The Christmas Season

It's hard to believe that Christmas has already come and gone.  The holidays really snuck up on me this year and overall if just didn't quite feel all that Christmas-y for me this time around. Last year we had lots of Christmas movie nights in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and maybe we should have put in more of an effort to do the same this year, but I think it just got kind of crazy for all of us in town in the weeks before Christmas.

The weekend before Christmas we all had to spend the entire Saturday at the Mungyeong English play competition that all of our schools were competing in.  The whole English play ordeal was pretty much a terrible experience for me--mostly due to the fact that my coteacher dictated how I had to write the play, then did not help me whatsoever with ANYTHING after that point.  I did the entire thing by myself, which is in no way how it's supposed to be.  The whole thing was a big source of frustration for me because the kids and I put in a ton of time to practice, but because he basically didn't care, the end result was noticeably way worse than what the other schools did.  In a lot of ways, I felt like I was set up to fail with a lot of the things that went on, which not only made me upset for the time I wasted trying to work on the play, but also because the kids spent so much of their time practicing and trying to learn their lines, which is obviously not that easy for fifth and sixth graders to do in a language that isn't even their native language.

Anway, I was a judge the day of the competition, meaning that I had to be there not just for the plays the elementary school kids did, but also for the speeches that the high schoolers and middle schoolders did.  Needless to say, this was a VERY long day for me, and on Tuesday I had to go and judge the finals for the competition.  I was happy I got asked to judge because it meant I got to make a little extra money, but I was less impressed with the strong inclination I have that our scores didn't actually matter. I don't want to say too much, but in the end we had a suspicion that we were asked to judge to make it appear more fair.  The whole speech and play competition thing bothered me only many other levels as well, but I will spare you all with the details because I won't want to get to negative and rant-y.Overall I'm just happy that I won't ever have to do this whole thing again.

Thankfully, all of the play madness was over by Tuesday, which was a big relief for all of Jeomchon's NETs.  Wednesday was Christmas Eve day, which is pretty much just an ordinary day in Korea.  However, in the elementary schools it was the last day of the semester, meaning that classes finished by 12:30 and then all of the teachers went to a restaurant for lunch.  Once we got back to school we had a meeting and some time later teaches slowly started to leave school early.  Now, typically when teachers leave I wait for someone to tell me to go home because technically according to our contracts we are supposed to stay at school the whole time.  However, many times the principal or vice principal will tell us to go home and then it's ok.  Since I don't want to get in trouble and assume anything, I will usually just sit there and wait for someone to give me the okay.

Surely at my old school last year they would have told me to go home right away, so I guess this set my expectations a little too high.  Around 3:30 it was only me and the other Korean English teacher (who only comes to that school once a week) left in the teacher's room.  She looked at me and said "did everyone else go home?!"  At which point I replied by saying that I had no idea because I never have any idea of what's happening at that school.  She nodded in complete agreement and we continued to talk for some time, which was nice because I got some interesting insight about how this school compares to others she works at (the kids are way less motivated to learn) and about the play situation (my CT told her he had helped me the whole time....which made her feel bad because she would have helped me if she had known the reality of the situation).

Needless to say, we were both not too happy about being left in the dark and being the only ones left at school, so when 4:20 came around I was more than ready to get out of there.  It was Christmas Eve, but it didn't feel the least bit like Christmas.

Luckily, we had a party planned here in Jeomchon that night.  We were lucky to be joined by not just the people in Jeomchon, but also some friends from the neighboring towns of Sangju and Yeochon. It was similar to the secret Santa type thing we did last year--we all got assigned a person, bought a present for them,then after they opened their present they had to guess who their secret Santa was.  The night was absolutely lovely, and finally made it feel like Christmas for me.

One of our friends who left in August sent us presents.  Nice to know we aren't forgotten by those who left us!

America, Korea, South Africa, and Scotland

Jeomchon's finest ladies

Country count: 7 South Africans, 1 Australian, 2 Canadians, 5 Americans, 1 Englishman, 1 Scot, and 1 Korean.
So lucky to have so many friends from all around the world to be my family away from home.

