Texas Hold'em

I've learned how to play poker!
I finally went to the pub on Wednesday night when they had their weekly poker tournament and this time I actually played! It was a lot of fun. Only 10,000 Won (10 CAD) to enter and you can buy back in once. A couple of the boys showed me how to play an hour or so before the tournament began -- I couldn't even remember if a flush beat a full house -- so I wasn't expecting to last long but I stayed in for about an hour!

After I lost in the tournament, I joined the cash game where I eventually bet too much (I couldn't NOT bet), drank too much and consequently lost too much. Went back again this week; lost quickly in the tournament this time but won 30,000 (35cad) in the cash game afterward so I was thrilled. Also, I was thrilled because I didn't have to get up early for work as we had a mini-vacation at the school -- 4 day holiday including the weekend of which, today is the last day. Sadness.

I met Paco (not real name) again (met him once before at the same pub with his friends, we salsad), he was hitting on "Emily"(not real name), then started hitting on me later but didn't remember me from before. Anyway, he kept buying me drinks and I knew he is a player but let him kiss me quickly at the bar which I think "R" saw and is why he was very cold with me afterward and why he left without saying goodbye. Good going Amanda!

Thursday I spent ALL day sleeping and watching T.V., it was really great. By Friday evening I was ready to go out again and started out at the same place since it was Ladies' Night, thus free drinks. Dong Il (blast from the past) called me and invited himself over to join me; ran into "Emily" there as well -- a fellow Canadian woman who's been here 10 years now and is a crazy, fun party woman -- we three left around midnight to find a place with more men. Went to U2 at Haeundae, which I'd heard a lot about but had never been. It was a bust though too; except Dong-il chatted up this German business man at the bar named Carson and when we left he came along as well.

Onto the third bar of the evening, we hop in a taxi in search of another bar I've never been to -- Starface -- and I think it's too late and we've missed the party. But there are a few people still milling about and we find a table, Carson buys us all rounds most of the night and Emily is thrilled that he is such a "gentleman". She tells me I have to come to the spa with her if Carson invites her back to his hotel because she doesn't like to go to the spa by herself. Emily is all about the spa's which I can't see because I've never been to one here probably. Really must try it before I go home...

Anyway, they didn't and I didn't get the free spa. They kicked us out at 4:30a.m. Again, I slept late of course and spent most of Saturday in bed watching t.v. and napping and drinking water and not smoking even 1 single cigarette or having one single sip of beer. Was supposed to go to PNU to meet Emily and Carson but I couldn't. Ended up buying Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy and tucking in. 9:30 p.m., I couldn't keep my eyes open any more and slept.

Oh, almost forgot to mention -- I found that little mexican restaurant by the beach called "la taco" (or sth. to that effect) and had the BEST fajita in a long time. It's a little hole in the wall but the guy used to live in San Diego and he knew how to make a fajita. Even springed for an ice-cold Corona to go with it and it was a perfect way to top off my day of suntanning on the beach. The salsa and sour cream was perfect. He had Mexican music playing and the sea breeze was blowing in. Ahhh...

Oh, the rustic, rough life abroad...

Party on the Roof

Last night was really, truly great.
First, I went to the Western Cowboy Bar in Seomyeon by myself -- because I wanted their buffalo wings but changed my mind when I remembered how expensive they were (aproximately $17 CAD for about 6 wings!) -- took a seat at the bar beside this super goodlooking Korean guy who spoke great english. He told me he just got back from travelling around Australia yesterday. That his girlfriend of 10 years married another man and he was a little heartbroken -- it was my duty to comfort the poor fellow. So we chatted and exchanged phone numbers and emails so we'll see.

Messaged Glen (who was at his usual Salsa dance bar) and he invited me to a party. Met him and "R" at the subway station and we (how did I get there? taxi? walk?)...arrived at a quaint six story apartment building. Tea candles set on the stairs led the way to the roof where men were bar-b-Qing! Filled with foreigners and the cool night air -- it was really nice. I checked out the apartments when I went to the bathroom and they are great. If I come back to Pusan next year I'll try and get a flat there for sure. Very spacious and well decorated.

I met a pretty cute English guy who had spent the last 5 years in China; he spoke Chinese with me -- admittedly far, far better -- and I was interested but he kept dissapearing so I guess he wasn't, or maybe he had a girlfriend like they all seem to...grrr...

Anywy, "R", Glen and me had a really nice time chitchatting together and mingling with everyone else. Met Glen's new girlfriend and he seems happy; I"m happy for him. Around 2 a.m. I went for a beer run to the local store and met Rachel (who was also at the party and who I knew previously from poker night at O'Briens); she suggested we have rice liqour and tobu Kimchi at the restaurant next door. I'm game. We had a good chat.

The party was leaving for various clubs when we got back, about 7 of us went to O'Briens and once there I got into a theological debate with Colin (whom I'd just met). Don't ask me how we got started because I have absolutely no clue, but we chatted for about an hour and both had fun I think. I ran into Ian from a couple of weeks ago (the guy who walked me home remember?) and we were friendly.

So finally it's 5 a.m. and I'm tired and a little pissed, time to go. I say goobye to Colin who's now talking to this Korean girl (she was also at the party) and she suddenly blurts out: "are you by any chance a lesbian?"
"Am I a what? Lesbian?" I say, just to make sure i heard her right?
She nods and I answer a difinitive "no".
Then she says something to the effect (can't remember the exact wording) of "Can I convince you to stay and talk to me for ten minuites?"
"I can't. I'm hammered." I say.

I couldn't believe how forward she was and that she hit on me in front of all those guys -- who by the way, couldn't keep the smile from their faces -- very bold and unusually Korean.
There's an unusual experience anyway.