Ok, so Wednesday was teacher's day at my school, which means the teachers in each grade go out and do stuff together. School ends early and the kids are sent home and then the teachers go do stuff. Since, I work with the grade 6 teachers I got to hang out with them for the afternoon and well into the evening. We went bowling around 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon and split off into teams of two and played each other. 
I didn't bowl a very great game because I'm a bit rusty and I was a bit nervous hanging out with all my co-teachers. They thought it was great that I was there and we bowled four rounds. My teammate and I beat Jiny and her teammate, so we didn't have to pay the 2,000 won if we lost. Bowling lasted a good two hours before we headed out for dinner to this amazing Korean restaurant that just so happens to be about 10 minutes from my apartment.
Well, this is when the fun went to a whole new level. Koreans like to drink and when I say drink I mean shot after shot of soju and glasses of beer. Basically, ever 5 minutes there was a cheer in Korean and all I could hear was 'Welcome', so that is when I pretty much asumed it was for me. I learnt how to say a few cheers in Korean, one of them is, "konbae!" The drinking etiquette is also a huge part of any Korean drinking festivity and I had my first 'oops' while drinking with them. Proper etiquette is to always pour a drink with two hands and pass a drink or accept a drink with two hands on the cup. Well, I had forgotten and served one of the elder teachers her shot of soju and she got angry and then I was corrected by Jiny and I apologized and they all forgave me and it didn't happen again. Also, they basically exchange a cup around the table. A shot glass gets passed around the table, so each person can be served and serve a shot of soju. It seems unsanitary to share one cup, but you get use to it and you don't really have a choice. You cannot refuse your first drink, but you can politiely refuse any drinks that follow if you don't want more. They push drinking hardcore when you are out to dinner, so I fit right in because I'm a drinker. However, I did not get drunk, just tipsy. The other teachers were all drunk and just so hilarious. One kept falling asleep at the dinner table and when ever she got woken up she would say, "No Problems" and then take another shot of soju, it was hilarious. Then they would all tell me I'm cute, pretty, good teacher, etc. My head was started to get bigger and bigger from all the compliments. I also got given my Korean name by Jiny and one of the older grade 6 teachers. My name is Eugene and it means 'soft and true'. I think that may be the tattoo I've been waiting to get...I didn't take any pictures of dinner, but I did take a picture of Yong and I just before we left the restaurant.
After, dinner we all headed to noreabang and did some singing. Since, I still had my cold I wasn't feeling it, but I didn't want to disappoint the teachers and not sing, so I sang anyways even though I know I sounded 10 times worse than I do when I'm not sick. 
Well, more beers were drank at noreabang and appetizers were eaten because Koreans can't drink alcohol without food. Noreabang lasted about an hour and half or so before we all left and moved onto the next location. 
Jiny went home and Yong got dropped off at another restaurant because of a prior committment. Anywas, we ended up at a semi-Western bar that is literally two blocks from apartment, so I'm glad I know that for future. More beer and appetizers were ordered and two of the 6th grade teachers bought me a thing of chocolate and some flowers to officially welcome me to Korea and for being a great english teacher. After, we were finished there I got a white kiss hot chocolate bought for me and a ride home from one of the teachers because they refused to let me walk two blocks. I also, forgot to mention that I didn't pay for anything at all on teacher's day. Koreans don't usually let foreigners pay, especially their first time out. All in all Wednesday was a great day and I loved experiencing a full on Korean style dinner party with my grade 6 teachers for the first time. 
I didn't bowl a very great game because I'm a bit rusty and I was a bit nervous hanging out with all my co-teachers. They thought it was great that I was there and we bowled four rounds. My teammate and I beat Jiny and her teammate, so we didn't have to pay the 2,000 won if we lost. Bowling lasted a good two hours before we headed out for dinner to this amazing Korean restaurant that just so happens to be about 10 minutes from my apartment.
Well, this is when the fun went to a whole new level. Koreans like to drink and when I say drink I mean shot after shot of soju and glasses of beer. Basically, ever 5 minutes there was a cheer in Korean and all I could hear was 'Welcome', so that is when I pretty much asumed it was for me. I learnt how to say a few cheers in Korean, one of them is, "konbae!" The drinking etiquette is also a huge part of any Korean drinking festivity and I had my first 'oops' while drinking with them. Proper etiquette is to always pour a drink with two hands and pass a drink or accept a drink with two hands on the cup. Well, I had forgotten and served one of the elder teachers her shot of soju and she got angry and then I was corrected by Jiny and I apologized and they all forgave me and it didn't happen again. Also, they basically exchange a cup around the table. A shot glass gets passed around the table, so each person can be served and serve a shot of soju. It seems unsanitary to share one cup, but you get use to it and you don't really have a choice. You cannot refuse your first drink, but you can politiely refuse any drinks that follow if you don't want more. They push drinking hardcore when you are out to dinner, so I fit right in because I'm a drinker. However, I did not get drunk, just tipsy. The other teachers were all drunk and just so hilarious. One kept falling asleep at the dinner table and when ever she got woken up she would say, "No Problems" and then take another shot of soju, it was hilarious. Then they would all tell me I'm cute, pretty, good teacher, etc. My head was started to get bigger and bigger from all the compliments. I also got given my Korean name by Jiny and one of the older grade 6 teachers. My name is Eugene and it means 'soft and true'. I think that may be the tattoo I've been waiting to get...I didn't take any pictures of dinner, but I did take a picture of Yong and I just before we left the restaurant. After, dinner we all headed to noreabang and did some singing. Since, I still had my cold I wasn't feeling it, but I didn't want to disappoint the teachers and not sing, so I sang anyways even though I know I sounded 10 times worse than I do when I'm not sick. 
Well, more beers were drank at noreabang and appetizers were eaten because Koreans can't drink alcohol without food. Noreabang lasted about an hour and half or so before we all left and moved onto the next location. 
Jiny went home and Yong got dropped off at another restaurant because of a prior committment. Anywas, we ended up at a semi-Western bar that is literally two blocks from apartment, so I'm glad I know that for future. More beer and appetizers were ordered and two of the 6th grade teachers bought me a thing of chocolate and some flowers to officially welcome me to Korea and for being a great english teacher. After, we were finished there I got a white kiss hot chocolate bought for me and a ride home from one of the teachers because they refused to let me walk two blocks. I also, forgot to mention that I didn't pay for anything at all on teacher's day. Koreans don't usually let foreigners pay, especially their first time out. All in all Wednesday was a great day and I loved experiencing a full on Korean style dinner party with my grade 6 teachers for the first time. 
3 comments:
Man this ettiquttee must be hard to get used to. But your advetures are really helping me . We have a few super asian people at work and I now undertsnd why they are so in my face ans pusshy to know things and why they spit and they want to know all about me. They don't know our culture and we don't know theirs so it has to be a tough adjustment. Your blog gives me the incentive I need to be a nicer more patient person... that's right believe it.
oh, and what is with the constant peace hand signs? are you at woodstock?
oh, so I just looked at my horrible spelling and thought of your mom. I was talking to her about an hour ago and she was telling me how she takes your blogs, copies and pastes them into word and highlights all your spelling mistakes in red... Ha Ha Ha. Juria the teacher just got "schooled" by her mom.
It's because I write them while I'm watching TV or a DVD. She is like that. I do it for her, she owes me...no wait that Lauren. Their etiquette is so important to follow here. The constant peace sign is because in Korea it means "Victory", so they do it all the time. You know the whole, we beat you Japan, now get the fuck out thing.
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