Korea: day 5 - something’s gone horribly wrong
Today we’re back at work. We’ll sit around all day killing time, eat more strange and interesting Korean cuisine, go back to the hotel in time for me to wander the shopping district and go to bed feeling accomplished. That’s how things were supposed to happen.
Oh, how I wish they had…
I’ll skim through the day quickly. We were driven to the office, this time with my laptop to amuse me because there isn’t enough to do here. Sat around until lunch, when our gracious host took us to lunch with Mrs. Kim. I don’t remember the place, but afterward he drove us to another nearby Buddhist temple. It was really colorful and rather awesome.
President Kim even took us inside the one room building to see the shrine to the Buddha. Like the outside, it was completely covered with detailed painting, and murals and all sorts of stuff. He invited us to bow and I was enthusiastic, though I didn’t know how. We set four flat pillows on the wood floor and did three yoga-like bows into a prostrate position. Later Pres. Kim said he prayed for our two company’s successful partnership. I was just trying to follow along in the ritual so I didn’t make any prayers. As we left I really wanted to get some pictures, but I was afraid of offence, so I let it be.
Skip forward to work end, where my tale turns down a dark path. President Kim took us down the road to a “Korean family restaurant” where we met two of the guys from SNK. We all ate grilled fat-back pork (bacon, that is) with the standard expanse of raw vegetables and cooked cabbage. As every meal so far there was way too much food, and I ate all I could because it’s excellent. We also started passing around the soju. As you may recall, soju is a very common Korean beverage like a sweet light 38 proof vodka. This is served in shot glasses and is smooth enough to slip casually. “Cheers!” A tall very cheerful guy who’s name I learned was Mr. Yuh was knocking them back in “one shot”. Then he’d make this scrunched up face like it was harsh. So I threw mine back the same way and laughed at him. So Pres. Kim, our gracious host, refilled all our glasses, and “Khambai!”, we continued is a downward spiraling cycle that is completely obvious to anyone who isn’t actually doing it themselves.
The meal over, President Kim announced that we’d emptied nine bottles of soju! Hurray! At this point I’m clearly beyond rational thought, as is our host because he asks the group, “One more?” Why? WHY!? Is nine a terrible number that we should shun, or ten a number of some mystic nature that implies completion or fullness? If I had any sense left I would have, should have said, “no, thank you.” “Anyo. Kumsom I’dah.” But you know that isn’t what happened. The sacred number, ten, was reached, and we wandered off into the streets.
Looking back I see that I was past my limit to hold my liquor. The brisk walk in the night air I’m sure helped. But where were we going? I have no idea. I was holding on to Mr. Yuh for stability, and he I. And we laughed as we followed Tony and Pres. Kim who could still walk. We were across a busy street and through a shopping district and up some stairs and into… the Dog Bar. At the time I couldn’t even see the astounding insanity of this. We sat in a booth, and Tony went on and on about business and our arrangements with SNK which must be Tony’s drunk-talk. Then there was a 3000cc pitcher of Cass beer and cups for each of us. I think I even drank one.
Mr. Yuh slipped out to the bathroom… and he never came back; a gracious bowing out of our game. I however did not have that opportunity. I slipped out shortly after with some speed and reached the bathroom in time to loose the game. I should have stayed in there longer and made sure I was good and finished doing what had to be done, but something about the cool tile of a bathroom is a comfort in times like this, and I felt better. I gathered myself and returned to the table. Sitting still at a table with the spins is not likewise comforting. It is more a reminder of your string of sins that brought you to this. My second flight to the bathroom was more desperate and wholly embarrassing.
I know we walked back to the restaurant and the car from there, though I don’t know how that happened. A restaurant employee drove us home in Pres. Kim’s car, which is another interesting Korean business custom. We were instructed that we would be picked up at 11am tomorrow rather than 10. Then I was in my room and out.
If this gets back to the office, I know it will be because of Jodi, who reads my journal.
Oh, how I wish they had…
I’ll skim through the day quickly. We were driven to the office, this time with my laptop to amuse me because there isn’t enough to do here. Sat around until lunch, when our gracious host took us to lunch with Mrs. Kim. I don’t remember the place, but afterward he drove us to another nearby Buddhist temple. It was really colorful and rather awesome.
President Kim even took us inside the one room building to see the shrine to the Buddha. Like the outside, it was completely covered with detailed painting, and murals and all sorts of stuff. He invited us to bow and I was enthusiastic, though I didn’t know how. We set four flat pillows on the wood floor and did three yoga-like bows into a prostrate position. Later Pres. Kim said he prayed for our two company’s successful partnership. I was just trying to follow along in the ritual so I didn’t make any prayers. As we left I really wanted to get some pictures, but I was afraid of offence, so I let it be.
Skip forward to work end, where my tale turns down a dark path. President Kim took us down the road to a “Korean family restaurant” where we met two of the guys from SNK. We all ate grilled fat-back pork (bacon, that is) with the standard expanse of raw vegetables and cooked cabbage. As every meal so far there was way too much food, and I ate all I could because it’s excellent. We also started passing around the soju. As you may recall, soju is a very common Korean beverage like a sweet light 38 proof vodka. This is served in shot glasses and is smooth enough to slip casually. “Cheers!” A tall very cheerful guy who’s name I learned was Mr. Yuh was knocking them back in “one shot”. Then he’d make this scrunched up face like it was harsh. So I threw mine back the same way and laughed at him. So Pres. Kim, our gracious host, refilled all our glasses, and “Khambai!”, we continued is a downward spiraling cycle that is completely obvious to anyone who isn’t actually doing it themselves.
The meal over, President Kim announced that we’d emptied nine bottles of soju! Hurray! At this point I’m clearly beyond rational thought, as is our host because he asks the group, “One more?” Why? WHY!? Is nine a terrible number that we should shun, or ten a number of some mystic nature that implies completion or fullness? If I had any sense left I would have, should have said, “no, thank you.” “Anyo. Kumsom I’dah.” But you know that isn’t what happened. The sacred number, ten, was reached, and we wandered off into the streets.
Looking back I see that I was past my limit to hold my liquor. The brisk walk in the night air I’m sure helped. But where were we going? I have no idea. I was holding on to Mr. Yuh for stability, and he I. And we laughed as we followed Tony and Pres. Kim who could still walk. We were across a busy street and through a shopping district and up some stairs and into… the Dog Bar. At the time I couldn’t even see the astounding insanity of this. We sat in a booth, and Tony went on and on about business and our arrangements with SNK which must be Tony’s drunk-talk. Then there was a 3000cc pitcher of Cass beer and cups for each of us. I think I even drank one.
Mr. Yuh slipped out to the bathroom… and he never came back; a gracious bowing out of our game. I however did not have that opportunity. I slipped out shortly after with some speed and reached the bathroom in time to loose the game. I should have stayed in there longer and made sure I was good and finished doing what had to be done, but something about the cool tile of a bathroom is a comfort in times like this, and I felt better. I gathered myself and returned to the table. Sitting still at a table with the spins is not likewise comforting. It is more a reminder of your string of sins that brought you to this. My second flight to the bathroom was more desperate and wholly embarrassing.
I know we walked back to the restaurant and the car from there, though I don’t know how that happened. A restaurant employee drove us home in Pres. Kim’s car, which is another interesting Korean business custom. We were instructed that we would be picked up at 11am tomorrow rather than 10. Then I was in my room and out.
If this gets back to the office, I know it will be because of Jodi, who reads my journal.