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 | Blogs > Jeff1701 > A Canadian in Korea > Fear and Loathing in Daejeon by Jeff1701A |
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First of all this was a story a I wrote for a foreigner group newsletter in Daejeon. I won't say which on because I don't KFF to boot me for some rule. Here it is. Myself coming from Alberta, Canada, I was a bit surprised by the drinking culture here in Korea. I’ve been to Arizona and Las Vegas and so the concept of getting a beer from a 7-11 anytime was not new to me. That Korean man sitting in the pouring rain with a 1.8 Liter bottle of beer was a new sight for me. Still it did make me better about my own drinking habits. Granted I’m no stranger to the bars and AA meetings, but after a hard day of babysitting ADD Korean children there is nothing better for me to unwind than a couple of beers; however, they are the 1.8 Liters. So this is just going to be fair warning to any new westerners that have just arrived in Korea and are new to the bar scene. If your from the Prairies, like myself, then all the bars back home are on the ground. In Daejeon almost every bar is above or below sea level, after a full night of drinking the cheap four thousand won beer, Hite, Red Rock, or Cass that stairway is going to be a drunken Everest excursion. At about half way up or down the steps just make base camp and try to for the summit in the morning. Usually there will be a Korean cab driver that will grab your arm while drinking a shot of Soju shovel your drunken ass into a cab and drop you off at home. On the subject of Soju if you want to describe Soju to your friends back home, it is best described as if the two drinks Tequila and Saki could themselves both get drunk and have a one night stand the resulting offspring would be Soju. Some hard alcohol drinks do different things to different people. For example in Canada, Rye is generally known to be anger in a bottle. Soju is a lot like wanting to have a three-way with your long time girlfriend and her experimental friend from college. Seems like a good idea at the time, but it may have unforeseen consequences. You figure that if you just get this out of your system; you be able to settle down and start a family. Then the morning after your long time girlfriend tells you she’s dumping you for her experimental friend from college. Or maybe that’s just how it is with me. So everyone watch out that one missed placed brick that I seem to always trip over coming out of Brickhouse. |
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5/9/2008 7:23 pm |
Hmm.. Insightful, Jeff. I guess I've learned something here by reading your experience: I need not ever start drinking. Not good, not good.... Welcome to KFF blogg board. Hope to see more of your blogging expertise as time and a ready pen allows. Much Love and Respect, Noni "Only two things infinite, the universe and human stupidity, - I'm not sure about the former."
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 5/10/2008 4:45 am |
Yes drinking is bad. But the people in the bar thought my little story was funny. glad to be on the KFF board
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 5/10/2008 9:10 am |
So, what are ya trying to say....Korean's drink more than you ? 
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5/10/2008 12:16 pm |
 "Only two things infinite, the universe and human stupidity, - I'm not sure about the former."
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5/10/2008 1:23 pm |
Dear Jeff, if you going to compare the Korean drinking culture, please portray an accurate picture. It is not in Korean culture to drink on the street. I ve seen more bums on the street in San Francisco drinking out of brown bags. Some western friends I know carry whiskey in casks and drink at gold courses. Koreans like to drink in social settings. If you want, you can read my blog posting on Korean drinking establishments.... Trying to read your blog post is like cleaning up someone else's messy room and trying to decide where to place everything that is loosely thrown about. Logic, I found under the bed. Cutely packaged metaphor morsels are all over, had to pick them up one by one like cookie crumbs. Anecdote in the corner, innuendos that corner... it s really hard to put them in proper places, you know what I mean? lol. By the way, has anyone told you that you look like Shah Pahlavi of Iran? Che to ri?
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5/11/2008 4:16 pm |
Posted by One of Jeff's ADD Students: Another day in this stupid English tutoring class. I don't understand why I have come here to listen to this boring teacher. He says he is from Canada, but he looks more like the guy that owns the 7-11 store in San Jose, California. He always talks about himself and how he misses his own country. I know he has hots for all the good looking girls in the class, and he only calls on them for questions. God, I hate this class. Worst thing is my mother pays $1000 for this stupid class. These people come here, make good money, screw empty headed Korean girls, and they complain about little things... the world isn't fair.
