Christmas Celebrations

Plans to go to Seoul were scrapped in favor of a quiet Christmas here in Dangjin.  On Saturday (Christmas Eve), Abra and I went to English Bible Study as usual.  I enjoyed giving out some gifts to friends there (although I had to keep assuring them that I didn't expect anything in return).  After that Benjamin treated everyone to lunch- Abra's first taste of Bulgogi- mmmmm!  Then I convinced the whole group to join us for Noraebang- "Jane," "Juliet" and family, "Mr. Lee #2", and Mr. Moon  (his first time to Noraebang in 8 years!).  The Noraebang that I knew had Christmas songs turned out to be full (an hour wait!), so we went to another one.  At first I was really scared because it didn't look like they had many Christmas songs.  But, when we went through the Korean sections of the selection book we found lots :)  Still no "Let It Snow," though.  I had a lot of fun.  It was especially great to speed up the songs and do them really fast (you can tell you've lived in Korea for a long time when you know how to change the tempo and the key at a Noraebang!).  Jingle Bells had to have been the best.  Although, the dance remix of White Christmas was also quite amusing.  After that we (Abra, Jane and I) returned to the apartment for the evening.  I spent quite some time working on the Christmas jigsaw puzzle we had going.  Later, I roasted mini marshmallows over a candle, in memory of roommate celebrations last year (I even had our "fireplace" going, LB and NS! :) ).  Eventually, Tracy returned with her brother, Todd, in tow.  He flew in that night and she had been gone on buses and in the airport for most of the day.  He might as well have been named Santa Claus, though, because he came with a suitcase entirely filled with things for Tracy and treats for our apartment- including homemade bread, an assortment of homemade cookies, enough hot cocoa and oatmeal to feed an army, mac and cheese, mint m&m's, bagels, and candy canes!  Wow.  Before long some other people showed up to hang out for awhile and I retreated to the living room to call Jason so we could open gifts together.  The day went by REALLY FAST.  I had hoped for more quiet, relaxing time than I actually had.

 

(Sidenote- you know how we've had so much snow ALL DECEMBER?  Well, for some reason we had a freak warm spell Sunday morning and afternoon, and it even rained!  So much for a white Christmas!)

On Christmas morning I woke up early and opened the rest of the presents that I had been sent.  Just me, with darkness still lingering outside, in the glow of the Christmas tree.  I felt so... um... hard to explain.... loved, looked after, thought of opening presents from friends and family from "home."  :)  After that and getting dressed up Christmasy I had a really nice quiet time with some chai and Christmas music reflecting on some Christmasy scriptures.  It felt like how Christmas morning should be or something.  I was reluctant to leave my warm, comfy atmosphere, but eventually I ventured out to church.  It was weird to see how business just goes on as usual here on Christmas.  It was just a normal Sunday- most of the stores open, lots of traffic, and lots of people shopping.  Rather than going to the adult service, I went to the kids service.  For Christmas they had prepared a sort of talent show, and a group of adults put on a Christmas skit for them.  It was great to be around all the kids.  There were quite a few of my students from Mirae who would run up and hug me or at least say "Merry Christmas."  For other kids, they hadn't ever seen me before, so I got the usual stares :).  One student of mine, in particular, had been telling me about her part in the "hip-hop dance" all week and was SUPER EXCITED to see me there.  It was so great to make her day!  The talent show was just like something you'd expect to see in the States, except all in Korean.  They even sang a few recognizable Christmas Carols with Korean words.  Kids are kids wherever you go.  And the talent show was no different.  In the choir, the kid who sang loudly and off-key was of course by the microphone, and Kids in the dances would need to be cued, or the wrong song would be turned on and they'd all tell the sound manager to change it, you know-- the basic children's Christmas program mistakes.  It made it endearing, though :)  Their theme was a birthday party for Jesus, so at the end we broke up into little groups, sang "Happy Birthday" and ate cake.  That's the tradition here, it seems, eating cake for Christmas.  All the bakeries have been busy making cakes the past couple weeks.

I ate lunch at church as usual, and then found out that English service was cancelled.  My Korean friends were surprised that all I wanted to do was go back to the apartment, but I tried to explain to them that we always just stay inside the house for Christmas.  So I went back to the apartment and spent the day watching tv, working on a crossword puzzle, listening to music, and eating sweets.  We tried to find Christmas movies on tv, but we got bored of Disney Christmas and the other Christmasish things were very strange and few and far between.  Instead, we popped in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," 'cause I was in a musical mood (plus, part of it takes place in winter.... that's kind of like Christmas, right?).  When that was over we went to America with a few other friends.  No, not the country, the restaurant! :)  There I ate what was called "spaghetti marinara" but turned out to be seafood spaghetti.  It was still tasty, though.  I finished off the day on the phone again :)  Thus passed Christmas Day.

 

It was so hard to believe that I had to go to work today!  It really felt like we should've had at least one more day to relax!  This morning I called my family, because it was still Christmas there.  I had the chance to talk to ALL of my mom's side of the family.  It turned out to be a 2 hour conversation, but that's not bad for talking to 14 people! :)  It was strange to hear them all together doing the traditional things and not to be there.  Still, I'm glad I got to talk to them all.  It was a great excuse not to go to the gym today :)

I keep telling myself that my Christmas vacation is just a little delayed.  We have our winter vacation starting on Friday.  We have off Friday, Monday and Tuesday.  Tracy, Todd and I are accompanying Abra down to an area further south in Korea called Gyeong-ju.  It's a very historical area with lots of monuments and temples and museums and things.  I have no idea what we'll be doing, but it will just be nice to have a few extra days off of work and see someplace new.  My only pre-conceived plan is to make it to the East Sea.  Yes, it's cold, but I just want to look at it and smell it and take its picture (can you tell that I grew up far away from the sea? ;) ).  Oh, and if we can't see Narnia Thursday night we'll be seeking it out there.  It's just coming out in Korea. 

 

One more thing...  today is the 26th of December- 6 months ago today I arrived in Korea, and in 6 months from today my contract will be up at Mirae and I'll be on my way home!  Today was the "hump day" of my year, so to speak.

 

Ok, I'll finish off this novel now.  Just think of it as making up for all those days when I haven't written ;)