So I finally finished my first week of work. Yes. It does suck. And yes. It is also pretty fun sometimes. That is all superfluous though when it comes down to the details of how I decide to celebrate my first complete week of work.
Despite all my attempts to be a hermit, I can't help but be a horrible bogan. Also, it doesn't help that soju is literally $1 here. It's cheaper to get drunk than be hydrated in Korea. This is not a good sign for my liver. But it is pretty promising for my wallet. Anyway, after my first trip out to Itaewon (which I will come back to another time) I did not want to have anything to do the US military. So to Hongdae I went with two friends!
Hongdae is the entertainment area around Hongik University, an arts university, and you can tell. You are more likely to see 20-somethings artfully stumbling by in tailored blazers and heels than Korean business men in somber suits. It's a bit of a subway ride from Gwangjin-gu, so Friend L decided that it was wise to buy some soju to pregame for the night. Initially, our plan was to stay out until 6 and get back on the subway home. You already know the trite saying about plans going awry. So add your favorite slob into the equation and extrapolate. Not pretty.
I pretty much single handedly finish the soju before Friend A arrives to meet up with us. Then we decide to go to Ho-Bar, where we all then make the second worst decision of our stay in Korea (I haven't stayed long enough to say worst just yet). For 60,000 won we get a bottle of Sauza, a fruit platter, and a can of sprite. To put this in better perspective, none of us had dinner. So within 15 minutes, I am a utterly wasted and cheering anyone I make eye contact with. I got rejected by some haughty Korean girl and her boy, but everyone else was pretty nice. Or at least from what I remember at this point. I then to proceed to excuse myself to the bathroom to have a discussion with porcelain. At this point, a 3/4 of the bottle has been consumed by 3 girls who didn't eat beforehand. It's going to get GOOOOOOOD.
I stumble out with A & L, who are gracious enough to watch over my ass, and somehow gain entrance to a club. Now, on the outside Club Cocoon looks like a normal building, but inside is some kind of insane mob orgy of sound and people. You know that rave scene in the Matrix? Yeah, except less industrial and more Korean trendy. And very green. The choice of lighting wasn't very flattering, but this place was insane. I wish I was more coherent at this point to enjoy it. I don't know how long we stayed there, but we left again because I looked like I was about to topple over.
We ended up at another Ho-Bar. This time for the purpose of sobering up. Now here comes blackout time. I think I finally ate something here and then we left to find a taxi because no one thinks I can last two hours until 6. A man down situation happens as we try to get a taxi. With that much alcohol between 3 women, a casualty is bound to happen. Now the next hurdle of the night. Getting the fuck home.
NONE of us know the address in Korean. And despite everyone touting how Seoul is an international city, you still need to know some Korean to get around. Somehow we managed to piece "Techno Mart" & Gangbyeon station together to the poor cab driver. Only problem is that when he drops us off we have no idea which direction to go. Yes. Say everything you want about women and directions, but I challenge you to drunken recall your address in another language. Bitch. Anyway, we ended up wandering around, progressively drunk and frightened that we are going to sleep in some godforsaken alleyway. Somehow through the grace of whatever entity is up there, we end up remembering to follow the subway to find our way home. Thank god for small victories.
Hongdae, I was unprepared for you. But, you won't get me again. Next time, no tequila and address written on my forearm. I have a feeling I will be seeing more of you in the future Hongdae.
Your Beloved Mess in Gwangjin,
J
