Letters from Korea - June 26

June 26

Oh my friend! What a night! Yesterday all students of our program went out for dinner. I was working on something before. So I just wanted to join them some minutes later.

It took a while until I found the restaurant. Yes, I can read Korean. But it's still difficult to find a certain name when you are surrounded by so many Korean signs. Fortunately one guy saw that I was lost. He spoke to me. Well, I didn't understand a word. I showed him the name of the restaurant on my tablet. He brought me there. Gamsamnida my friend.

I went in alone. You have to know Koreans love it to eat outside. So usually in good restaurants you can hear many people talking loudly. This sound is great. It's a good-mood-induction.

After taking off my shoes I took a seat on the pillow. Yes, here we are usually sitting on the ground at a small table. The food was delicious. Haemul pajeon. I love it. It's seafood in a scallion pancake, served with spicy soy sauce, and of course last but not least with a lot of alcohol. We were drinking something like Korean rice wine. Very tasty. Similar like wheat beer with banana juice.

The atmosphere was really good. I wish you had been there. I guess you would have enjoyed it too.

We ate for two hours maybe. Then we wanted to change the location - to drink more. When you are out with Koreans and it gets loud a short time before you are going to leave the restaurant, then they are arguing about who is going to pay. Of course, I know, this is strange for us foreigners. We would just share it. That's it. But Koreans often insist to invite you. So one guy, he is working at a famous Korean bank, paid for all of us. I guess this must have been more than 100 USD.

Forgive me, when I have to stop here. You will understand it. I'll write you later. I have to go.