 We really had a great night, but I tried not too stay out too late because the next morning we were having another gathering at my place.  I was lucky enough to catch a few friends on skype before I went to bed, but it did mean that I didn't get a ton of sleep before waking up for church in the morning.

It was tough to get out of bed in the morning, but I made it to church then quickly walked home after to get my place ready for Christmas lunch.  We had a small gathering Christmas day, but still ended up having a ton of really great food.

After we ate lunch, it was time for some movies.  We spent the afternoon and evening watching Christmas movies (and The Interview, of course), drinking wine, and relaxing.

Our celebration didn't last too late though because some of us had English camp the next day.  

The day after Christmas I had a full day of camp, meaning that I taught fifth and sixth grade for four periods, first and second grade for two periods, and third and fourth grade for two periods.  I love many things about Korea, but they really need to learn to celebrate Christmas for more than one day.  I won't lie, having a full day of camp right after Christmas was ROUGH, but I am lucky that I am done with my camps now.  A lot of people are stuck with weeks of camp this year, so I'm definitely quite lucky in that department.  

Now it's on to a few weeks of deskwarming before I leave on my vacation on January 12th!  

So there you have it, folks! That was how I spent my second and final Christmas in Korea.  Although I wish I could be home to celebrate with my family, I am again reminded of how amazingly lucky I am to have friends who feel like family here in Korea.  

God willing I will be back home for Christmas next year, but I will surely always remember my Korean Christmases fondly.  If I couldn't be with my family at home these past two years, there is no better group of people I could have asked for to be my family away from home.  

A second Korean Thanksgiving

 As you all know, this past Thursday was Thanksgiving.  While last year this was the first time I encountered real homesickness, this year was a pretty different experience.   It’s not that I didn't want to be home for Thanksgiving, because of course I did.  However, I remember last year I had a full day of classes on Thanksgiving Day.  In a number of those classes I was teaching my students about Thanksgiving, which pushed me to the brink of tears throughout the day. 

This year, I wanted to be home, but I was OK with being here.  This year just felt more like “Oh yeah, this is just how it goes.  Everyone at home will be filling facebook and Instagram with pictures of food that I can’t have…but that’s OK. That’s not my life right now.”

Other expats have told me it’s usually this way—your first time away from the holidays is the hardest.  While it’s never exactly the best part of living abroad, it does get easier.

My Thanksgiving Day, or just Thursday, as it’s called in Korea, was just another regular day.  Luckily, Thursdays are my favorite day of the week because I go to my VERY rural school where the classes are small (I teach a total of 15 kids between four classes), no CTs bother me, and I get to go home early.  Since I get to go home early and I knew I would be a little bummed about being away on Thanksgiving, I rewarded myself for completing the day by putting up my Christmas tree when I got home.  I've been itching to put up my Christmas tree for some time now, but I've made myself wait until Thanksgiving, even if my non-American friends think this is the strangest thing.  A Canadian teacher in town was telling me that in Canada once Halloween is over it’s officially Christmas season.  I guess this is kind of true in America too, but there are still plenty of people like myself who hold off on starting the Christmas season until after Thanksgiving.  Nonetheless, although it’s obvious, I guess it never occurred to me that the whole “Your Christmas tree cannot go up until after Thanksgiving” thing is totally an American concept.

After my tree was up, I went to run some errands around town when I bumped into one of my friends.  He decided to join me as I did the rest of my errands, and on our way to Homeplus, we ran into another friend.  Then, once in Homeplus we saw another friend….and then another.  Errands are always more exciting when you have friends there too. 

To cap the night off I had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner of….kimbap.  Ok, so this is nothing special, but that’s because the real Thanksgiving celebration was planned for the next day.  When you have a full day of work on Thursday and another full day of work on Friday, it’s a bit too much to have a big get together on actual Thanksgiving, so Friday it was!

