drinking with koreans.

"you are able to get along with connors and you are able to get along with me. that's a talent i was telling kathy about, its a talent that i can't do. pretty amazing for me. i just can't be friends with everyone." - s. leung

"that's what i do for a living"

-i take the time to learn about cultures and read btwn the lines about people. then u add in drinking, a smile and candor. thats what i do for a living.

on a thursday night, we ended up @ izakaya and i got a full run down on how to properly drink with koreans. to drink with friends. to drink with elders. to drink with colleagues. to drink with girls. you take one hand and hold it over the label of the soju bottle. your other hand supports the bottom of the bottle. and when you pour, the bottle neck never touches the shot glass. rather than supporting the shot glass from the bottom of the bottle, i typically hold my elbow or body as i didn't think it made a diff and most times i'm holding my tie back, but apparently the further your second hand is from the bottle, the less respect there is.

you pour the shots. and when you're done you pass the bottle back for someone to pour your shot. you never pour your own shot. and you lift the glass up off the table because respect takes precedence over spilling soju everywhere. you hold your shot glass with two hands. as your peer top off the shot glass, you will bring their glass up as a sign of respect to help them out. u do not do this elders. a peer you might tap the shot glass instead of picking it up.

to drink the shot you turn your head away and drink not facing an elder.

then make an AHH sound and a face. and dig your spoon into the communal soup.

then cry.

hahaha.

did you know that if someone asks you to be their hookisah. they owe you half a favor!