Karaoke Machine...

I am a karaoke machine.

Last night I finally went to "The Bar" or as my friends like to call it "The Shit Hole." It's the regular hangout and it was everything I thought it would be.

Drinking. Dancing. Bartending. Meeting strangers. Very good times.

Afterward we finally went to a karaoke bar. But, these places are unlike any karaoke bar in the US. Instead, each group gets their own private room with a couple microphones and a bunch of tambourines. Everyone sings and dances to their own songs. It was too much fun for just one person. And the best part is that these places are open so late (5am) so you can sing until your voice gives out.

Other awesome things that are happening...

I got a new digital camera at the Yongsun Electronic Market. I have not been able to stop taking pictures. I'd been here over a month and not taken a single picture. I think some of my friends were starting to think that I didn't actually move to Korea. I just moved to someplace embarrassing and boring like North Dakota. But, now that I have pictures I can finally start documenting my experiences and prove that I fled the country. I love my new camera!

I finally had real Korean BBQ. I've had stew-type beef and peppers, but this time it was real BBQ and it was delicious. Easily the best food I've had since I've been here. The way the BBQ works is that there is a grill in the center of the table and the servers place hot coals under the grill. You have a plate of raw, marinated beef and you cook your own meat. Then you wrap of the pieces of meat in big pieces of lettuce with rice, sprouts, onion, tofu and pepper sauce. It is truly fantastic.

Oh... I haven't written about chopsticks! Koreans use chopsticks for everything, but their chopsticks are flat. So, instead of round or square Chinese and Japanese chopsticks, the Korean chopsticks are mostly flat long pieces of metal. You might not think they make that much of a difference, but you'd be wrong. Those are some slippery chopsticks!

No one uses voicemail. People just text message constantly.

I visited Dongdaemun yesterday. It is an area of town with huge shopping centers. I browsed through the clothes and had to laugh. They are so fashion conscious here and the outfits sometimes defy logic. But, I'm starting to get into the new styles. A lot of people wear turtlenecks and then layer with a loose, tunic-type, jumper thing. I bought one yesterday and am wearing it as I write this. I think I look a little goofy, but I'm comfortable and I guess I am "in style." But, since I don't understand Korean, for all I know everyone is laughing at the stupid white girl's clothes.

Finally, I've got pretty cool co-workers. They are a good time, every time. Lucky me.