My Thanksgiving dinner. I do love kimbap!

For our Thanksgiving celebration, we invited over everyone in Jeomchon, as well as some of our friends from the next town over.  The dinner was held at my place since I have a larger apartment then almost everyone else in town.  I had some serious doubts about how we were going to fit everyone as all of the “maybe” people began to confirm that they were in fact coming, but it ended up working wonderfully.  We moved my kitchen table into my bedroom to be the food table and everyone brought over their Korean floor tables for us to sit at. 

My bedroom became the food room.

And we all squished into my living room!

We even had pumpkin pie!

It was a lovely night, that truly had that warm holiday feel to it.  Our food wasn't the most traditional, but we did have some of the essentials—stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, and even apple and pumpkin pie. 

This was the first time that we've had such a big get-together in town since all of the farewell parties in August.  Things have been really different in Jeomchon since so many people left, but it was really comforting to have everyone together again. 

Of course, Thanksgiving is always a time of reflection, and I couldn't help but think about just how lucky I am.  These past 15 months have been filled with unbelievable memories. Although life in Korea can seem so normal at times (especially when my alarm clock goes off in the morning), when I step back I am amazed that this is actually my life—that I've actually been working in Asia for the past 15 months, working and teaching students who don’t even speak the same language as I do.  I've seen and done so many things, with only more to come.  I never would have imagined that life would have brought me here, but I’m so glad it did.

Our Thanksgiving dinner was a combination of 8 Americans, 3 South Africans, 1 Canadian, 1 Irish woman (is that the right way to say that?), 1 Scot,1 Englishman, and 3 Koreans.  That means the total number Americans was less than the number of people from other countries—I highly doubt I’ll ever spend my Thanksgiving this way again. Although I will be excited to be home for Thanksgiving again next year, a part of me will we be missing this eclectic Korea family when I return home. 

Thanks to everyone who has loved and supported me through my time in Korea.  I couldn't be more in awe of your unwavering love through this crazy adventure I’m having.

XO

What's in a year?

Time is a continually perplexing thing to me. From the time you're young, everyone tells you "Enjoy every day because time will go faster and faster the older you get!" I've lost count of how many times I've heard those words of wisdom uttered to me, but recently I've found myself saying the same thing to others. In large part, it seems to be true.  Time seems to be going by faster and faster with each year.  I always feel like I've just flipped my calendar to a new month, then suddenly, once again, a new month has come and it's once again time to move onto a new month.

It's true that when I think about years as a whole, they seem to have flown by.  It seems completely unbelievable to me that it's been a year since I went to the Bahamas with Megan.  It doesn't seem in any way possible that it's nearly been a year since I finished teaching at North.  It certainly feels like a dream when I think about the fact that I've been in Korea for 8 months.  Yes, 8 months.

However, it's also true that these supersonic years can be filled with painfully long days.

These same years that seemingly fly by can be composed of days that are filled with pain, boredom, and sadness.  These interminable kind of days never seem to fly by, but instead seem as if they are years in themselves.  Days like these are a part of life.  If we're lucky (and I certainly am), these days are limited and eventually fade into the distance of our minds as they're overshadowed by fonder memories.

Nothing makes you more aware of just how much happens in a year than living abroad. This is good and bad. Yes, it's amazing and wonderful because of all the new experiences and people you meet.  There are priceless memories and new opportunities for introspection that allow you to learn about yourself in ways you may not have been able to in any other setting.

However, being absent from some of the natural things that happen over the course of one year--deaths, births, holidays, graduations, and weddings, really awakens your consciousness to how full of important events every year is.  When you're home you notice these things, but not in the way you do when you're absent from them. There's a particular kind of pain that comes with missing all of these elements of a year.

When I moved to Korea, I knew that by the time I moved home things would be different.  Friends would change and move away. People would pass away. Babies would be born.  Kids would grow up.  People would get new jobs.  Stores would be built and stores would go out of business.

