Papa Ha & I

On Day 17, I woke up in a crowded hotel room. A love hotel room, as I'd discovered some days prior. That was awkward.

The National Model United Nations Conference in Songdo finished the day before, but everyone in the room only got to bed at around 4AM. We started the day with hangover soup, though I can't really say that I needed it. I felt robbed when my friend, Si Jin, didn't order me the one with ox blood. Robbed, I say.

We all caught a bus to Gangnam and then separated ways to go to our homes. When I got home, I was pleasantly surprised to see Song. Brotherly hugs were had, conference award bragging rights claimed. Somehow, we'd been convinced to go have a gym workout by Si Jin's not-quite-brother, TK. Song came along and put the rest of us to shame like a good brother would. There really isn't anything special about Korean gyms. That said, being someone who is opposed to gyms by principle, it was (again) a shock to find out that we had to shower (even though that would be the case in Australia.) Aish. Damn it, TK.

Once we'd parted ways with Song, met Si Jin's and TK's band mate, Daniel (I'd use his Korean name, but can't spell it) and stopped by Paris Croissant, we caught up with our good conference friend, Togo Louis, for dinner. I mean Younes. From France.

This guy

Korean barbecue was the go, followed up by an Irish Pub called The Dublin, with a Sydney pub-like atmosphere tarnished only by bad service. Comforting. Us being the manly men we are, noraebang was the obvious next step. The last step, too.

Day 18

It was only half a day ago I thought I'd be spending my entire day at home, resting and cleaning up around the place. It felt good, too. However, it was not meant to be.

Seung, the Casanova that he is, decided to go on a date tonight. In fact, <insert words that I cannot say here>. In any case, I was sitting around, enjoying the downtime, when Papa Ha came and told me we're going out. In truth, I thought he was going out by himself, so I waved at him, only to have him vigourously shake his head and gesture for me to come. Time for an adventure.

On the side of the Ha residence apartment block

After today, I've found that walking through Gangnam with someone else is always best. Especially when you have a police officer for company. Papa Ha started off with the big guns: a media broadcasting agency. I didn't expect to feel the wave of excitement that I did, but once I was in there, it was like being inside a Korean version of Borgen. Just that there was less politics. Not to mention there was a former Miss Universe Korea contestant working there. Though really, every girl in that office was pretty drop dead gorgeous. Thanks to Papa Ha being friends with the agency's CEO, I got to chat with one of the TV anchors who had (luckily for me) lived in Michigan for some time. So, adding it all up, Seung got to go on a date and I got to meet 4 beautiful news reporters. Seems fair.

I forgot how to make facial expressions

We then went to Papa Ha's police branch, where I spoke awkward English to a couple of guys who barely understood me. Haaa, I really need to learn Korean. Every one in uniform had a smiley face pinned to the breast of their jackets, which I found somewhat amusing. They're a funny bunch, really.

 Next came, very unexpectedly, this bad boy:

I can still hardly believe that I was right outside the building of KARA's entertainment label. I was at a loss for words when I saw those three letters. It's just a shame I most likely won't get to see them or any other Korean music artist before I leave.

The last things were seeing Song's police box and base, Dosun Park, going to a luxury watch shop, doing a bit of shopping in a place where Papa Ha knew the owner and watching the man of the hour showing off his expertise in billiards.

Dosan Park

There was a dog in the watch shop

You might call it a watch dog

It is now 6:05 in the morning, Mama Ha is getting ready for work, Seung still isn't home and I'm slightly delirious. She let me cut apples for her just now, which feels like a huge achievement.

p.s. We were meant to go to the jjimjilbang on both Day 17 and 18, but did so on neither day. I am withering away as I type.

p.p.s Speaking of a day for cleaning, here's a bonus Sadie picture:

- Charith