Romance in Korea

Ha! I bet any of you who read that title are super curious as to who I am now in love with… da duh dong… yeah still a big fat no one.. or everyone depending on my mood ☺ but Korea became alive with love for two people!

A fellow foreigner from another school, Jenn, has been teaching in Ansan going on 3 years. She is originally from The States. As things go, she has visited home and reconnected with a former flame… but then had to say goodbye because she was moving back to Korea. Well, turns out they continued talking through the Internet/ on the phone. He asked something like ‘What would you say if I came and visited you in Korea?” she replied jokingly “Well then I’d have to marry you!” His reply “Let’s do it.” Turns out he showed up (and her mother came too) and she was officially wed in Korea!!!! John, has/will be hanging out with us for awhile (6 weeks total) and then will return to the States and when Jenn’s contract is up she will move back—they will have a more proper celebration and their happily ever after will continue in the States.

A few of the Ansan girls, took Jenn out for a night out in Seoul for her stagette. It was a night long event of partying. It began at No. 10 bar, our bar in Ansan, and then continued on the subway in to Itaewon, Seoul. Once there, Frances (Scottish), and I were off hunting through random men for a white t-shirt. We were successful and the rest of the night was spent with a sharpie pen and having more random men sign it for the bride. We started on ‘Homo Hill’, a street full of gay bars. It is probably the only street like it in all of Korea, as being homosexual is not culturally accepted here in Korea. From there we were off to a club in Itaewon to dance a little and then finished the night at a Latino basement ‘hole in the wall’ club with great music and ample room to dance. I met quite a few men from South America which I found strange (most were studying… later I learned that with scholarships studying can be almost free here so it is a good option to get a higher degree). For the memories, I have to include that Frances, Jenny, and I had an extra late night learning about David and his life story which began in Colombia!

The weekend after their marriage we had an Ansan celebration. Jenn had our favorite sushi place, Sumo’s, cater the event. Almost everyone showed up. The boys, Kyle, Jubba, Will, and Josh, even went out and bought the silly, shiny, Korean man suit. They were liquid cool and made the party! At the same time, it was Cara, our fellow Ansan/Canadian in Crime’s, night so it was an emotional night all around.