I know I won't truly know the power of how much can change in a year until I'm home and I can see all of these changes. And perhaps more importantly, how they've changed the landscape of this idea of home that I have in my mind.  I've heard about various things that have happened in my absence, but I know none of it will really feel real until I can see and experience it for myself.

As I'm constantly weighing my options for next year, I can't help but wonder what will be waiting for me if I decide to go home. And maybe more importantly, what will be waiting for me if I stay in Korea for another year and move home in 2015?  What's in Korea if I stay for another year?

Life is short and unpredictable.  I feel I've been given some bold reminders of this recently.

There are so many things I want to do, but they come at the price of missing my friends and family back home.  It's a high price to pay, and my main concern about staying in Korea for another year.

Additionally, this week has brought a consuming kind of homesickness as it is Holy Week and Easter and on Sunday.  In many ways Easter is my favorite holiday, but this week hasn't felt a bit like the week leading up to Easter, which has been incredibly disorienting for me. This is a week I really don't care to spend in Korea at all.  There's not even an ounce of me that is passionate about being here right now. Instead, my heart would much rather be in Manchester, in my home church and with my family.

I know my school is going to ask if I want to renew my contract at any time now (some of my friends have already been asked), but it's a strangely emotional time to make this decision (hence this long ramble of a post).  It's difficult to separate the rational from the emotional at times, and it certainly doesn't make decision-making easy when the two don't agree. This week I've felt a powerful dissonance between my mind and my heart.

Nonetheless, I know this homesickness will pass, as it always does, and things will work the way they're meant to. In the meantime, I hope everyone at home knows just how much you are missed and loved.

XO

Valentine's Day and Korea's Couple Culture

The other day I received a Valentine's Day card in the mail from one of my friends back home.  I put the card that says "Happy Valentine's Day" in large letters on my desk in the teacher's room.  I didn't really think anything about it, but then yesterday one of the other English teachers came over to greet me and said, "Oh, you have a Valentine's Day card?"  I proudly replied that yes, one of my friends had sent it from home.  She looked at me and said "But you're a girl?"

I had forgotten that in Korea Valentine's Day is a day where girls give guys chocolate.  Then, in March (I think March 14th, also called White Day), the guys give the girls candy.  So, what is just one day that celebrates love in America, is split up into two days in Korea.  But don't worry, there's also a day for all of us single people out there as well. April 14th is Black Day, a day where single people eat jajangmyeon (noodles with a black sauce).

You might think this is a bit much, but it's not surprising given the fact that Korea has a very strong couple culture.  Just about everyone in Korea wants to be in a relationship.  Ok, most people in America do too, but the idea of being single and ok with it is completely foreign to most Koreans.  Hence why to this day, when I get asked if I have a boyfriend and reply that I don't, I always get asked "why not?!"

When you're walking around Korea, it's not uncommon to see couples wearing matching clothes.  Yes, guys and girls alike, both voluntarily walk around wearing identical clothing.  I noticed this A LOT last time I was in Seoul--especially when it came to having the same winter jackets. You can read more about this phenomenon in this article: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140219001376

This is an outward display of relationships, but there are also many other couple traditions. In Korea, couples celebrate their 100 day anniversary.  If you look along walls at touristy places you can see couple names with a "100" written around them.  I also heard that they celebrate every 100 days...but I've mostly only heard my students talking about the importance of the 100 day mark (maybe that's just because of the nature of high school relationships?)

Another definitive thing about Korea's couple culture is the prevalence of couple rings.  When I first arrived in Korea I was confused as to why everyone thought that the fact that I wore rings meant that I had a boyfriend.  Then I found out that it's common for couples to wear matching rings--I'm not sure if there's a certain amount of days they wait before they get the couple rings, but it's pretty common and thus, the reason my students always point to my rings and say "oh, boyfriend?"

