I use to think the only place you could have drinks with celebrities was Hollywood, California, but I somehow I found myself in Seoul, South Korea having drinks with Korean pop stars. I was just getting acclimated to the big city of Seoul and the culture. Being from a small town in the small state of Delaware; Seoul, a thriving city was like a whirlwind in a language I didn’t understand. I taught myself Hangeul, but translating it took a while. As different as it was and strange at times it didn’t matter because I was living my life. I was living a much faster life than when I was a teacher in Delaware, but as a teacher in Seoul with other American friends that wasn’t hard to do. Even with the studious and busy culture of education in Korea, it seemed like my teacher friends found the time to go out every other night.

“We are in a different country, far from home we can live how we want here, no one knows that we are really dorks back home.” My friend Stephanie told me one day when she made me go to a club with her. She was from a small town in Wyoming and once she was in Korea she went from farm girl to wild and crazy. She had a hobby or as I like to say “bad habit” of meeting Korean men in the club and taking them back to our apartment, to as she puts it, “make their American dreams come true.” Tonight was no different… I found myself sitting next to her at the bar as she flirted with a random dude. After passing two other dudes up I knew this time she was going in for the kill on this guy. He was the best looking of the three.

“Hey, I’m going to find the bathroom,” I told Stephanie. She waved to acknowledge she heard me but stayed in conversation with the dude. I wasn’t very familiar with this club, it was a new spot, Stephanie wanted to try. As I was walking towards the bathroom in a rush I was pulling my skirt down a little and looked down for a brief moment. In that moment, I bumped into someone. I knew it was a male, by the size  of the body. Quickly stepping back and bowing I said: “죄송합니다” (Joesonghabnida- sorry) “죄송합니다” I knew my pronunciation was off a little. When I looked up I saw a very debonair young faced man who was Asian but didn’t look Korean. “실례합니다.” (Shillye hamnida- excuses me) “너 괜찮 니?” (neo gwaenchanh ni?- are you ok?) He asked. “Oh, 네, uh uh hwa- ja-ng-sil” I wasn’t very good with my pronunciation and it was making me nervous, plus he was kind of cute.

“Are you looking for the bathroom?” The man said if perfect English.

“Omo! You speak English, I said with a nervous laugh, I am looking for the bathroom.”

“Ok well, its right down this hall.” He said pointing towards the bathroom.

“Gamsahabnida,” (Thank you.) I said and began walking in that direction. He stood there with a smile and I felt my face get hot.

“Is he checking me out?” I thought. I didn’t look back to check I just went on to the bathroom.

After checking my make-up, hair, and outfit in the mirror I went back out into the club. I couldn’t believe it the guy was still there. I walked towards him.

“Hey, he started, just making sure you were ok.”

“I am,” I said. There was an awkward silence.

“Well- just as he began to talk another guy came up to him excitedly speaking Korean. The other guy was gorgeous. I felt my heart beating fast and my hands began to sweat. I was in love. If this had of been like a cartoon there would be hearts throbbing from where my eyes were. The bathroom guide said something to the excited one and then the excited friend noticed me standing there. He bowed saying hello in Korean.

“This is my friend, Min Jun, and I am Nichkhun.” The bathroom guide said holding out his hand. Shaking his hand, I said:

“I am D, well my name is Danielle, but no one can pronounce it so I just shortened it to D.”

“Danyall.” The excited Min Jun said grabbing my hand.

I just shrugged it off that he said it wrong. I realized he was a little drunk.

“Me and my friends are having drinks over there, he pointed, you wanna join us?” Min Jun asked.

“Well…my-”I started.

“Please," he said getting close tapping my nose with his finger.

He stood back up saying. “ya, Khunnine, yeoja gwiyeobda.” (Hey, Khunnie, this girl is cute.)

My eyes widened because that I understood. The excited one just said I was cute.

“Do you want to join us?” Nichkhun asked me.

“Well, ok,” I said.

“Ok!!” MinJun said loudly throwing his arm around me walking me over to his friends.

There were about 12 people in this VIP area. When we walked over MinJun forgot all about me and did shots with someone. A tall sleepy eye fellow walked to NichKhun. They said something to each other and laughed. Then NichKhun turned to me and introduced him as Chansung.

“I am not good with English.” Chansung said.

“나는 한국인과 잘 어울리지 않는다.” ( I am not good with Korean.) I said.

He started laughing and said something to Nichkhun, who turned to me and asked what I wanted to drink.

“Cranberry and vodka.” I answered.

Nichkhun said something to Chansung who walked away.

“He is going to get your drink.” Nichkhun said.

We went further into the VIP and sat down. He started naming people around us.

“That is Woo Young, next to him is Jun Ho, he said, and that is Taec Yeon.”

The one named Taec Yeon was sitting in between two Korean girls. e was He The girls were very flirtatious and very interested in him. He talked, but I could tell he was unamused. NIchkhun revealed that several of the dudes around were producer friends of MinJun and a couple of girls were just groupies.

“Wait, groupies?” I said.

“Well, yeah.” He said.

“Who are you guys?” I asked.

“We are- “

“2pm-mida.” Minjun shouted. The girls started screaming and one fell in Minjun’s lap.

That still didn’t mean much to me.

“We are a kpop group.” Nichkhun said.

Just then Chansung came back with six bottles of soju in his arms and my drink in his hand. Each dude grabbed a bottle of soju while he handed me the cranberry and vodka.

He dropped onto the couch beside me and said: “Hi.”

He was certainly adorable. He seemed older, his sheepish look made him seem very young. He tried to speak English and it was so cute. I finished my drink and it seemed like every time I turned around they were giving me shots of soju. Before I knew it, I was tipsy and dancing. My friend came over to me leading the guy she was talking to over with her.

“Are you gonna be ok?” She asked.

Nichkhun threw an arm around my neck and said, “Yes we will make sure she is safe.”

Stephanie looked at me.

Tipsy I said: “I’m good.”

“Alright, see you later.” Stephanie walked out dragging the guy behind her. I knew I would be coming home to loud sounds coming from her room. I  was feeling nervous about allowing this random guy help me out even if he said he was a kpop star, but I was drunk and I just kept dancing. I must have dance with each member except for Taec Yeon, he never really got up all night he just sat and drank. Things started going dark and the last thing I remember was getting into a dark car with the boys. MinJun had a girl with him and so did Woo Young. I looked over at Taec Yeon who folded his arms and just looked out of the window and that was it. I felt my body go limp as I laid into Nichkhun’s chest, falling fast asleep.