Just a Small Drink After School

So, talk about one of the most surreal moments of my life so far...the other foreign teachers and I leave school slightly early to go activate phones for those who didn't have one before or those whose broke mysteriously (mine won't even work as a clock anymore...and I can only call the last person who called me, unless I have your number in front of me...ungh). And on the way is a nice little Mom'nPop type convinience store that we usually pop into...only this time when we stopped it was quite different.

I suddenly felt a hand on my arm and I turn to look and see one of the older gentelmen that usually hangs out there handing me three hard-boiled eggs, one for me and my two fellow teachers...I first thought they were these pickled eggs here that I hate, but then I saw the pot and portable stove top over the register...well he was so nice and earnest we couldn't say no and now no way I wasn't buying anything even though I wasn't hungry...so we go to the register to pay and start eating our eggs when another man comes over and blops down a bottle of soju...

For those who don't know soju is Korean vodka that you can buy in any convinience store in Korea for about 1,000 won (that translates to less than a dollar...it's very popular here). It generally tastes very weak, especially once you mix it with anything and often will be the destruction of your night.

Fortionatly, this time they were kind enough to ask us if we wanted soju...well they asked me, they assumed my co-teachers would drink because they were male...and being the only female in the store I couldn't let a couple of Korean or Yorkshire men out drink me (although they probably could...) So we had a drink...no mix even though I hate my soju straight...and suddenly I'm being handed another egg...and another cup of soju...this time I was smart enough to bring my juice out and mix it myself. They didn't even really ask...only for politness sake, because after one of us said no thanks to the egg the owner started peeling it for him.

We were finally able to leave after the second one, but still, we were right by the school. We see students in there all the time and I avoid buying alcohol there so they don't think we are drinking right after school and this time school hadn't even fully let out yet!!! This has offically marked one of the top ten surreal moments in Korea, let alone my life!

Man I love this country.

My Time At Pride

Well, this is something that I've been meaning to do for a while (try about 4 months now). But a few months ago I experienced Pride in South Korea. Now for those of you who do not know, Pride is a celebration of being a part of the LGBT community and still one of the best ways to get information out on issues in the LGBT community, especially in countries where it is hard to find anyone that you can be sure is LGBT.

I do not know much about the laws here concerning LGBT rights, but I do know that extremely few people are fully if at all out here. I do not plan to discuss those, just what I saw at Pride.

When people think of Pride in the Western world they often think of large parties, a parade expanding blocks and lasting for hours, and lots of alcohol, sex, and drugs, with a few gay issues thrown in to make it seem like it is more than a giant party, which it can be, but usually is not for most.

South Korean Pride is completely different.

There was also a great deal of political booths to promote health and awareness and it was clear that is was a big deal to them to get their word out, however is a huge problem in how the gay community wants to get their message out in Korea. No one wants to be seen. The first thing I noticed at Pride was the amount of South Koreans there, which is great considering how often they hide their sexuality, and that the majority were wearing these red-ribbons. I know most people are thinking that it is for AIDs awareness, and trust me I was too, until I realized that these red-ribbons were to keep people from taking photos of them. As it turned out I had to register my camera in order to even take picutres and was given this really annoyingly huge cardboard sign so everyone knew I had a camera. I also had to agree not to post, or at least blur out any photos with people wearing a red-ribbon. This is because while they wanted to be out and proud and so many booths talked about making change, no one wanted to be seen and risk being outed to their family, friends and job. To make matters worse, when the parade started, we didn't go very far, which was fine, but as soon as we left the main Pride area a few of the people I saw wearing the red ribbons were hiding their faces. That alone made the whole expirience rather pointless to me. After all, change doesn't happen without showing yourself.

Now for those who are expecting a lot of alcohol in Pride, there wasn't really. There was a convience store nearby that sold alcohol and one outside vendor selling not really good beer. So, first of all this is not a drinking event. Now, drugs are apparently ridiculously hard to find in Korea anyway (at least I haven't heard of it, so we drink a lot) so clearly that is not going to be there. Which is nice, if you are like me and not a too big of a fan of over drinking and such, but I was in the mood for Jello shots. So there was a culture shock, very little alcohol. But we manage, we deal, convience stores that sell whole bottles of soju are there for a reason. :-)

Now, do not misunderstand me, I love South Korea and the very few gay people I met at Pride were wonderful. However, people are hiding and while there were chants during the parade about change and not having to hide anymore, change is not going to happen if you do keep hiding, especially at your biggest event of the year.

So this is my plea to you gay people of South Korea. Stop hiding please, it is time to be proud of who you are. As an ex-pat I have no power to make change here, I am "only a foreigner who cannot understand Korean culture." And I am sure many will ignore me because of that and maybe I got the wrong impression, but based on what I saw please stop hiding. Although I know change won't happen over night.

Also, to those of us in the western world who are young and used to more gay rights and not really having to hide on the same level: we really need to learn to appreciate what we have more.

And if I am wrong, please tell me that too.

Now to end these things I'm going to post one or two picutes that I can on here, because someone needs to.

Actually, I'll only post one, I don't want to risk posting one of my pictures and missing someone I should block out.