Everywhere you go in Korea there are photo opportunities for couples.  You see large hearts everywhere, with couples lining up to get their picture together.  One of the things that surprised me when I first came to Korea was how comfortable guys are with being "cute".  My male students don't have any problem singing an emotional love ballad or admitting that they want a girlfriend.  I don't know about you all, but I can't imagine any guys in American being ok with wearing matching clothing with their girlfriends or voluntarily wearing any rings besides a wedding ring.

These are some of the main ways Korea's couple culture manifests itself.  There are other romantic holidays--Pepero Day and CHRISTMAS....Yes, Christmas is not about family here. Instead it's all about going on a romantic date.  Anywho, some people are really bothered by the couple culture here, but for the most part I just find it interesting.  The only thing that really bothers me is the idea that if you're single it's a bad thing--that you NEED to be in a relationship. Of course, this attitude is also prevalent in America, but I have noticed it much more strongly in Korea. I always try to tell my students (especially the girls), that it's ok to be single and that they should be ok to feel free and independent.  I don't think I really get through to them, but hey, you never know.

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014.

Last night I was in the midst of a typical facebook check when I couldn't help but laugh at all the posts from my teacher friends about their impending snow day.  Of course, I wasn't laughing because it was ridiculous, but because I would be doing the same exact thing if I were home. And actually, last year I WAS doing the same exact thing.  In a way, seeing all those posts were a reminder of how much my life has changed over this year.

Last year at this time I was teaching in Nashua.  I wasn't even done my first semester of teaching on my own, which by the way, was such a whirlwind it's pretty hard to put into words.  I think only other teachers can truly understand the pure insanity of your first year of teaching.  You come out the year knowing you made plenty of mistakes, but hoping that you managed to at least do a few things right.  

I know I've said it before, but the time I spent teaching in NH feels like a dream.  I think of my old students and co-workers frequently, but when I think back to the crazy things that happened over that year I sometimes have to question if they really happened, because in many ways they certainly don't feel real anymore.  

Maybe this is just because of the severe sleep deprivation I experienced over the year, but it's not really just when I think about my old job that I feel that way.  It's really my life in America as a whole.  I have a hard time explaining this strange feeling--I've only been in Korea for four months, but I feel like I have two distinct and separate lives.  In large part, I think this is because there are really no connections between my life here and my life at home.  I love my friends and family at home dearly, but they don't even know the people in Korea who have become such a huge part of my life.  Likewise, my friends here, who have been my family in Korea, don't know the people who are my world back home. 

In a way, I feel like I've had two lives in 2013--one in America and one in Korea. For this reason, it's hard to summarize what 2013 has meant to me, but I can say that it has without doubt been the best year of my life.  

Apart from finishing my first year of solo teaching, I had an amazing summer with my friends, moved to a new country, started a new job, traveled to places I never imagined, eaten some pretty crazy foods, and met people who I can't believe were strangers to me only four months ago. 

I feel completely undeserving of the blessings that have been bestowed on my over this past year.  I couldn't be more thankful for everyone who has helped me grow and provided support to me.  I would not be here without those of you who encouraged me during my time teaching in Nashua, and gave me the reassurance that it was OK to make the absolutely crazy decision to move to Korea.  I am often baffled by the privilege I have in my life--that because I had parents to support me and encourage my education I could thrive in an academic setting.  Because I had access to a college education I got a good job right out of college.  Because I was born an English-speaking person I can not only travel the world, but live comfortably while doing so.  I don't take this privilege lightly, but I really hope that it prepares me to do better for others in the future.

I have no idea what 2014 has in store. It will without doubt have its highs and lows, but I am looking forward to the abundance of lessons it undoubtedly has in store.  

Oh, and if you're wondering how I spent my New Year's Eve, it was nothing extraordinary, but I spent the night in Jeomchon with some friends.  We went to a few bars and ended the night with noraebang.  Nothing too crazy, but NYE is never my favorite holiday anyway.  I never quite understand the hype because as I've seen in years past, the best parts of the year are yet to come. 

