It's My Life!: Why Not? – the best name EVER for a gay bar…NOT the best answer from strange Korean men

So YES – I have celebrated my first birthday EVER away from my family and friends. It was a little difficult, but I am glad that it happened closed to when I first arrived rather than later in the year when I will be really starting to miss home. I turned 24, but found out that that I am 25 or 26 in Korean age because you are already one-year-old when you are born but if you are born before a certain time, sometimes they go by the year? I really don’t know. It’s confusing and I prefer my age in American.

I just happen to meet another person ALSO born on April 26th at the 80’s birthday party for Hayley. Joey (the fellow Taurus) has been in Korea for awhile and already had a party planned – also with a theme – Risky Business. NO - no hookers but lots of white-collar shirts and black sunglasses. Some did go full out with sans bottoms (see pictures) but I adorned pants.

We went to this gay bar named “Why Not?” hahahaha which I think is the best name for a gay bar EVER! I laughed when we got there and I saw the name, I laughed while inside when I thought about the name, laughed after leaving and I recalled it, and I have continued to laugh about it every once in awhile when I remember it. It was an interesting place - full of boys who were not interested in me in the least bit haha (obviously). So it was actually nice to be able to dance without being bombarded to very loud “unce unce” and diva music such as “It’s Raining Men!” The laser show was awesome. “Lots of green lasers everywhere” is the best description I can give you.

We left the bar with the fabulous name to fill up on delicious Korean street food (seriously, you guys are missing out over there). After eating a couple kabobs and some dokbuki (no clue on spelling for that) we were not ready for bed. We headed to another club up the road and on the way, we realized we had lost a few members of the group so we waited for them to show up. While waiting, a Korean man came up to us and started speaking Korean – pretty typical right? Well then, not so typical, the man points to me then points to himself and says a bunch of stuff. After he rambled on for a bit, we realized he was trying to purchase me for the evening. AHHH! The guys from my group told him “No” several times but the man wouldn’t take “No” for an answer and instead indicated “Why not? She go with me.” One guy from our group even said, “This is my girlfriend” and made the “X-sign” with his arms (which means no but can indicate to buck off in some situations). The Korean man still insisted that I should leave with him so we had to walk to a new location to meet our other friends. I was pretty offended…I mean I was dressed nothing like a hooker (as I mentioned already before) but I wasn’t completely shocked. My dear friend Jade warned me before I left the US that by having blonde hair (or just being foreign), I could easily be confused with a Russian prostitute or mail-order bride, as they are common in Korea. In fact, most female foreigners in Korea are either English teachers or prostitutes. Hmm…it’s a good thing Joey’s theme party did not include dressing like the “hookers” from the movie.

Happy Birthday to me!