A Night Out in Kangnam

I wanted to write about this a few days ago, but got really busy with work and needed a day or two to recover.

We had a Legal Department after-work function (회식) last week and usually attendance is mandatory (although there’s no written rules on this).You just can’t say “I can’t go...” or “I don’t want to go...”  These after-work functions are known to be nights out with the co-workers where there is quite a bit of drinking and eating.  Sometimes, there can be legendary stories (like mine in this entry). 

So we ended up going to Kangnam and went to a sashimi place.  Fortuntely, drinking was on the light side that evening; however, the food was quite an experience.

I like eating sushi and sashimi.So first course wasn’t so bad and I actually enjoyed it.  Washed it down with some soju too.

Then the second course came out.  Like the French, the Koreans eat sea snails.  So yeah, we had sea snails a/k/a turbanidae (소라).  I’m not that particular to sea snails but I just chewed as fast as I could and swallowed.

The third course was something called “과매기” which is mackerel that is dried and seasoned.  Some people love this stuff and others just want to barf at the taste and smell.  I fall in the latter group...and could barely eat one whole piece.  You’re supposed to eat it with 초밥 and some red hot sauce (초고추장) wrapped in seaweed.  You definitely taste the sea in this bite.  I ate one holding my breath as long as I could and said, “thanks but no thanks.”

The fourth course is the kicker.  I had no idea that this was coming.Live octopus a/k/a 산낙지.  The legs and tentacles were moving in the bowl and it literally scared me.  The thought of eating a live octopus whole.  I was somewhat spared because I was given one leg/tentacle...still, it was daunting.  One of the co-workers said, “it’s not alive because it’s cut up.”  Yeah right, it’s a damn sea creature and it is still alive even if you chop it up.  I dipped it into as much 초고추장 and put it into my mouth.  I was told to chew it as much as ;possible or else it will take grip to your inner cheeks, tongue and throat.  I don’t know, I didn’t really taste anything but the texture and the octopus leg wriggling in my mouth was not pleasant.  So as to not shame myself or others, I had another piece and just smiled.  ARGH.

The highlight of the evening didn’t come until we began to leave the restaurant.  We’re pretty drunk and full from eating.  I think the octopus was still alive in my stomach.  It was one of those traditional Korean restaurants where you sit on the floor at a low table so we left our shoes in the entrance-way where there was shelving like a bookcase for the guests’ shoes.  Guess what?  My shoes were gone.  Apparently, someone either made a mistake or they thought my shoes were nicer. Yeah, they were...I just bought the shoes before I came to Korea and they were a brand new pair of Kenneth Coles.  I was pretty pissed to say the least.

No choice.  I wasn’t wearing the last pair of old, cracked and smelly shoes that some asshole left for me in exchange for my spanking new Kenneth Coles.

I ended up taking the plastic slippers from the restroom, wearing them home while wearing my suit.  It was quite a scene on the subway from Kangnam to Yongsan.  I looked like such an ajussi and smelled like one of alcohol too!

The next day, my assistant called the restaurant and she got them to reimburse me for the Kenneth Coles...KRW 150,000.  I'm not sure if I got a good deal or not.

A Prayer for S...

I'm not really into praying but maybe I should just say a short one for my friend S.  Cancer has affected many of my friends and family members.  I should donate to the American Cancer Society...wish there was a cure.  Anyway, prayer in numbers can only be a good thing.

me:      hi s…

S:        hi oppa!

oh my gosh I just want to say thank you for all that work

me:      it was really nothing

S:        I felt bad this morning when I saw your email, I know you have alot of work to do

me:      no worries...that's what friends are for

and i'll call your debt when you are here

S:        haha!

so how is korea so far?

 me:     it's excellent

i'm never going back

haha

 S:       huh??

wow...just like me

I love living in Korea

 me:     things are good here

 S:       also have you gotten the swine flu shot yet?

I just got it yesterday and I'm sick. I didn't even want to get it in the first place but since my wbc was so low, my oncologist said I had to get it

me:      well...i got it

and i was sick for a day or two afterwards

it's usual

and of course, you should get it

S:        I have a fever, achy and can't stop coughing.

me:      it's the flu strains fighting in your body

 it's normal

 it'll take a day or two to get over

S:         I know

 I hope so.

 I have another favor to ask, this one you can do at home

me:       what is it?

 i hope i can help?

S:         it's a prayer request for me.

me:       haha...my prayers are never listened to

S:         trust me he's listening to you

 I haven't even told my family of this news but I did share it with my close friends

me:       what is it?

S:         My CT scan showed a mass in my pelvis

me:       eerrrrr...and?

S:         I just did another CT scan this moring and I have to go back tomorrow

me:       what are the doctors saying???