Christmas in Korea

"Christmas, before the trees and presents and reindeer took over, harkens to the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, in the Christian tradition.  It’s nearly certain that the date isn’t right for Jesus’s actual birthday, but that’s never been the point anyway.  Christmas is a reminder that we are loved.  That the Divine hasn’t abandoned us to our own devices, rather he’s joined in the mess.

Quite literally, in fact.

The biblical account gives us a picture of God’s loving intent when it tells us that the Divine himself was born in a manger, where the donkeys and sheep hung out.

Whether you practice Christianity or not, the songs and lights and gift giving of the season all point to the reality of love.  God’s love for us.  Our love for each other.  A reality that takes on a new poignancy when you are far from home.

So don’t let holiday blues hijack the reign of love.  Surround yourself with people to love, whether it’s your travel buddy or a significant other or work mates or new friends you made at the skateboard park."

(taken from this article: http://www.reachtoteachrecruiting.com/blog/a-travelers-guide-to-christmas/)

I frequently see articles about teaching and living abroad posted by the recruiter I used to come to Korea.  However, I seldom end up actually reading these articles that are probably filled with plenty of words of wisdom.  I don't know why, but for some reason I decided to click on this one and give it a skim.  To be honest, I wasn't even reading the article very closely when this part caught my eye.  

I think just about everyone, at least from America, has a special place in their heart for the holidays.  While it can be a stressful time of year, who doesn't love seeing the lights everywhere, eating good food, and spending time with friends and family?  In many ways, it's hard to avoid being homesick when your'e not home for Christmas.  

However, this article articulated my feelings quite perfectly. Christmas is truly a celebration of love, and I didn't want to let the fact that I'm away from home "hijack the reign of love."  I went into the holidays expecting it to be tough, but determined not to let it ruin the beauty of the spirit at the heart of the season.  And overall, I would say that it was indeed a beautiful holiday, filled with love.

Having to go to school on Christmas Eve was somewhat brutal for all of us.  It wasn't even a slow day for me--my day was busy with 5 classes.  Eventually classes finished and before heading out I handed out some presents. I think my vice-principal was thoroughly confused as to why I was giving him a present, but my co-teacher was really surprised and touched.  It was really great to see her so thankful because I certainly wasn't expecting such a reaction.  Christmas isn't really a huge deal in Korea.  Essentially it's a romantic day more similar to Valentine's Day than to how we celebrate it in America. In fact, all week I told my students that in America Christmas is a family holiday, not a couple's holiday and they were SHOCKED.  Anyway, gift giving ins't as common during Christmas in Korea, which also probably explains why she was so surprised. 

After I got out of school, I had to run back to Homeplus because the night before I didn't buy enough wrapping paper.  It's times like these that I really miss having my car--instead of quick trip to the store, it requires at least 10 minutes of walking (each way).  After my wrapping paper mission was accomplished (I luckily bought paper that was easier to wrap this time), I finished my wrapping for our Christmas Eve gathering that night.  

We had a lovely evening gathering at Advice, our neighborhood bar with a tavern-like feel.  We had a Secret Santa and then a white elephant gift exchange.  Overall, it was just a nice night with really great people who truly have become my family away from home.  

Representing Korea, America, South Africa, and Canada....awesome!

The strangest part of Christmas for me was after this gathering was over and I came back to my apartment...and was ALONE  I've never spent Christmas Eve anywhere else than in my parents' house, so coming home and being alone on Christmas Eve was a little sad--even though the rest of the night was wonderful.  If I'm in Korea next year, I'm definitely arranging a Christmas Eve sleepover.  

I woke up the next morning, made breakfast, then went to church.  My other church-going friends went the night before, so I was on my own in the morning.  Being in church as an interesting experience.  There I was, the only non-Korean in the church, I was about a foot taller than all the old Korean ladies, and I didn't understand the majority of what was being said.  Yet, there were some constants, such as the Christmas carols that were being sung (in Korean, but I knew what they were about).  But most importantly, everyone in that church was there for the same reason, to celebrate the presence of God.  It is really amazing to be on the other side of the world, where you don't understand the language, immersed in a different culture, yet still share the most fundamental and important beliefs with those around you.  Being "brother and sisters in Christ" has really taken on a new meaning to me as I share a unique relationship with those with whom I can't even have a conversation with.    

