Kocktails and Kulture

Many people have asked me how I've dealt with the culture shock. It's actually been easy. I've never been utterly confused or frustrated at any point. I stumbled a little maybe when it comes to ordering food, but overall it's been okay.

Except for pouring etiquette.

There are a number of rules when it comes to pouring beer or soju (Korean vodka). It took me a few drinking outings to get it down pat, but it goes like this:

Section 1.0
1.1 NEVER pour your own drink... EVER. Period.


Section 2.0
2.1 POURING

Subsection 2.1(a) Pouring For Someone Older:
Use two hands on the pitcher or bottle if pouring into the glass of someone who's older than you.

Subsection 2.1(b) Pouring For Someone Younger:
Use one hand if they're younger and place the other hand across your chest mid-way below the armpit (think of it as a one-handed self hug).

Subsection 2.1(c) First & Subsequent Rounds:
On the first round of drinks, pour from eldest to youngest; after that, you just pour whenever you see someone's glass empty.


Section 3.0
3.1 RECEIVING

Subsection 3.1(a) Holding Your Glass For Someone Older:
Hold your glass with two hands if the person pouring is older than you (even if it's the soju shotglass, you MUST use two hands).

Subsection 3.1(b) Holding Your Glass For Someone Younger:
Hold your glass with one hand if the person pouring is younger than you. The other hand can just be at your side or utilize the one-handed self hug (formal).

Subsection 3.1(c) Holding Your Glass For Someone The Same Age:
See Subsection 3.1(b), same rule applies.


Section 4.0
4.1 EMPTY GLASS

Subsection 4.1(a) Patience:
You can sit and wait for someone to notice. This is never long around Koreans.

Subsection 4.1(b) Impatient OR Thirsty:
You can pick up the pitcher or bottle and just hand it to someone. That's the sign for them to pour your drink. They may also apologize for not noticing.

Subsection 4.1(c) Super Impatient OR Tremendously Thirsty:
You STILL cannot pour your own drink!


That's the rules and they are strictly followed until the cab ride home. I got used to them fairly fast and realized how super-cordial Korean people are to one another.

Now try adhering to these rules after polishing off many a drink! Little do they know, the Koreans have accidentally invented a drinking game for us Canadians.

Cheers!

Dan