Sunday, June 11, 2006
Another Saturday night in Seoul
I went to a stagette party Saturday night for Sybil (the only one not wearing a black/dark shirt). I had never met her before, but she is a friend of a friend. Due to rain, some of us were thinking of not going out, but in the end decided what the heck, and we all went.
The evening started out at an English pub in Hongdae called The Queen's Head. It took us a bit to find it as it was raining and we had no idea where we were going. We did make it, though.
At the Queen's Head, we had wine and food (the menu was limited, but the food was good). Then we headed to a little bar called Liquid where we sat in a corner area on little cushions around a table. We had Sangria and a cranberry cocktail. Both yummy. 
The waiter wasn't so bad, either!! (Sorry, no pics.)
After we had our fill of Liquid, we headed for another place to haunt. We tried to go to a place called the "Wee Bar" but found that it was no longer there. So, we went to Club PG where it was 10000won for all you can drink. As it was still early in the evening (10ish) the place was completely empty. Not a problem. More space for us to dance. :)
The problem with the place is that it is in the basement and is not well ventillated, so it got very stuffy and hot. Also, the music was a bit louder than necessary, and left all of our ears ringing.
When we all finally decided we needed some fresh air, we headed for BricxX. BricxX in Hongdae is similar but much larger than the BricX in Itaewon. BricxX is all atmosphere and all about comfort.
We had shots, Cosmopolitan martinis and an apple sheesha for us all to share (you each get a little plastic mouthpiece for it). 
Being the women that we are, and that it was a stagette party, we were on a mission to have as many guys as possible, remove their shirts. We started with our young Korean waiter. We picked on both of the waiters and the Moroccan chef, but concentrated our energies on the younger one. He was so shy and embarrassed about it, but you could tell he was loving it. They all were. We managed to get a few buttons undone. :P 
He very quickly fixed it, though, and the tie went back on.
Then 3 guys (2 Irish and 1 Australian) wandered over to our table, probably jealous of all of the attention that the Koreans were getting. They obviously wanted in on the action. With very little coaxing (and an offer of a beer each), their shirts came off. 
They knew what they were getting into when they showed up at our table.
When the sheesha was finished and our drinks were empty, we decided we needed some more dancing. We tried to go back to Club PC, since we had the wrist bands to get in, but it was already closed. So, we went to The Bar in Shinchon. The Bar is a little bar in the basement of a building. It is a very popular little place. Some of my other friends were there, as well. We got more guys to remove their shirts with no coaxing at all. What's the big deal. They're men. Who cares if a guy takes his shirt off.
Once again, it was daylight when we finally decided to call it a night. I got home around 9am. So much for getting anything done on Sunday.
More photos of the evening.
The evening started out at an English pub in Hongdae called The Queen's Head. It took us a bit to find it as it was raining and we had no idea where we were going. We did make it, though.
At the Queen's Head, we had wine and food (the menu was limited, but the food was good). Then we headed to a little bar called Liquid where we sat in a corner area on little cushions around a table. We had Sangria and a cranberry cocktail. Both yummy. The waiter wasn't so bad, either!! (Sorry, no pics.)After we had our fill of Liquid, we headed for another place to haunt. We tried to go to a place called the "Wee Bar" but found that it was no longer there. So, we went to Club PG where it was 10000won for all you can drink. As it was still early in the evening (10ish) the place was completely empty. Not a problem. More space for us to dance. :)
The problem with the place is that it is in the basement and is not well ventillated, so it got very stuffy and hot. Also, the music was a bit louder than necessary, and left all of our ears ringing.When we all finally decided we needed some fresh air, we headed for BricxX. BricxX in Hongdae is similar but much larger than the BricX in Itaewon. BricxX is all atmosphere and all about comfort.
