KoreanAir and Their Ladies

KoreanAir stewardesses to some are somewhat of a status symbol. They have a great job that allows them to travel for extremely cheap, they are considered by some to be the pinnacle of the Korean service industry, and up until a few years ago, they were known to be hired because of their pretty faces (not so much recently). Many men who have a stewardess girlfriend wear it proudly on their sleeve and let the world know. Here’s my economy-level effort to get a number from these first-class servers.

Ok, so I was bored on the plane ride from NYC to Seoul. I usually can’t fall asleep on planes, so I was just reading and watching in-flight BBC documentaries. I tend to get really antsy because I’m a mini-clastrophobic, so usually I just walk around and hang around the back of the plane where I can stretch. About 5 hours left in the flight, I decide I’m going to get a glass a wine. I enjoy it good enough, and it’s letting me loose. I’m bored and I got tons of time left, so I say “what the heck” and decide to start drinking some more. I head to the back where the duty-free shop is (on the new KoreanAir airbus), and just start chatting with the stewardess there. We talked about her life as a stewardess and things we did when we were in New York. We spent about 10 minutes exchanging chit-chat and I discovered that although she wasn’t really my type, she was extremely personable and nice. I had a good time talking to her, but I wanted some more drinks.

I went to the middle section where all the stewardess prepare drinks and food for the passengers. There were two stewardesses there chatting it up on their break time, and I was quietly standing on the side, pouring myself drinks hoping that someone would be down for a conversation. Somehow I ended up talking with this one stewardess who seemed really into me. Asking me all these questions, real good eye-contact and I’m picking up on the subtle hints. We chatted it up some more, and joke around a bit. And although she wasn’t really my type either, I thought I would give it a shot anyway. So I looked for an opening to ask for her number. But by the time I had built up enough liquid courage, they were all getting ready for landing and were too busy. I had no chance to ask for a number, and I was also probably known as the drunk guy. Not a very good situation for a potential number exchange!

I enjoy KAL anytime I fly to New York. They have really smooth rides, in-flight entertainment is up to date, and they have great people working for them. Although there was no exchanging of numbers, I learned these stewardesses are extremely personable and sweet. They’re down for random conversations. And they let me get wasted on the plane. KAL ftw!

Tags: dating, koreanair

Keith is Back

I’m backkkkkkk! Over the summer I decided to take a mental vacation, and that’s exactly what I did. The last 6 months or so was pretty much filled with a gyopo bachelor experience in Korea. Lots of clubbing, lots of drinking, videos games at home (MW3 FTW!) and of course my sad attempts at dating. But it’s all out of my system now. It took long enough, but I’m over my break up, and ready to kill it on the web. So check out what’s in store from the former king of Korean podcasts (so easy to say because it was just me and my crew!).

New Website – Seoulistic.com

Wait… did i mention this before? like last year or something? Forget what I said ok? Just trust me this time!

I’ve lived in Korea for a total of nearly 4 years. And during that time, I’ve of course accumulated a lot of knowledge of how to get by in Korea. And although this knowledge comes to me easily, it might not be so obvious to the new comers or even the visitors to Korea. Here are few posts that I’ve already prepared for this upcoming site:

• Where to go to see all the Kpop Idols in Korea
• Where to go to get the Best Exchange Rates
• Must Have Smartphone Apps for Korea
• 4 Things to Get on the Cheap in Korea
• The Most Famous Restaurants in MyeongDong
• Accommodations for less than $50 a night

Bottom line is, I think people can use some help adjusting to Korea, or coming for a visit to Korea.

The site is not up yet as I am preparing content and getting a few developers and designers to help me out. I am aiming for a March launch. Hope ya’ll support it!

This Blog

For this blog (gyopokeith.wordpress.com), I hope to share some personal anecdotes that revolve around my life as a a Korean-American bachelor & struggling entrepreneur,  living in Korea. I hope my tales of woe will inspire you all to be just like me! And I do plan on updating this much more often.

Don’t forget to holler atcha boi, down in the comments section!

Tags: blogging, seoulistic.com

Double espresso and a pack of cigarettes

I started this year coming out of a long term relationship. 3-years, engaged, and failure was a bit much for me. I was also working a ridiculous schedule of 9:30 to 10. I normally have a tough time waking up in the morning, so having a schedule like that made it even tougher. Broken hearted and exhausted from work, I had decided to make some life altering changes. All the usuals.. Eat right, start my projects, get in shape, save money, blah blah blah.

But come May, my schedule had changed. I had made minimal progress on my new life and attitude. I was having so much fun going out, meeting people and just being a clown. I was trying to be responsible for so long that as soon as I didn’t have any responsibilities, I started feeling good about myself and self-development took a back seat to just chilling.