After church I came back to my place and my friend Tony came over to help me cook for our Christmas lunch.  The lunch time ended up getting pushed back, so we ended up embracing the Korean tradition of catching a little but of Home Alone to pass the time.  Or should I say "Kevin" ;)

We then packed up all of our stuff and headed over to my friend's place where we had a wonderful pot-luck type dinner.  The food was awesome, and after we ate we were all ready to rest so we put on a movie and napped/rested for a bit before going for round two with the food.  We hung out for a bit more before we all had to head home for Skype dates. 

 

I luckily caught my parents as they were waking up, just in time to catch up a little and wish them a Merry Christmas before I headed to bed. 

Overall, Christmas was a really comfortable and warm day filled with good food and great people.  However, heading back to school today was quite rough, and I think we all agree that Christmas really needs to have more than one day off from school.

This morning I wasn't looking forward to anther busy day (yeah, another 5-class day), but when I was sitting at my desk this morning, my co-teacher came over and handed me a gift.  She wrote me a really nice note about how much she appreciated my gift, and inside the gift bag she handed me was a pair of really awesome mittens.  Coincidentally, I've been putting off buying mittens, so it's the perfect gift.  

Although I would have loved to have been with my family on Christmas, overall Thanksgiving was much more difficult for me.  On Thanksgiving day it took all of my strength not to cry while at school, probably because to everyone else it was just a regular Thursday--no one understood that it was an important day.  Although Christmas doesn't have the same magnitude of importance in Korea as it does in America, at least it is still a recognized day with some significance.  

I made a comment to my friend the other day about how I couldn't believe I was missing Christmas.  She responded by saying I wasn't missing Christmas, it was just a different Christmas.  She was completely right.  This was a different Christmas, but it was still Christmas.  God willing, I will have plenty of other Christmases with my family back at home.  I have no idea where I will be next year at this time, but I know for certain I won't be celebrating with all the people I did this year.  The majority of us will be in different places next year, so I'm thankful for being able to spend time together, even for just this brief period.  

Thank you to everyone who sent me love this week.  I cannot adequately express how much it means to me to have the support and love of so many wonderful people.  

Love you all, and I hope your Christmas was absolutely fantastic.

Christmas Eve, Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and instead of spending the day relaxing and preparing for Christmas, I will be teaching five classes.  In Korea.  I really never imagined this would be my life.

Although it's been different spending the holidays in Korea, I'm looking forward to getting together with my Jeomchon friends tomorrow and on Christmas day.

Naturally I spent tonight doing lots of last minute gift shopping and wrapping.  Thankfully, the shopping wasn't TOO bad, but among the things that I readily expected to be more difficult in Korea, wrapping gifts never once entered my mind.  However, let me tell you, this is a whole new challenge in Korea.

I've never been good at wrapping gifts, and I'll admit my mother typically ends up helping me (she is really the best!)  One of the striking things that is different about Christmas in Korea as opposed to at home is that when you go into the stores there aren't huge Christmas displays with little gifts, wrapping paper, gift tags, and decorations.  There was a Christmas section at Homeplus, but it didn't last too long.  Today all I saw was a little Christmas section with some chocolates--it's quite the contrast to what you find in America.

Anywho, I only found one little section with wrapping paper, and the selection was limited.  The rolls of wrapping paper aren't the huge ones like we have in America, but are much smaller.  When I got home I also quickly found out that the paper is much thicker and doesn't fold very easily.  This was added challenge enough until I realized that tape BARELY sticks to the paper too.  As a result, it took a ridiculous amount of time and a considerable amount of frustration to wrap these presents.

