Just another Bombtrack

Furthering my belief that Swaton is an exceptional hagwan, Mrs. Gu, our director and owner's wife, invited all the teachers out for drinks last Friday night. I thought this would be very casual and relaxed but Smith had other plans. Every 2 minutes, he would say 'Cheers!' and look around the room to make sure we were all participating. I mentioned that my birthday was the following week and, 15 minutes later, the waiter brought a bottle of champagne (compliments of Mrs. Gu) and everyone present was clapping for me. Usually we have cake and sing Happy Birthday but this was something new, special. In those five minutes I began to really like Mrs. Gu, a women that's said less than 20 words to me. After everyone was feeling friendly, we went to a Noray Bong. Noray Bongs "translated- singing house" are everywhere, almost as numerous as PC Bongs. These are places where friends go, usually drunk but not necessarily, to do private Kareoke. Those of you who have seen "Lost in Translation" have a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about. The room was much smaller than I had imagined: a couch that wrapped along the walls, a big screen TV playing videos along with the songs, and a high-tech stereo system that was beyond my RadioShack mind. Smith led off the show with a slow Korean love song and he sang passionately. The audience, around 10 of us, clap along to the songs, and play the tambourine. Once again, I have proof that the rumors of Koreans' singing ability are true. They sing well, and naturally because they don't see any shame in it as we somehow, subconsciously do. Everyone jumped at the opportunity to hit the stage. My roommate Chris and I sang the Doors "Light My Fire" an easy sing and a tune the Koreans knew. We then attempted to rap along with Zack in Rage's "Bombtrack." That was hilarious. Staring out at all the Korean teachers, both my bosses and rapping along to some distorted riffing. I felt much more comfortable than I ever have with Kareoke in America but the difference lies in the audience. At a Noray Bong you are singing in front of your friends as opposed to the strangers looking on at a Kareoke bar. Chris and I were the only ones to sing Western songs but they had enough in their catalog to please a room full of foreigners. This is definitely an aspect of Korean culture I will further investigate and I anticipate my singing will improve immeasurably from the experience.