Sexy Dance

After an evening spent eating duck and celebrating the finish of the summer at Hoyah's company dinner, a small group of friends and I carried on (carrying 4 bottles of Hite and 2 bottles of soju) to "i cha" (round two) at my place.
By twelve, we had just entered a full house at NB and started getting our groove on when the music stopped. Masses of people hearded off the stage as the MC began rambling on and on in those lovely foreign words, setting up some kind of performance, I thought. Through the tiniest cracks between a number of heads before me, I could see one man's head pop up and down to the beat. Through a few translated words from my Korean American roommate Hae Jin, my notion was confirmed; it was a dance contest. Hae Jin suggested I go up there, and after refusing three times, and then seeing a few weak showings, I decided to entertain the idea. Before I knew it, Hae Jin and I had pushed our way through the crowds, and I found myself inches away from the stage. There, I hesitated just long enough to miss the opening to enter in the girls dance-off. But, as I watched the first desperate girl strip off her jean jacket and shimmie and shake, I realized my purpose. I had to get up there. Making eye contact with the MC, I signaled that I would be up next, and he nodded. Hae Jin pushed me on stage when he introduced the next contestant, where I, alongside two other late contestants, threw down, front and center. Though it's been about four or five years since my old dance team days and over a year without stretching (no high kicks or spilts, please) I pumped my shoulders, whipped my hair, threw in a few body rolls, and added some scandalous bootie shakes and dips and even a pirouette, in heels mind you...boy, the poms would be so proud (haha). I did anything I could to win the audience over. One boy in the front row was especially lovin it. Seeing him mimic my movements with a big grin on his face was confirmation that the crowd was diggin' it...and, even better were the wild screams and cheers from my rockin' fan club--Paul, Hae Jin, Ahrum, Cheryl, Jenny, Kelly--who had loyaly fought a place in the front row. Seeing them was all I needed to keep up the energy. After the music ended, it was Paul's enthusiastic cry, "Sexy!!!" or "Sae uksi!!!" (Korean pronunciation) and an audience vote that won me a second dance-off for third place. Thank god for Paul for his cheers and secret directions; he motioned signals and mouthed instructions about where stand and when to dance. Without him, I would of looked like an absolute foreigner fool! Somehow, I don't think anyone knew I can't speak a lick of Korean, that is, until I'd been pulled into the VIP room to negotiate my prize with my competitor. The only word I knew was Ney (yes). So, I ney-ed and ney-ed until they handed me $250 cash. I ney-ed some more and happily forfeited a Nike gift certificate for another hundred bucks. After all, I went home with $350 as prize money, all is good for a nights work.
Though I did not bring home the Most Effective Teacher certificate from our company dinner, Paul did vote me, MOST EFFECTIVE DANCER." Thanks Paul. And, a shout out to the fans--LOVE YOU. ;)