In other news, I got a package from one of my friends back home today.  And as you can see it contained some good things, especially REESE'S, which for some crazy reason are not sold in Korea and are in my mind a holiday necessity.  Thanks, Kirsten!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.  I have lots of updating to do about this past weekend in Seoul, but that will have to wait until after Christmas.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS, and I hope to get some quality time with all of you soon! xox

Giving Thanks

Right now my friends and family are waking up and preparing for a day full of family, friends, food, and of course, football.  The facebook statuses are starting to change to notes of personal thanks, and  I'm sure by the time I wake up tomorrow my newsfeed will be filled with various images of family gatherings and heaping plates of food.

I can't say that today was an easy day.  I had a busy, full day of classes.  During my off periods I had to write questions for the final exam.  I had some serious moments when I questioned why I was here and not at home with my family.  Is it really worth it to be here?  Aren't our friends and families the most important things in life?  Then why did I selfishly trade it all in for my life in Korea?

In my culture class I have been teaching the students about Thanksgiving for the past two weeks.  Last week I talked about the history behind Thanksgiving, and today I talked about the modern aspects of Thanksgiving--family, food, football, shopping, etc.  As I went through the slides today, I had to move quickly because I knew if I stayed on any image or thought for too long the tears I had been fighting off all day were going to come to surface.  I'm pretty sure crying in front of my students is a whole level of awkwardness I don't want to go to.

When I was at lunch, I looked at my tray of food.  Rice, soup, pork, dried squid, rice noodles.  Not exactly what I ever anticipated eating on Thanksgiving Day.  

Needless to say, I was happy when the day was over and I could get out of school.  

Earlier in the week, I invited people over to my place because there was no way I was going to sit at home alone on my first Thanksgiving away from home.  Interestingly enough, a lot of the Jeomchoners are South Africans so Thanksgiving is meaningless to them, and out of the Americans apparently some people have been abroad long enough that missing Thanksgiving isn't really a big deal any more.  Luckily, a small group of people were enthusiastic about coming over to spend the night together.  

We ended up having the most unconventional Thanksgiving food ever (um, nachos and ice cream cake?), but in all honesty I could have cared less about what we ate.  I was happy just to spend the night with some friends.  I have a feeling that years from now when I'm back in America this is going to make a great story.  I can hear it now..."This one time, when I was in Korea, we had nachos and ice cream for Thanksgiving dinner."

I know that this next month is probably going to kick homesickness into high gear as the holiday season approaches, but I know that it will pass, and I know that the amazing things I'm experiencing here come at the expense of some homesickness.

I am truly thankful for all those I have at home who have loved and supported me from the moment I revealed my plan to go to Korea, to the moment I got on the plane, all the way up to my current life in Jeomchon. I know a lot of people didn't understand why I wanted to come here (why Korea?!), but many people still supported me, even when they didn't understand the reasons, and that means a lot to me.

Words cannot express how thankful I am to have the opportunity to be in Korea. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the chain of circumstances that made being here an option in the first place.  I have been beyond privileged throughout my life to have loving and supportive parents, access to a good education, the opportunity to obtain a higher education, a year of teaching with students and coworkers I will never forget, and friends to keep me company through all of the joys and challenges along the way. 

I would never be in Korea without those of you who have supported me throughout the years, and for that, I am forever thankful.  I am thankful to those of you who let me go and encouraged me, even though you didn't want me to go.  

To those of you who continue to support me, thank you. One of my biggest fears about being here is losing my roots at home.  I have talked to enough people who have been abroad long enough to know that it happens.  There are people from home who I already feel distant from, even though it's only been three months.  To those of you who put in the effort to communicate with me in some way on a consistent basis, I can't begin to tell you how much I value that.  

I feel blessed beyond measure to have friends and family back home in America, but I am without doubt grateful for the new life I have here in Korea.  How blessed am I to have a home in two countries, on opposite sides of the world from each other?  God has given me so much over the past few months, and even though it's difficult to do when homesickness kicks in, I know these are the things I need to focus on.  

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone back home.  I miss and love you all, and I can't wait until I get to see you all again.

And most importantly, thank you for all that you have and continue to do for me.