We had shots, Cosmopolitan martinis and an apple sheesha for us all to share (you each get a little plastic mouthpiece for it). Being the women that we are, and that it was a stagette party, we were on a mission to have as many guys as possible, remove their shirts. We started with our young Korean waiter. We picked on both of the waiters and the Moroccan chef, but concentrated our energies on the younger one. He was so shy and embarrassed about it, but you could tell he was loving it. They all were. We managed to get a few buttons undone. :P He very quickly fixed it, though, and the tie went back on.Then 3 guys (2 Irish and 1 Australian) wandered over to our table, probably jealous of all of the attention that the Koreans were getting. They obviously wanted in on the action. With very little coaxing (and an offer of a beer each), their shirts came off. They knew what they were getting into when they showed up at our table.When the sheesha was finished and our drinks were empty, we decided we needed some more dancing. We tried to go back to Club PC, since we had the wrist bands to get in, but it was already closed. So, we went to The Bar in Shinchon. The Bar is a little bar in the basement of a building. It is a very popular little place. Some of my other friends were there, as well. We got more guys to remove their shirts with no coaxing at all. What's the big deal. They're men. Who cares if a guy takes his shirt off.
Once again, it was daylight when we finally decided to call it a night. I got home around 9am. So much for getting anything done on Sunday.More photos of the evening.
rock, scissors, paper
A perfect way to settle any arguement.
Rock, scissors, paper (also known as rock, paper, scissors, or paper, rock, scissors, etc.) is not just some kids game. It is a serious game. There is even a world championship for it every year in Toronto. Check out the World RPS website where you will find the official rules, strategies, and information on tournaments, among other things.
Rock, scissors, paper is a very popular game in Korea. Children often play it in their breaks,, or when divvying up snacks or what ever. It is a great way to solve disputes in the classroom. There is never any arguement over the results of a rock, scissors, paper game. The obsession isn't just with the kids, either. Even the US legal system sometimes employs this little problem solver. Imagine that! Other big disputes have also been solve with the little game (found on Wikipedia's rock, paper, scissors page):
Try your luck with the online rock, paper, scissors game.
For a little rock, scissors, paper humor: Rock, Paper, Saddam
Rock, scissors, paper (also known as rock, paper, scissors, or paper, rock, scissors, etc.) is not just some kids game. It is a serious game. There is even a world championship for it every year in Toronto. Check out the World RPS website where you will find the official rules, strategies, and information on tournaments, among other things.
Rock, scissors, paper is a very popular game in Korea. Children often play it in their breaks,, or when divvying up snacks or what ever. It is a great way to solve disputes in the classroom. There is never any arguement over the results of a rock, scissors, paper game. The obsession isn't just with the kids, either. Even the US legal system sometimes employs this little problem solver. Imagine that! Other big disputes have also been solve with the little game (found on Wikipedia's rock, paper, scissors page):
One high-profile strategic opinion came in 2005 from Alice Maclean, age 11. When rival auction houses Christie's and Sotheby's agreed to play rock-paper-scissors to determine the rights to a highly valuable art collection, Maclean's father Nicholas, a Christie's employee, asked her for advice. As later told to reporters, her strategy was summed up thus: "Everybody knows you always start with scissors. Rock is way too obvious, and scissors beats paper." (Christie's won, with scissors.)
Try your luck with the online rock, paper, scissors game.
For a little rock, scissors, paper humor: Rock, Paper, Saddam
Friday, June 09, 2006
Is that so???
From the cover of a brochure received at the Queen's Bday Ball. No, it isn't a Korean company. cute kids
Chae-Yun is one of the students in the Squirrel class (Korean 6 year old... meaning 4 or 5 in normal age). She is soooo cute, and very sweet. She is one of the students that actually pays attention (well... most of the time, anyway). When she sees me in the hall, she always follows me around (like many of the students do). (Her teeth do need some work, though.) 
