Birthday Party in Korea

I had a great opportunity to celebrate my 25th birthday, because I did not have to work at all last week.  So I went out with my apartment building friend O-An and his girlfriend.  It was pretty cold because it had snowed the previous day, and I heard this causes the temperature to drop the following day.

Here O-An is making his kebab along side his girlfriend.  I was able to introduce them, when she was working at a bar.  Then she quit, and he hired her.  When I first met her she told me that she was born on January 8th 1985 making her 20 days older than me, and that I should call her nuna (a Korean name for older sister).  So I did.  Then O-An told me that she is really only 21, and that she had told some of the customers that she was as old as 30, so that they would treat her with more respect.  

O-An closed his shop about an hour early so that we could go an celebrate my birthday, and a lady who owns a flower shop gave me this flower for my birthday.  Does anyone know how to take care of it?  I will have to ask the shop owner.

After O-An and his girlfriend closed the shop, we were ready to have a night out.

We went to Bucheon subway station by taxi since it was cheaper than taking public transportation.  We went to one of the many restaurants around the station.  We had some spicy pork that you get to cook and make into a wrap using lettuce.  Each dish was only around $5.50.  Later on a couple of Elly's friends stopped by for a brief time.

Back in the old days people cooked food using coal as the heat source.  Restaurants like this one continue this practice.  This kind of cooking makes the grill dirty quickly, so it has to be replaced a couple of times per dish.

Eventually, you end up with something like this.

The super ghetto ventilation pipe fell down onto the grill around three times.

Our next stop was at Jail Bar.  It has been around for over 10 years due to the fun atmosphere.  There is a cell in the center of the room where people can play games, and have auction dates, and get handcuffed to the winning bidder. 

After having a few beers, and losing what turned out to be a dating game, we went back to my place and Elly bought me a birthday cake.

Most Koreans don't sit on their friend's bed like O-An is doing, but it is because he doesn't observe a lot of the Korean customs, that we are able to get along so well.  

O-An and his girlfriend play this game all the time.  You have to guess how many thumbs you and your opponent will hold up, and if you guess correctly you get to flick your opponent.