In The Army

Had a little weekend excursion yesterday to a place called Songcheam (sp?) which has a large military base in the town... a large American military base... so besides the fact that the town was dominated by English speaking people it was full of very cute army guys (i should have taken my camera). The purpose of the trip was to grab a few items that we can't get around Daejeon due to the lack of demand from foreigners. This town was very touristy and totally catered to the foreigners.

I went with my friend Mike,who is ex-military so knew about the place from years ago and another new friend, Mark, who is from Alberta. It took us about two hours to get there via train and subway. First stop for me was to get an English cell phone because the one I got a few weeks ago is all in Korean and despite the fact that people kept telling me I would figure it out, I was not even close to figuring it out after having had it for two weeks. And i still can't understand how a phone that has english lessons programmed into it, hello and good-bye vocal greeting, doesn't have the capability to switch over to English language. ANyhow I have a new phone now and I know how to text and call and all that good stuff.

Next stop was for Mike and Mark which was at a dvd/game store where you could buy burned movies and games for 5 bucks a piece. Had a really good selection of new releases and I was tempted to buy some of the boxed sets for tv shows, but I can just as easily download them from here.

Had Subway for lunch....which was sooooooooooooooooooooo good. Almost was forgetting how good Americanized fast food can be but Subway reminded me.

Then there was a little shop that Mike calls the black market shop because it has all sorts of American products that you can't find in Korea. They didn't have anything too fantastic that I had been missing, but they had advil, listerine and colgate toothpaste which was great because Korean toothpaste doesn't have flouride and the stuff I ordered on ebay a while ago is MIA.

Went to a bar for drinks (surprise surprise) and it was full of military guys and 'juicy' girls. Juicy girls are hired by the bar, they are mainly Filapino or Korean, and their job is to get the guys to buy drinks for them, a common expression for them to say is, "You buy me drinky drinky?" Mike and Mark were pretty much left alone being that I was with them tho I think I got quite a few death stares from the girls being that I was on their territory.

After that we went to a country bar because Mike really wanted to go, and let's be honest, I wasn't exactly complaining at the thought of some country music. Stayed for a few drinks, listened to some music and then headed back to the subway station. Arrived back in Daejeon around ten, we all went back to our own places to drop off our stuff and get recharged, and then Trey (who had been in Japan doing a visa run), Mark and I met up for drinks (surprise surprise) at the foreigner's bar called the Brickhouse. The place was empty but it was a good time because we spent the night sitting at the bar talking to the owners, one who is from Windsor, one who is Korean and they shared some of their experiences and also gave us advice and info on other stuff we could be doing.

I was wiped by about 4 when The Brickhouse was closing and the plan was to head home but then Mark suggested goign to Watermelon Sugar which is a soju bar, and I almost went but then I figured I was tired, had a headache and did not want to spend the vast majority of today in bed, so I bailed on them, which shocked them because how could I possibly want to call it a night when it was so 'early.'

I think this is actually the biggest difference between the other foreigners and I. I like to be up at a half decent hour on weekends to do stuff or recharge for the upcoming week, and all the other teachers are happy to spend the days sleeping, waking up just in time to go out for another night on the town. I think my internal clock and I are going to have to have a serious talk if I keep pulling these all nighters and still want to spend my days doing stuff.

Anyhow today is low key, I have two french assignments due tomorrow, am in serious need of groceries, and have my first private tutor tomorrow morning at 9 so want to be prepared for that.

Hope you all had a good weekend!
Miss You!