It’s true that I’m not getting any younger. I feel pressure to get things going before I become one of those 30 year olds living in my moms basement just fucking around. But I hadn’t had rest in so long that i decided that I’m taking a mental vacation for the next few months. I’m not going to worry about saving money, getting cancer from smoking, furthering my prospects. THIS is development. Chillin, worry free. When else can I call a time-out on life? never. And I’m taking the opportunity when I can.

Lunch time is social time here at my office. People ask each other to lunch to build rapport, make friends and hang. With my new found attitude, I’ve been taking my breaks at a cafe for an hour just smoking my cigarettes with a double espresso, trouble and worry free, without pressure or stress, without thoughts. It’s really fanastic.

Korea’s a great place for life-time-outs highly recommended!

Texting Game in Korea

I’ve been single for the past few months and going with some meet and greets with the ladies of the ROK. It’s hard to meet good quality women when working full-time, but I’ve been outting myself out there making some effort.

But here’s where it gets tricky. Once I get a number, I’ve got to build a relationship with a lady via text. I’m not much of a texter, and I’d rather just meet up for date number 2 asap rather than spend some “getting-to-know-you” time via short messages. And it’s even tougher when the girls don’t give you anything to work with. Here’s an example convo:

Me: hey whats up
Girl: nothing
Me: i had fun last night, we should do it again
Girl: yup
Me: you looked tired though.
Girl: yea
Me: do you work alot?
Girl: kind of

repeat frustration for days. listen, I don’t have the most game in the world. I know. but come’on now! work with me here! I never had this problem in other places.

The game here is different. And I don’t think I’ll ever understand it!

Plans for a New Website

Korea’s my home now. I’ve got an apartment, job, friends. This is life for me here and now. But it wasn’t always so peachy. Living in a foreign country is tough and I had to learn how to navigate my way through the language and the culture. Yes, I am a Korean-American, familiar with both, but once I moved here, I realize that I am still in a foreign country. It took years, but I’ve got enough knowledge to not only survive but also prosper. So now’s a good time to start sharing that knowledge.

I’ve been talking about starting a website for the past year and a half. I’ve told numerous people about it, but haven’t started a single thing. Now the time’s right; things are starting to clear up for me.

I bought podcasting gear, website stuff is no problem, and now I just need a camera and some time.

Sorry I’m being so vague. The internet is a scary place to give out sensitive info. But if u know me in person, I’ll talk it up a storm. I’ve got it all figured out. I just need the Lawd to give me stremph!!!

Sex on the Beach, Boracay Style

Boracay was extremely beautiful and relaxing. It was an excellent getaway which was much needed in my life. I had a great time doing nothing. I specifically set out to just chill out and relax. I didn’t want to go scuba diving or ATVing. I just wanted to sit on the beach, get a few massages, have a few drinks, have some time to think, read and write a bit, eat some good food. And I did all of that. I was able to get away from the stresses that I had in Korea. I was able to connect with myself (I sound like a 43 year old single mom), and just watch the sunrise and sunset. It was amazing, and I would definitely do it again.

The only reason I came back so tired was because of the 12 hour layover, arriving at 5AM, then going to work the same day — my fault on the lack of planning. But something that stressed me out was the over bearing sex being propositioned everywhere. Some people are all about that, and that’s fine, but that’s not for me. Maybe it was because I was a man vacationing alone, but I got solicited for all different kinds of sex services! Trannys, pimps, gay men, masseuses, couples. You name it, I was offered. BTW, has anyone noticed how bold some gay people can be? You can be talking about the economic hazards vs the employment benefits of having tourism on an island… and then out of complete left field, they’ll look you straight in the eye with  the eye of the tiger and ask “What if I kiss you?” I mean really??? That’s your move??? Where’s the tact, the prototypical well spoken, well mannered men of homosexuality? Who knows, maybe economic jargon is a turn on for some..

With that said, I think all that stuff was unique to my experience (I have an uncanny ability to attract men and half men). If you’re not traveling alone, you won’t be bothered much from the women/men/other of the night. There were tons of families and couples having a great time, and I think anyone else looking to go would have a great time too. If you’re looking for the extra curricular stuff, head over to Manila. Boracay’s definitely beach first.

The Philippines on a Whim

Along with my long work hours, I’ve been going through some relationship problems recently. So the past month or so I have been ultra stressed. So I decided to take a vacation on a whim.

Started searching for semi affordable places in Asia and somehow I got to the Phillipeans, which is a country I cannot spell for the life of me. I mean… what is it… 4 L’s? 6 P’s? We all get a free pass on the spelling right? And I was just considering going to Manila for the heck of it. So I just bought a ticket for 5 days / 4 nights leaving in less than 48 hours for less than $1000. Not bad I guess.

