My school has a lot of new teacher's this year, 9 total including
myself and the new principal. As is customary, all of the teachers go
out to dinner to welcome the new teachers to the school. It was,
especially, significant because they were welcoming my principal to
the school. They went around introducing each teacher. Stand up. Bow.
Cue the applause. Sit Down. Then the shots started coming.
Out of nowhere, shots of this liquor Cheongju (a sweeter tasting sake
or flat out better than soju) start appearing. 'Oh, this is for you.'
or flat out better than soju) start appearing. 'Oh, this is for you.'
'For me? From where?'
'From there.' Points in the direction of every other teacher.
'Thank you!' Down it.
This all taking place while I am pouring myself soju. I like to drink
soju with my dinner or with salty foods. But if you give me soju
without any food while we are out drinking I will pretty much be
offended. It means you probably want me to hate my life tomorrow.
Unless you are a Korean citizen then I will be forced to accept your
offering of this 'Subtle Killer.' So, I'm sitting there eating this
delicious roast duck and drinking soju (all the native teachers you
must go here with me). After I take one soju another shot of Cheongju
is passed over my shoulder into my eating area. All the while, my
co-teacher is calling me an alcoholic. And the other co-teachers are
ribbing me about it, too. None of them like to drink soju. So, every
time a shot appears Ms. Yoo hands it to me and gasps 'Ohhhh,
alcoholic.' Michelle is giving me a hard time about the color of my
face. I am dehydrated so my cheeks and forehead are red like a
'Phantom of the Opera' mask. (She had 'never seen this side of me')
It's like I am performing to the tune of 'You're an Alcoholic. Here you go!' Talk about masking your intentions. Cheongju and soju sure are good with this duck. The duck that I am forcing into my mouth because I am sharing the table with only one small Korean woman instead of four total people. 'Oh, there's so much food, Justin.
We are worried that you don't like. Eat more.' Stuff. Drink. Stuff. Random shot. Stuff. Then the moment arrives.
soju with my dinner or with salty foods. But if you give me soju
without any food while we are out drinking I will pretty much be
offended. It means you probably want me to hate my life tomorrow.
Unless you are a Korean citizen then I will be forced to accept your
offering of this 'Subtle Killer.' So, I'm sitting there eating this
delicious roast duck and drinking soju (all the native teachers you
must go here with me). After I take one soju another shot of Cheongju
is passed over my shoulder into my eating area. All the while, my
co-teacher is calling me an alcoholic. And the other co-teachers are
ribbing me about it, too. None of them like to drink soju. So, every
time a shot appears Ms. Yoo hands it to me and gasps 'Ohhhh,
alcoholic.' Michelle is giving me a hard time about the color of my
face. I am dehydrated so my cheeks and forehead are red like a
'Phantom of the Opera' mask. (She had 'never seen this side of me')
It's like I am performing to the tune of 'You're an Alcoholic. Here you go!' Talk about masking your intentions. Cheongju and soju sure are good with this duck. The duck that I am forcing into my mouth because I am sharing the table with only one small Korean woman instead of four total people. 'Oh, there's so much food, Justin.
We are worried that you don't like. Eat more.' Stuff. Drink. Stuff. Random shot. Stuff. Then the moment arrives.
During the orientation they warn you how you will have to exchange
drinks with your principal. And you cannot refuse a drink from your
principal of all people. (I suggest you google 'Korean drinking
manners') When you receive the drink hold your glass with both hands.
Place the glass in your right hand and place your left hand on the
glass or anywhere from your wrist to your elbow. When you pour the
drink do the same but with the bottle. Now, at the time I had
forgotten which showed more respect: higher on the arm toward the
elbow or lower to the wrist. It had been a month since I had even
thought about this. I assumed that I wouldn't have to do this since it
didn't happen during the first month and a half. With all that time I
should have been planning a clever cheers. Like 'To your health and
prosperity as principal!' Instead I was ill prepared and trying to
remember where my left hand goes.
drinks with your principal. And you cannot refuse a drink from your
principal of all people. (I suggest you google 'Korean drinking
manners') When you receive the drink hold your glass with both hands.
