eunjin in SOUTH KOREA: [Part 2] 138. KUBA Farewell Party

Friday, December 17, 2010

[Part 2] 138. KUBA Farewell Party

I woke up to see a white Seoul this morning...

If there's one thing I regret doing in Korea, it's...having my hair layered :(
I wanted to have this hairstyle which I got last Summer and loved it.

Extreme left

But when I went to the same hair salon (Hair Messe in Edae) this year, my stylist disappeared (she went to some other salon) and I forgot to upload the above picture into my phone to show the new stylist the hairstyle I wanted. So, I ended up with a different type of perm :( Since then, I made the resolution to get the hair perm I want before I leave Korea.
Today was the best time to get a hair perm done because I'll be busy over the next few weeks meeting up with friends, going to Nami Island and stuff so I rushed down to Edae at 11am...only to find that Hair Messe was closed. The other hair salons around the area were open except Hair Messe. When I walked upstairs to the entrance of the salon, I found containers and other stuff strewn in front of the door so I figured they had closed down either temporarily or for good. I called Beatrice to find out which hair salon she frequents but after spending 20 minutes walking up and down the street in search of Susok Hair Designer, I gave up because it was nowhere in sight! Eventually, she gave me the salon's number and I called to ask for directions. The guy who picked up said the salon's just opposite Coffee Bean but I was opposite Coffee Bean and just couldn't find it! Dejected, I tried other hair salons but the 1st one quoted me 120,000KRW for a perm. No way...the perm I had at Hair Messe only cost 50,000KRW. Later on, I saw Hair Casting and decided to try my luck. And I had a good experience there, even though I didn't get the hair perm that I wanted and I exceeded my budget. If you do go there, look for the male stylist!
I like Hair Casting because it was empty, unlike Hair Messe. During my 2 visits to Hair Messe, there were so many people getting their hair done that my stylist attended to many girls at the same time and forgot about me now and then. Here at Hair Casting, I had undivided attention. I had a magic straight done before a perm setting for the ends for 90,000KRW (the original price was 130,000KRW but he gave me a discount). My stylist said I couldn't have the hair perm that I want because my hair is way too layered and advised me against having my hair so layered next time because it doesn't suit me. And I agree with him. My hair was only nice for awhile after I had it layered. Now, it looks like shit and is getting so out of control that I had to get my perm done earlier than planned. I wanted to do it the day before I leave for Singapore. He also straightened my permed fringe because he said it doesn't suit me. I was quite sad about it because I loved my permed fringe but according to Yuhong and Kenneth, I look better now because my hair doesn't resemble a curtain anymore. Thanks -.-

3 hours later, I left the salon 110,000KRW poorer (I got a treatment essence for 20,000KRW as well) but felt and looked like a different person. Along my way to the subway station, I walked past Hair Messe again and saw that it was open! Oh wells, I think Hair Casting did a better job!

Closed :(

Hair casting

Back in Anam, I struggled to carry out my stuff to the entrance of Co-m Livingtel where Yuhong was waiting for me. My hostel's for ladies only and Yuhong couldn't go in to help me. I had to make 3 trips and almost died carrying my 25kg box of books and magazines. The lady at the counter of my hostel called a cab for me (1,000KRW for calling fee) but the cab took a long to arrive :( We waited for about 15 minutes and the taxi driver wasn't sure of the way to the post office inside Korea University so I had to direct him with my miserable knowledge of directions in Korean. During the ride, he asked me if Yuhong and I were speaking in English and Chinese. Lol...all because of Yuhong! I rarely speak in Chinese but because of his influence, I've been speaking a lot more Chinese these days and sometimes, we alternate between English and Chinese in a single conversation because we don't want others to understand what we're saying. haha.
Anyway,...THANK YOU YUHONG for your help!!! I wouldn't have made it to the post office without you. I had 42kg of stuff in 4 boxes shipped back to Singapore for 101,000KRW+. He accompanied me to the post office, carried my boxes and helped me with taping and stuff. I'll treat you to a good meal when we're back in SG! Actually, it's about 38,000KRW to ship back a maximum of 20kg per box. Since I had 42kg, it should cost less than 80,000KRW to ship back my stuff right? Problem is with the box sizes available. The post office ran out of its largest-sized box, box no. 6 so I had to settle for the 2nd largest, box no. 5 for 1,200KRW each. My cousin and brother ordered a total of 6 bags which were so bulky that they filled up box no. 5 and I had to ship back 1 box with only the bags (about 6kg), costing me 20,000KRW. I couldn't fit my summer clothes into that box and had to ship it separately in a smaller box, box no. 4 (650KRW) for 17,000KRW. If only box no. 6 was available, I could have shipped back the bags and clothes together! :( Oh wells, at least I have shipped back my stuff and my room is emptier now.

By the time we left the post office, it was 5.30pm and we were late for the KUBA Farewell Party in Woodang Hall. But surprisingly, the party didn't start till after 5.30pm! It was supposed to start at 5pm. Actually, it wasn't quite a party, more like an award ceremony for best buddies and showing of videos with some speeches here and there before we went to the International Hall for buffet dinner. There wasn't enough food there to fill everyone's stomach so my group went to Mamee's Kitchen in Anam for chicken and beer. Jaeho, our group leader, entertained us with a song on guitar. It was such a pity that I didn't bring my camera along because I wanted to take a video of him :( Later on, I went back to my room to get my camera before joining the rest at Fusion Bar where we adjoined to after having chicken. There, we played drinking games till 10pm or so. While most of my group members went back after that, I joined YW, Kristian and Sebastian for one more mug of beer in another 술집 before going back. I'll miss my group! It seems as though we had only just met on the 2nd day of orientation for the briefing in Woodang Hall about the application for our Hana Bank-KU student ID card and now, it's farewell. Then, farewell seemed so far away but time flew and now, it's the end.