Saeng Il Pah Ti

That means "birthday party" in Korean.  Since the last post, the sun decided to peek its head from the blanket of clouds it was so comfortably sleeping under...and I believe it was only for my birthday.  What a great birthday present.

It all started with my students and co-workers on Thursday.  When I came to work, I was welcomed with two banners reading, "Feliz Cumpleanos" and "It's A Girl."  As the day progressed, V had the students make birthday cards for me (remind you: we teach adults), and there was a delicious cake prepared by R and V.  Then one of my students bought me an amazing M&Ms ice cream cake.

But this is about me finding San Diego, and I have to say that on Friday, I realized how much a year changes things.  We went to Min Sok Chon on Convoy Street in Kearney-Mesa neighborhood.  It is a Korean-style bar with different dishes and small karaoke rooms line the sides of the restaurant.  Z planned for us to all meet in a room.

We actually went there on the Tuesday prior to check things out and the server/hostess was soooooo nice to us.  "Oh, I can make your cocktail soju strong," "Oh, it's not a problem."  But on Friday, she was like Medusa.  She was rude enough to make one of my guests ask for another server.  I felt like I needed an elements chart and a TI-85 just to understand how happy hour worked.  "You can order one large cocktail soju and two bottles of regular soju or you can order eight bottles of regular soju and two beers and you can only order two bottles of soju per person that is currently in your party."  Then divide by the square root of evil and you have our server.

So my review of Min Sok Chon--BAD News: a little expensive, happy hour ends at 8 p.m., our server sucked.  GOOD news:  Good food, good Yakult cocktail soju, awesome karaoke equipment, no funny smell.  If I go back, I'll just sit in the restaurant area, and then when I'm good and liquored up, I'll move to the karaoke room.

Honestly, I was worried that no one would actually show up.  As I said in my first post, I felt like I had holed myself up in my apartment in OB and hadn't explored or even slightly invested time or energy into the people I've met here.  One of my friends said on my FB page, "It looks like you never left Korea!  Make some American friends."  Why?  Because all of my pictures are of my students and me.

But everyone I invited, excluding the people who live light years away, showed up.  I can't even begin to describe how I felt, and "special" doesn't seem to cut it.

Maybe I've judged San Diego too early.

On Saturday, EK and R stayed over at my house, and then EV and NMZ (Not My Z) came over.  I met EV in Tennessee way back in the day, before her prime and while I was living in mine.  She was quiet and shy and I didn't really know what to think of her.  We reunited in Korea when she was a bit older and for some odd reason, I was still the same age.  Despite the fact that she was one of my closest friends' ex, we became good friends.  She just got back from her second trip to Korea with NMZ, and she told me that I had inspired her to travel across the country.  How amazing.  I inspired another.

My actual birthday was Father's Day which causes most people to forget I was born.  But thanks to FB, I woke up with a gajillion messages--reminding me that I have met a lot of people on my journey through life.

So all-in-all, San Diego ain't too bad.

My next destination is Lucho Libre...I gotta go check out the fried cheese french fry tacos.  WHAT?!?!

Min Sok Chon
4620 Convoy Street 92111