He is in the Hippo Class (the younger of the Korean 5 year olds... basically all of them are 3).
kids and their teeth
One thing that I have always noticed in Korea is how bad many of the kids' teeth are. They range from spaced out, to black, to completely metal mouths (fillings). The kids are all so cute... but their teeth leave something to be desired. Once they loose their baby teeth and their adult teeth grow in, for the most part, all is well. I have heard that the problem stems from the fact that Korean women don't drink enough milk, or get enough calcium when they are pregnant, resulting in very weak baby teeth. It could also just be due to the huge amounts of sugar that the kids are ingesting. Everything for kids here is super sweet. They eat a lot of junk food and sweets. They are constantly eating candy and ice-cream and super sweet yogurt drinks. As a rule, the kids have to brush their teeth after lunch at the kindy school, but by they time the start going, their teeth are already shot. It is kinda sad, actually. 
This is Andy, a student at LCC. Cute kid, but a troublemaker!!!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Happy Birthday to me...
Well, another birthday has come and gone. It kinda sucks that it was during the week, as most of my friends work and live too far away to have done anything. The kindy school had a cake for me, which I had with some of the teachers after I finished teaching at LCC. Then I watched them make practice runs through a lesson that they will all be giving later this month in front of all of the parents. When that finally finished, some of the teachers and I went out for some shyabu shyabu. I guess it is actually a Mongolian food (that is what they were telling me). I have heard several different ideas of where it originated, though. After we all had our fill (it really is filling), 3 of us went to a noraebang for some singing fun. The others all had to head home for one reason or another (married, kids, parents, etc). Anyway, it was a fun evening. 
school bus
Wooil kindy school has several school buses. Here you can see the "Pooh bus", the "Mickey bus", and the "Donald bus". There is also a "Goofy bus". The drivers all carry the nickname of the bus they drive (although I'm not sure they know that). They somehow each resemble their character. It is kinda funny actually, if you actually meet them, or see them. A bit difficult to explain though. I suppose it's kind of like an inside joke. You have to be there.The buses run for the kindy kids as well as the LCC and Taekwondo and all of the other students taking what ever else is offered (piano, swimming, ballet, etc.???) The drivers also double as swimming and Taekwondo instructors, or maintenance men or what ever other position is needed.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
The Queen's Birthday Ball
Last night I went with 9 of my friends to the Queen's Birthday Ball, held in the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. It was an amazing night. I am so glad that I went.
The entrance to the ballroom:
... yes, that is real grass on the floor!!!
The entrance to the ballroom:
... yes, that is real grass on the floor!!!Not only was there grass on the floor at the entry to the ballroom, there was also sod on the tables... in the centre piece and on a plate at each setting. (Not for eating!)
We had table #1!!! The good thing about table 1 was that we were right near the corner, in front of the sculpture garden, so there were no tables behind us. Me and the giraffe:
We didn't win any of the raffle prizes or the spot prizes, but we did win the table quiz contest. We tied with one other table, and so they had someone choose random numbers and we won... we each got a bottle of champagne. Yay. There were also gifts for attending, make-up for the ladies (Chanel) and alcohol for the guys (Ballantines).
The entertainment for the night was THE LIGHTYEARS, an awesome band from England. If you are interested, a couple of their songs can be downloaded from their site. 
They were great! Very talented musicians. And of course they are all hot as well. Watching them on stage, other than the great music, the first thing I noticed was a certain set of eyes. ;) Too bad photos can't really capture things like the glow of a person's eyes. ANYway... we were all quite impressed with the band.
We got to talking to them after they finished playing. I think they were quite happy to meet some people to hang out with, to show them another part of the city. It was their first time outside of Europe. The ambassador flew them to Seoul for the Ball. We all went to Itaewon to one of the clubs there for some drinks. Then it was off to a Noraebang (Korean karaoke). Yes, they had been singing all evening, but they were up for some more... a different kind of singing. Less pressure, more just plain fun. And, of course, our champagne helped!!!
John (sometimes plays with the band... bass guitar), me, Chris (piano and vocals) and George (guitar and vocals). The drummer, Tony, decided not to join us and he went back to their hotel for the night. John and George are brothers. They are all really cool guys to hang with. We all had a lot of fun. I think we wore them out, though. We left the Noraebang at around 8:30am, I think!!! 4 hours of Noraebang?
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