email

Subject: RE:
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:09:41 +0000
dear mom and dad,

hi! things are good, as usual. i got the magazines and newspapers earlier this week, thanks so much for sending them, i really appreciate it. i saw jill scott is on the cover of jet! im very happy, she's one of my favorite singers. by the way, kanisha is supposed to send me the new jill scott cd, lay a guilt trip on her for me next time you see her. just kidding. not really.

a couple of weeks ago, the teachers at my school went out for dinner to celebrate some birthdays. whilst handling some bulgogi with his chopsticks, John dropped his meat into his half full glass of beer. Because it was his birthday, nikki (korean wife of one of my coworkers) takes his glass and insists we pass it around in order to partake in the korean tradition of everyone at the table adding a little bit of "love" to his drink. so in addition to the beer and meat, other ingredients came to include kimchee, mushrooms, soju, fried chicken, tomatoes, a mouthful of someone else's beer (ewww...) and then the birthday boy was supposed to drink it.

everyone at the table cheered and told him to do it for Canada (he, and many of my coworkers are canadian). I, however, said, "fuck that, john, thats nasty. dont drink that shit." the grossness of the situation was too gross for me. john was annoyed that he didnt get a chance to fish out his meat at the beginning so he could eat it.

ive never heard of this korean tradition of adding Love to someones drink before, but maybe it's one of those korean traditions people come up with whilst drinking. someone asked when my birthday was, i told them that it's in march, which is when i will be having cake. period.