Place the glass in your right hand and place your left hand on the
glass or anywhere from your wrist to your elbow. When you pour the
drink do the same but with the bottle. Now, at the time I had
forgotten which showed more respect: higher on the arm toward the
elbow or lower to the wrist. It had been a month since I had even
thought about this. I assumed that I wouldn't have to do this since it
didn't happen during the first month and a half. With all that time I
should have been planning a clever cheers. Like 'To your health and
prosperity as principal!' Instead I was ill prepared and trying to
remember where my left hand goes.
When the Vice Principal approached my teacher, she told her that she
wanted me to pour and receive a drink 'KOREAN STYLE' with the
principal. So, I finished my bite of duck and stood up.I sat down
across from the Principal. And the Vice Principal elated, 'Ohhh!
Korean Style!' as I picked up the bottle and poured the soju for my
Principal. All the while, I'm thinking 'How far up or down do I put my
left hand? I hope I'm not disrespecting him.' Then he corrects me. My
left hand is on my wrist. Too high. So, I lower it to my elbow. His
left arm is all the way on his tricep. Now, I'm thinking I messed up
big time. He takes the glass and downs it in 'One Shot' much to the
elation or the Vice Principal and the other teacher sitting next to
her. 'Korean Style! ONE SHOT!' The principal returns the same glass to me and pours me a drink. I was a little shocked that he wanted to use the same glass (that's an older tradition outdated because of Hep A and H1N1, definitely not
hygienic). But I gladly accepted the glass. And once he was done
pouring I downed it in 'One Shot.' My Principal laughed. He was elated
that I took it down in 'One Shot.' The other teachers were applauding
both of us. 'One SHOTuh! Korean Style!!' I've never taken such a celebrated shot
even in a basketball game.
wanted me to pour and receive a drink 'KOREAN STYLE' with the
principal. So, I finished my bite of duck and stood up.I sat down
across from the Principal. And the Vice Principal elated, 'Ohhh!
Korean Style!' as I picked up the bottle and poured the soju for my
Principal. All the while, I'm thinking 'How far up or down do I put my
left hand? I hope I'm not disrespecting him.' Then he corrects me. My
left hand is on my wrist. Too high. So, I lower it to my elbow. His
left arm is all the way on his tricep. Now, I'm thinking I messed up
big time. He takes the glass and downs it in 'One Shot' much to the
elation or the Vice Principal and the other teacher sitting next to
her. 'Korean Style! ONE SHOT!' The principal returns the same glass to me and pours me a drink. I was a little shocked that he wanted to use the same glass (that's an older tradition outdated because of Hep A and H1N1, definitely not
hygienic). But I gladly accepted the glass. And once he was done
pouring I downed it in 'One Shot.' My Principal laughed. He was elated
that I took it down in 'One Shot.' The other teachers were applauding
both of us. 'One SHOTuh! Korean Style!!' I've never taken such a celebrated shot
even in a basketball game.
I was still worried I didn't show the proper amount of respect. So, I
clarified with my co-teacher. She is fairly informal herself but she
asked around and found out I showed the proper amount of respect. I
was right to think the closer to your wrist the more respect you are
showing. And the higher up your arm the less respect you are showing.
All these women I work with don't know anything about the procedure of
drinking man to man. They say the most important thing is that you USE
BOTH HANDS. At least I know when he corrected me I was giving him too
much respect. Phew. Pass the duck and the soju, please.
clarified with my co-teacher. She is fairly informal herself but she
asked around and found out I showed the proper amount of respect. I
was right to think the closer to your wrist the more respect you are
showing. And the higher up your arm the less respect you are showing.
All these women I work with don't know anything about the procedure of
drinking man to man. They say the most important thing is that you USE
BOTH HANDS. At least I know when he corrected me I was giving him too
much respect. Phew. Pass the duck and the soju, please.
Notes:
One table of female teachers got drunk! It was pretty funny. They were
headed out to sing but my Ms Yoo wanted to go to this 'prestigious
coffee shop.' Usually, I don't like coffee. But the coffee was
actually pretty good. I could have shown off my English vocals though.
Shucks.
South Koreans love to ignore anything to do with North Korea. It's
just the way they live their lives. More on this later.
:)
ReplyDelete'One SHOTuh! Korean Style!!' I've never taken such a celebrated shot
even in a basketball game.