SEOUL - NOVEMBER 25, 2000
A good weekend. First, I met my old friend Keith from KwangJu (who also taught with me in Pusan in the past). Later after he left with his girlfriend, and that same night as I went out for the evening, I met another of my old co-teachers in Pusan, Herb. I haven't seen him or heard from him in about four years. Not since Pusan. I knew he lived in Seoul, but I wasn't so sure where and how to contact him. Then on top of that, I found out that another co-teacher from Pusan, Alice, recently made the move from Pusan to Seoul. She is teaching at the same school as Herb is. Its really a small world for the expat community in Korea. So strange how family-ish things can be in this country. Actually I've met a number of Pusan survivors who've made their way up to Seoul over the last four years or so.... speaking of which... since I saw a couple of old Pusan friends... time for some good PUSAN STORIES!!
First off, none of the nuttiness of Pusan happens here, and throughout the weekend while swapping Seoul/Pusan stories, they were pretty funny. Seoul is a very international cosmopolitan, everything happens here kind of place. Pusan on the other hand, is kind of a backwater large city with alot of just strange incidents which happen.
First off, our old school in Pusan was about 10 minutes walk from our apartment. Between the two places, was one of the largest dog markets in Korea. Anyhow, as you can imagine, the Koreans who still eat dog are a pretty strange bunch, especially in comparison to the highly educated Seoul person. But anyhow, my favorite Pusan memory is going by the dog market on a Tuesday afternoon, and watching an older Korean man, with brown plaid pants and green plaid shirts (common clothing attire for older generation men in Pusan). Anyhow, this particular man was drunk (an also common occurance throughout Korea), and he was in the middle of the street oin this sunny peaceful Tuesday afternoon. He apparently decided he had to take a piss in the middle of the street. I guess he couldn't wait to find a bathroom. So he proceeded to pull down his pants, which fell down to his knees. So then he just began to take his piss, and the stream of piss went directly into his pants which were wrapped around his knees. I remember very clearly just going by on the bus, and watching his pants just soaking up the urine. Meanwhile, the oddest part of the story, was no one else really seemed to notice or care. I don't think it really struck the Koreans who lived in the part of Pusan, as all that odd of a sight to see.
One of my friends this weekend was telling me his favorite story. Our old roommate Derrick was on a bus, and incidently on many of the very small narrow Pusan streets, there are great difficulties when two buses try to take the same corner, as the corner can only take one bus going around it at a time. When two buses do take the same corner going towards each other, one of them will have to back up, and let the other one through. Well, on this particular bus ride, two bus drivers met on a corner head-to-head, and neither of them refused to back up to let the other one go by, so the both got out of the bus, and began physically fighting in the streets. Everyone watied on the buses to see who would win, and eventually it was sorted out, and they were all free to go once again. Since I wasn't there, I often wonder what kind of fighting it was, or maybe just pushing and shoving around. Its kind of funny, but it doesn't surprise me at all that each would get out of their bus and push each other around a lilttle bit to settle their disputes. Pusan people are well-known for their roughness.
Oh, and speaking of Pusan stories, it was really common while trying to get on a bus or subway, to be pushed in the back. People behind you would try to get on, and others were trying to get off at the same time. Everyone would be phsyically pushing and shoving to get on the bus. Amazingly, some of the most physical and aggressive pushers trying to get on the buses would be lilttle old ajamas. I don't know how many times in Pusan, I would be getting pushed in the back, to give who I thought was some guy pushing me only to see some old ajama lady. Pusan was definetely an odd place. Absolutely none of that stuff exists in Seoul. Its really nice here.
Speaking of which, I've been continously overwhelmed by this 'I love Seoul' feeling. I don't know if I'm still in my Honeymoon period since I've only been here for two months so far. There is a very strong 'culture shock cycle', which I thought I might be immune to now, since I've went through a few of those cycles, particulary the first time I left USA and came to Pusan four years ago. Well, in case you are wondering, the culture shock cycle usually begins with a high, or a real strong interest or fascination with your new environment for three months. During this time, its your honeymoon period with the place. Then once everything has really settled in, there is a strong depression, or feeling of normality with the place, where often one begins to struggle with the new envornment. This actually happens during months four, five, and six. If a person can make it past six months, then everything will even itself out, and then everything is just as it should be again. Actually most of the people who suddenly left Pusan usually left at that time, right during the low point of the cycle. Anyhow, maybe I'm still in the Honeymoon period of Seoul?
On to other things, I'm debating on where to go next month. I am planning to escape from Korea for three weeks, but not entirely sure where I will go. I know it will either be Indonesia or it will be Vietnam. I'm still not so sure which country it will be. If I make it to Vietnam, I may be able to make a run to Cambodia and see Angkor Wat, which is suppose to be an amazing place (the Macchu Picchu of Southeast Asia), but actually Angkor Watt takes a few days to adequately explore, whereas Macchu Picchu in Peru can be seen pretty well in a day.
I also have to go into one other thing regarding Seoul. There are lots of interesting entertaiment places, and for the most part, I just haven't been aware of them. But I thought I'd go into them slightly, as my friend Keith and his girlfriend showed me some extremely entertaining entertainment aspects of Korea.
First, they showed me this place, which is actually right in the really dense Bar Nightlife area of Seoul's Shinchon. There are these mechanical horses that you ride. There is a screen where the horse is running down the track, and while you are on the mechanical horse, which is the size of a real horse, it gallops as you slap its neck, where a button makes it 'go faster'. You also have to steer your horse by holding on the reigns and pulling to the right or left. While on it, you race the other person next to you. Keith and I had a race, and it was alot of fun. I've seen the place a few times without really any interest, but funny how suddenly someone introduces it to you, and suddenly you really see it for the first time. Its a riot at nighttime, as many drunken people pay their $1 for this very virtual reality like horse race. You have to be strong to do it though, they advertise out front that this is good for people who are on a diet. Because the horse really gallops hard! My friend Keith's back was sore after our 10-minute race! That was an experience, I defintely need to do again.
After that, they showed me some of the other games in the area, which included simulated dancing, where you had to a large platform, and had to mimic the dance moves on the floor as the computer screen indicated. Also, along this same theme, there were other games where you were a Rap DeeJay and had to spin the records at the right time, and match the beats of a simulated computer, as well, as some other ones with drums and guitars and such. Pretty advanced stuff. My friend was saying most of the stuff was coming over from Japan. Very entertaining, I can't even begin to explain all the various toys. All I can say is that video game arcades places have absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to the video arcade places that I remember as a teenager over ten years ago.
To read the Next Journal Entry: November 30, 2000
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