S:         My oncologist is 90% sure I'm relapsing from my cervical cancer

me:       omg...that's terrible!!!

S:         I've been having pain in my pelvis for about 3 months and I just thought its 

            the  monthly issue  and didn't think twice about it

 the pain got so bad I went to the ER and they did a CT scan and then I spent 1 day there

 and they said for me to go see my oncologist

 we did 2 CT scans now and both are the same results. Today I had a CT with constras

 on top of this bad news, I got even more bad news. I have 3 blood clots and my PT/INR is  crazy

me:      i will have to defintely pray for you...i shouldn't say that my prayers aren't always heard as  i've been quite fortunate in my life too and i can't take all the credit for it

maybe you're working too hard?

S:        well the blood clot issue is not stress related.

the mass I don't know.

me:      you should take a vacation...like to korea

see your mom and friends (like me)

S:        I can't go home to korea until the rest of the results are back

I miss my mom and yes you too oppa.

me:     well...you should get some rest...i'm not even sure why you're up at this hour???  it's 1:30 AM there.

S:        I'm finishing up some work

me:      come on susan...that stuff is not important...compared to your health

S:        ever since I went into partnership I've worked harder then I did fresh out of law school!

me:      and i don't even know what you're getting out of this

you guys should hire a consultant to this...not you

S:        one of the guys/ investor is really cheap

I recommened that we should hire a constultant but he was a no go

me:      well...i won't comment on how inefficient this is for you guys not to mention cost-ineffective

S:        tell me about it

me:      that's kind of silly considering the size of your project...it's not like you're embarking on opening a yogurt shop

S:        we just moved to a new office and were going to get a lexisnexis account

me:      i would recommend that

s...i'm sorry...i have to run to a meeting

S:        I think yogurt shop would of been better for me

ok no worries

 me:     i agree...a pinkberry or red mango

get to bed

S:        I will. have a nice day oppa

I will email after I get the result

me:      ok...and in the meantime, i'll say that prayer for you

chin up

nite nite

S:        Nite nite

The New York Yankees...

the World Series Champions for the 27th time.

New stadium...same results.

I feel like I really missed out this year being in Korea and not being in NYC for the fall classic.  I was able to watch the games on streaming video at work (due to the time zone difference) but it's still not the same.  I had my rally cap (my Yankees 2000 World Series baseball cap) sitting on my desk.  I had to softly cheer on my team as I sat there working away and watching the game behind other MS Word windows on the computer monitor.

Strangely, last night going home with a friend on a subway in the center of Seoul, we got on a subway car wearing my Yankees cap and there he was...some other Korean dude wearing a Phillies cap.  My co-worker told me, "he has no idea what the "P" stands for on his baseball hat..." and that he's only wearing it as a fashion statement.  How sad.

Anyway...kudos to the Yankees!!!

I Love Beautiful Breasts

I totally forgot to post this picture on Xanga.  Better late than never!  I was on my way home one evening and I couldn't resist, I had to take out my iPhone camera and take a snapshot of this...too funny.

The advertisment says, "아이러브 예쁜가슴" which literally is translated into "I love beautiful breasts."  That's pretty aggressive marketing if you ask me!  Direct and to the point!!!

I guess Korean women these days are getting implants???  That's a shame, I'm not one for big boobies.  I think Asian women with a firm B-cup is enough for me.

A Restaurant with a View

I visited the Shilla Hotel on Sunday late morning for brunch.  Actually, the restaurant is called the "Continental" and it's on the 23rd floor which is the very top but remember, the hotel is set up high on a somewhat small mountain top.  But yeah, it's probably one of the best hotels in Seoul and it cost me an arm-and-a-leg to eat there at about KRW 55,000.  But let me say this, it was well worth it and you know what?  I forgot to take pictures of the plates!!!

I do have fond memories of the Shilla Hotel.  Back in 1989, I partied with other summer school students at the "Pointe" which was a happening club back then with DJ's from the military base.  Fun times.  Of course, in 1999 ten years later, I had a memorable time here too.  I'll keep this part private.

Anyway, brunch started out with a breakfast buffet consisting of quiche, scrambled eggs, Belgian waffles, sausage links, bacon, caesar salad, mozzarella/tomatos, etc.  There was also mini-sashimi and other delectables.  I drank a glass of milk, a glass of apple juice and a glass of orange juice.  Then there was the main course which consisted of potato leek soup, king crab medallions, seafood penne, filet mignon, braised cod and roasted pork loin all washed down with champagne.  There was a dessert buffet to top it off with a very good cup of coffee.  I ate like a pig but it was the first time in three months that I have been in Korea that I actually ate like an American!

Delicious...and the views were spectacular too!