South Korea
First birthday party I was in South Korea several times through the 80s. It was a really difficult place for a Western woman to work in. The start of many shocks came early in my first visit. We were all having drinks with an official. He had brought his wife along, but said, right in front of both of us, that they must all go out again and leave the women behind next time so that they could have a really good time. And they did! With the head honcho of the country's biggest car manufacturer. Honcho joked that he'd take me out separately another night. Thank God he didn't, or did I refuse the calls, I hope so. I can't remember. Not long after, a hotel security guard tried to throw me out as a suspected prostitute. I found that funny. But there was a relentlessness to the insults that just kept on coming. Prostitution was all part of the corporate entertainment package back then. Another time I was there, we had a well-known presenter with us. He was always going off