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5/12/2008 10:07 pm |
Jeff, show my comments or I ll post it on my own blog.
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5/13/2008 7:48 am |
I'm sorry to everyone that I offended with my blog. I do love Korea and I've even eaten bo sin tang, but my favorite food is Gogi Man Du. I'm enjoying my time in Korea and I will be more careful with what I do and say on KFF. My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular. Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. (1900 - 1965), Speech in Detroit, 7 Oct. 1952 The 'Net is a waste of time, and that's exactly what's right about it. William Gibson (1948 - )
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5/13/2008 8:35 am |
A lifetime of cleverness can be interrupted by moments of stupidity. Chinese proverb
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5/13/2008 8:55 am |
Jeff. you are safe here in KFF society. you are free to say whatever, just as Pepe is free to have a little fun at your cost. No big deal, Jeffrey. Umm... stay away from boshintang, though, you don't wanna know how those dogs are harvested.... eck.
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5/13/2008 10:40 am |
LOL Memo... I really like this proverb.
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5/13/2008 7:07 pm |
Tolerance people...(smile) I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, And you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful. If not, it can't be helped. (Fritz Perls, 1969) Hey, ...If this was a story that Jeff wrote for a foreigner group newsletter in Daejeon, then tell me ... What about the rights of people In Korea in terms of freedom of the press? IS Korea considered a free society or not? Is Jeff's freedom in writing in Korea as a foreigner any different than other liberties of people in that country, despite their being Korean? Is not freedom to write what we feel both individual and institutional? FREEDOM applies here to Jeff's right to publish his ideas. One sign of the importance of a Jeff's freedom is that when placed in a bad light, SOME drunk bedfellows... first inclination is often to 'muzzle the press'. My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular. --Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. (1900 - 1965), Speech in Detroit, 7 Oct. 1952 Good one, Jeff...(wink) But then again,consider: Sir William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765) Where blasphemous, immoral, treasonable, schismatical, seditious, or scandalous libels are punished by English law�the liberty of the press, properly understood, is by no means infringed or violated. The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state; but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publication, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public; to forbid this is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequences of his own temerity. What constituted "blasphemous, immoral, treasonable, schismatic, seditious or scandalous libels"? Why...whatever the KFF crowd defines them to be,...in essence, ANY publication even mildly critical of their government policy, culture, or leadership that ~could~ lead to a term in prison... or worse. Tread lightly on their carpet while you are in their country, Jeff.... Be forwarned...lllolll!! Jeff, my point being...in times of 'subjective judgment' on blogging, 'truth' matters not at all.... not your truth..not mine...as we are outsiders looking in. (Read Pepe's blog... (smile, wink, wink)....) BTW, Get over it already! It's merely your first blog, hmm? Keep 'em coming, Bro. Noni, your Friend on KFF "Only two things infinite, the universe and human stupidity, - I'm not sure about the former."
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5/13/2008 11:02 pm |
I wouldn't say I was offended by the blog. It just sounded like a rant from a newcomer to Korea. It is true that many so-called English teachers in Korea are not exactly qualified to teach in the first place. Many Korean Hwak-wons seem to hire almost anyone who happens to be English-speaking non-Korean. I personally met a few that had fake undergraduate degrees and some of them even had police records for drug traffic and abuse. Out of curiosity and not meaning to put you on the spot (though you already seem to be), what are your teaching credentials? And, what made you want to travel to Korea in the first place? You've already shown that you can be honest with your views and feelings (which I can respect to a certain degree), so I hope that you wouldn't stop now.
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5/14/2008 12:50 am |
Noni, I think you had too much of that juice. Western forum is one thing. This is Korean friend's forum where Pepe is playing goalkeeper.
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5/14/2008 5:39 pm |
Thanks all. My next blog will be about my wonderful school.
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5/15/2008 1:06 am |
Jeff, I go to Korea quite often. I ll buy you beer, and go over some of our experiences? Lemme know.
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5/21/2008 8:57 am |
Oh... Daejun.... too far, I guess.
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