I’ve been trying to lead a monastic existence in Seoul of all places. The week passed with me mostly sitting in cafes or doing yoga and snacking at “home.”
Friday night arrived, and we decided to go out “Gangnam style.” Twelve of us gathered at a 5-story restaurant for shared tapas, which I had planned. Going into it, I knew it would end up being a bit chaotic given the number and mix of people. My new resolution is to not go out to dinner with more than 6-7 people max! The bill, the sharing, the conversation become tricky immediately as people are spread across a long table.
Sad and yet somewhat comically, everyone ended up getting so angry over the service. I don’t quite understand this, as there are so many things to get angry about in this world. It may be true that life seeps out through the tiny cracks in our existence – the minor inconveniences – vs. the big ones.
Anger found an outlet in alcohol. After heading to one bar where we also received a bit of a snub, we were in front a convenience store drinking hangover preventative drinks and downing soju. Drinking while losing drinking games. Drinking while winning drinking games. Somehow along the way I was convinced to go to a club, Club Octagon, apparently the best club in Asia. We drank beers and soju in the line to get in, danced on multiple levels and rooms, and witnessed all sorts of craziness. I was kind of in my own little world, as I tend to be. Men were coming up to me and without even saying a word, grabbing me. Just grabbing my body while I screamed in response. As I jumped away looking disturbed and perplexed, they continued their advances.
Upstairs, people were dancing drunkenly. One guy was so drunk he couldn’t move and was passed out on a couch. Friends surrounded him and got him to drink more, and one person posed with his pants down sitting on the passed out drunk guy’s face. I was dismayed, trying to save him. As the night passed on and more shots were consumed, things got blurrier. Friends appeared wearing glow sticks. One friend had a jacket he was serious about finding the owner of. I was lectured not to help pick up girls for the guy friends because it was rude.
When I got home it was nearly 6am and we would need to check out of our AirBNB by 11am.
