Speed dating in Busan

This past weekend I hosted speed dating in my town, Busan, South Korea along with help from a friend and Wil.

First of all, trying to organize an event in Korea is so much more difficult than in America. Trying to negotiate with old Korean men who don't speak English is impossible without help from a willing Korean friend. (I bribed one with a free chicken dinner). One the day of, there was a lot of confusion, some angry faces and impatience, but altogether I think everyone had a good time.

The event was to begin at 5pm. We had around 30 people who RSVP'ed for the event but only 3 people showed up on time. Others were still walking in at 6:30pm! People had to pay a 10,000 won entrance fee which was supposed to go towards a small bar rental fee and charity for an orphanage for Chuseok (Korean holiday similar to Thanksgiving).

At 5:50 with 15 women and 11 men. My other helper had to run outside and recruit men off of the beach to come in, enticing them with 15 dates whom could be potential lovers. We were ready when a few beach bums with sand all over their legs, walked in and saved the night. With the ring of a bell, the first 4 minute-long awaited conversation began. With another ring, what seemed like just moments later I heard some say it wasn't long enough. Some men were slow to rise out of their seats and move on. Some jumped at the bell and were eager to move on to the next, more attractive women seated down the line. They wrote down the names of their next date and circled yes or no for each. This went on for an hour.

While walking around, I heard one foreign man asking a Korean woman questions. She just nodded her head every time. He said, “You don't speak English do you.” She smiled and said, “Nice to meet you!” (After tallying the results for each participant, somehow she was the woman with the most matches! O to kay hae yo?)

We finished the night with lots of beer and peach soju cocktails and eating cheese sticks, fries, chicken wings, quesadillas and sausage-all of which was free for the participants so they were very pleased. We chatted and I collected everyones cards to match up who liked who. I noticed that most men had every yes circled. They would.

It was everyone's first time at a speed dating event. At first some of the people felt awkward, but once the timed conversations began, people enjoyed the thrill of talking to so many strangers of the opposite sex in such a quick period with the allowance of rating them with a yes or no circle on their card of choices. Koreans got to practice their English, guys got to try out some of their pick up lines and I was happy to make 70,000 won to buy ramyan noodles and toys for the little ones at the orphanage!

Here are some pictures taken by a Korean guy who couldn't speak English so didn't participate for long. http://blog.naver.com/kohaku3533/140114196146