Korea, Part I

So I'm finally in Korea.  Well actually, I've been here for about a day and a half now, although I slept through all of yesterday, so it doesn't feel like I've really been here that long.

It's Sunday morning here, 11:52 to be exact.  I just ventured out to the corner liquor store and got a coffee, orange juice, and string cheese.  I actually got two coffees; when I went to pay, the lady at the register went to get another one and added it to my pile of goods.  At first I thought she just needed one that scanned better than the one I had selected, but then she bagged both of them for me.  Since I know absolutely no Korean, I just took both coffees.  Maybe it was a buy one get one free special?  Or maybe she just figured I wouldn't know how to argue so she just started putting random shit on my bill; who knows?

Anyway, Ty's still sleeping, but I expect he'll be up soon since we're supposed to be meeting his friend Jordan at the subway station at 12:30.  We're going to see some palace, which should be grand, I suppose.  So far I haven't done much in the way of seeing Korea.  My first night here we went to Ty's company dinner, which was nice.  We all sat cross-legged on pillows on the floor around two long tables.  (My feet were asleep instantly.)  Ty and most of the other people ate this thick bacon-like meat that you cook on a grill in the middle of your table.  It looked kinda nasty before it was cooked, but I can't say it looked too bad after it had been grilled.  I didn't eat any regardless; Violet, one of the Koreans Ty works with, is a vegetarian and had brought a couple of tomato and basil pizzas, so I ate those.  I did have my first kimchi (which turns out is the best-tasting cabbage I've ever had) and a full bowl of this Korean bean sprout soup, which was amazing.  I also had some salad with a spicy chile dressing.  All of it was good, really spicy, and I have a feeling I'm really gonna like Korean food.  After dinner, we went to Mr. Park's place to have a couple of beers and then went home to have more beers which led to several drunk phone calls via Skype and, unfortunately, a headache which kept me in bed all day Saturday.

Last night we were supposed to go to Mr. Kim's for dinner, but I stayed in bed while Ty went with Jordan.  When he got back (after ten), Mr. Park called and Ty told him we'd be there in 20 minutes.  So off we were to Mr. Park's where Ty had beer (he apparently believes in that whole hair-of-the-dog thing) and I had Coke (which apparently is more expensive than beer).  We stayed for awhile before coming back home and eventually going to sleep (after 2:00, I believe) with the intention of getting up early.  The plan worked for me; not so much for Ty.  Maybe I should go wake him up and see if we're still doing this whole palace thing.  

Pictures to come.