But then I started searching for things to do after I got there. Now I’m not one of those resort snobs, but I’ve been stressed. I’ve been through a lot the past month, and I thought it would be nice to have  some relaxing beaches, maybe a spa, something nice to look at… but right after I bought the ticket and started getting excited, I found out that in Manila, apparently it’s just some cathedrals, casinos, crimes and hookers. Sounds like  some more stress. Serves me right for buying a ticket without checking it out.

So I’m in the middle of trying to cancel my ticket / hotel reservation right now so I can go to Boracay, where I’m sure they got what I’m looking for. I just need to chill out for a few days, be by myself, write a little, read a little, and just BE a little. Sometimes we all get too busy living, we forget being (am I being profound or a plagiarist?).

At this point, I’m pot committed. I’m going to Boracay, whatever the cost. This is going to cost me an entire month’s salary, but whatever!! I’m going to buy my sanity back!! And if not, I’ll just go to Manila and get some hookers with the money I steal at the casino on the sabbath

I Need to Start My Own Web Business

The other day while I was teaching English, a student asked me: “Are you proud of your job?” Wow. Ballsy kid. But the truth of the matter is, I’m not going around proclaiming to the world that I am an English teacher. It’s fine. I’m having fun while I’m doing it, enjoying the ride as I go along, but it’s not something I’d like to have engraved on my epitaph. I’ve got other things I’d like to get accomplished.

So here are a few things that I’d like to do.

• Start a site – with a focus on the newcomer to Korea, I’d like to provide survival Korean lessons, visa information, things to do, ways to meet people, etc. – I’m having a hard time trying to figure out a monetization strategy, but getting it up and running with some substantial traffic would not be a problem.
• Write a screenplay – The story would focus on how I met my fiance and our life of daily miscommunication – all based on our common secondary identity.
• Compile a Book – What I mean by compile is to kind of do something along the lines of Sh*t My Dad Says. Except being more positive.

And yup, all these are great and fun, but just gotta get started on doing it.

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On a more personal note. I’m growing my hair out. I’ve had short hair for most of my life, minus a wild year in college when I didn’t get a haircut just out of laziness/poorness. But I’m at it again.

Don’t know where this is going. But might as well!

The Making of a Webisode

Monday Night I got to learn again a bunch. There was a filming of a webisode, taken at Mui Mui in Apgujung. It’s designed in that oh-so chic, trendy, upscale Soho style design that Korean women, and social elite are in love with, including outdoor seating, which is where the filming took place.

We got our web manager Yaeri Song to corral her gal pals just to talk about dudes to whole entire night. There was some  smack, I do believe, but in the politeness, most classiest way possible. These girls are straight up classed out to the max! Super supportive, and very encouraging to each other. When they were talking about each other, only the best adjectives, kindest words, and most endearing terms were used. Totally different from what men would be like. Our director said it best… If it was a bunch of dudes talking, they’d be like “You want to know about this m*ther f*cker? Let me tell you something about this c*ck s*cker!”

Was great to watch women just interact together, and also to learn, of course, about the making of a film (or webisode at least). A good sign that I’m learning is the questions that I came away with. Questions of women are too many to count. But I do have a few questions about filming. If anyone would be so kind to enlighten me, please do so!

- Filmed with the light in the shot, not behind. Why? (My guess: intimacy)
- What’s the lamp on the table for?
- There was a gray space on the top and bottom of the camera. What’s that for?
- Since most of the shots were closeups, what kind of headspace was allotted, if at all, and why?
- I saw a few times the camera being zoomed all the way to the closest possible setting, then to the desired shot . Is that for focusing?
- Why was a shotgun mic used in this setting and not lapel mics?

Tags: benson lee, learning, obangsaek, work

Is Korea the Center of the World?

Obviously it’s not the center of the world. Hawaii is. But it’s still an interesting question to pose since I’ve been here for only 6 months, I’ve seen and met people from all times and places of my life. I’ve met people that I haven’t seen in literally 15 years, people I used to hang out with everyday, people I’ve only met once or twice in my life, and also people that I have never met face-to-face.

People from New York – My friends and family end up here because, well, most of them are Korean. I’m not the main reason (except in my dad’s case), but we end up getting together and hanging for the first time in a long time.

Internet Friends – there’s a bunch of people I met over the internet the past few years. The site I used to work at was of course aimed to teach the Korean language and also culture. So Korea is naturally the place where I would get to meet a lot of Internet buddies.

Friends from Japan – I guess you could say a big chunk of my world in Japan was somewhat related to Korea. Although I could communicate in Japanese a bit, sometimes Korean is obviously much more comfortable. So I made quite a few friends that were either Korean, or they were intrigued to some degree of Korea.

So I guess the answer is yes, Korea is the center of the world, or at the least, my world. Most of my friends are Korean, and/or they are interested in Korea in some way or another. The nexus of the universe.

So if you’re in Korea, give me a holla!