that roughly 90% of married Korean males will, and do, cheat on their wives - and it's accepted as long as money is still flowing towards the wife.
The girls finally submit to the fact that we aren't budging on our position, so a normal conversation starts for a little while. Until of course our friend decides we are insulting him by rejecting his offer, or something like that. I'm sure that what appeared like anger from him was mostly alcohol related, as was the decision to take us there, but I think it's inexcusable that he just assumed we would go along with since we are in Korea and should act like Koreans.
In the end, we just upped and left him there in the 노래방 as it was the only way to save ourselves from the, let's be polite and say "uncomfortable" situation that he put us in. I am unsure as to whether he made it home or not, and frankly I couldn't give a fck!
We made it home, with no help from him. Luckily my initial intentions of staying sober for the reasons of foreign navigation had been a success. I halted a taxi - which can be difficult if you're a foreigner - but alas, he pulled over and I gave him directions to our home... we made it... I was so pleased with myself for that :-D
The fun not over, as I had to help foreign buddy up to our fourth floor room - only stairs available - his legs totally useless. And whilst we made it in at 3am and I was up and 8am feeling relatively refreshed and a full load of washing and ironing to complete, foreign buddy hasn't left said fourth floor all day, and has only made it out of the room for vomit-related activites.
A lesson learned?
