Orientated

I’m in our nation’s capitol (roughly speaking) attending an orientation for my Korea trip this summer. It’s been surprisingly interesting and informative. Another nice thing is that I got to meet foolishathena in person. She ran into some (a lot of, really) trouble finding the hotel, partially because of bad directions from me, for which I remain very sorry. She eventually made it and we had an enjoyable supper together. It was enjoyable for me, anyway. She seemed to experience waves of shock over what an overbearing cad I am in real life. 😉

Altogether, there are (I think) 192 people traveling to seven Asian and/or Pacific countries as part of this program. Fifteen of us are going to Korea. They are a nice bunch of folks. Around ten are going to three or four different universities in Seoul. Only one other guy is going to the same place as me, POSTECH. I think that’s mostly a good thing. I’d prefer to make friends with Korean people rather than always hanging out with Americans.

That’s partially because, you know, I want to really experience the culture and la la la. But it’s also because I’ve found that when most young Americans go on any kind of trip, they use it as an excuse to party extra hardy. It’s nice that I’ll get to mostly avoid the whole awkward process of alienation that results after revealing that no, I’m not interested in staying out until 3 in the morning and getting tanked.

Here’s a related question. Really, it’s the chain of thought that provoked the preceding paragraph. At what age does it become too shameful to revel in former drunken debauches in a formal setting? The Korean “alum”, who participated in this program last summer, mentioned how much drinking everyone did at least three times in presentations she gave.

I’m past wondering when people become too old to consider binge drinking a worthwhile way to pass the time. I learned years ago that many people never outgrow it. But I think that if some 40 year old stood up before a couple hundred people at a government funded presentation and bragged about how much drinking he did during a government funded research program, most people would be embarrassed on his behalf. They’d find it unprofessional.

Later, in our Korea-specific breakout meeting, she reminded us to take a supply of any medications we might need, including birth control, which, she blandly confided, she forgot last summer. I’m not squeamish about female bodily functions, okay? Also, I’m not offended, per se. Even so, I wonder: Why mention it all? Birth control pills are not free of connotation for anyone, even if they are used for reasons other than birth control. What deeper insight into this alcohol sodden woman’s personality does this reveal?

That’s enough moral judgment for one entry, I guess.

Assorted other thoughts:

1. I have a lot of stuff to do to get ready for this trip, and it’s coming sooner than I realize. I’ve been accustomed to thinking of it as being off in the distant future, “this summer.” But it’s really in two and a half months.

2. One possible living arrangement I hadn’t considered is staying with a host family. There are evidentially Korean families who advertise on the internet, eager to have an American student to inflict on their young children. I don’t know whether I’ll opt for that, because I’m a bit of a private person, but it’s something to consider.

3. POSTECH gives full scholarships to the top 1% of students in Korea. The cream of the crop of a nation of overachievers. It’s in a semi-rural area, so I’m going to be the stupidest person for miles around.