Christmas Eve in Korea

It's been a while since I've posted a blog! Sorry about that. Not for lack of anything going on. Actually there's been quite a bit of drama in the past few weeks. But these days I don't like to focus on the bad so I've avoided airing any grievances. Anyway things are still mostly good, so I'll just leave the rest unsaid.

So right now it's 9pm on Christmas Eve. My first Christmas Eve, as far as I am aware, in which I have not been eating fondue with my family in Fairmont, Minnesota and going to St John Vianney midnight mass. Certainly my first Christmas Eve without even a hint of snow (although, granted, it is currently only 12 degrees outside). The first Christmas Even on which I had to work a full work day (although again I will grant that we just played games all day).

So I bet you're wondering how I spent my first Christmas Eve in Korea, away from home, away from time-honored traditions?

Well, like I said, I started off going to work like any other day. The other 2 kindergarten teachers and I were given free reign by the director to play or do whatever we wanted to do with the kids. So we drew pictures, went to the gym, watched a movie, and played games. Then at 3 I had my 3 year olds, and we had a regular class. Then I had a class at 5 in which I let half the class watch a movie and had the other class catch up on unfinished homework. Then after a brief staff meeting, I went up to Taekwondo at 6:30 for their Christmas party.

Last night I had baked some of my famous molasses cookies and wrapped them all in individual bags and put them in a cute little box. Originally I had planned to give the Masters these cookies as Christmas gifts, but I realized last night that it was a cookie party so I couldn't get away with this. So I bought them each a bottle of wine.
For Guanjangnim (senior master) I bought a somewhat expensive bottle of Bordeaux. And for Sabunim (최창배!) I got a bottle of Cabernet that I personally really like. So I went upstairs to the party and some kids were already there watching Toy Story 3. So I put my bag and coat in the back and brought out the Christmas gifts which I had wrapped earlier in the day. I said Merry Christmas, first in English then in Korean. They both looked really surprised and thanked me. Then I took my cookies out by the other food and sat down to watch the movie.
Soon some of the kids from my class came (My taekwondo class that is) and said hi and sat by me. Then Guanjangnim brought me a HUGE plate of black bean ramyen and the kids all went back to get some too. They also had a crate of tangerines from Jeju island so I sat with my TKD friends and ate ramyen, tangerines, cookies, and potato chips. Then after a little while they put up the screen and had everyone move so they could play soccer. So i went back to the office to finish my meal. Actually I couldn't finish it. I mean it was a LOT of ramyen. Good, but too much.
Anyway after a while Guanjangnim brought me some coffee and asked if I wanted to play soccer. I did, so we went out and he called time so I could join. The kids in my class all wanted me on their team. The other kids were skeptical but they assured them that I'm a really awesome goalie. So after a few rounds of rock scissors paper I was assigned a team and I went to tend my goal. Everyone was pleased with me for blocking every goal that came my way.
After we won(!), we cleaned up a bit and got our things together to leave. I got off on the first floor and everyone else continued down to the parking ramp. They all said goodbye and Merry Christmas to me and I headed out. I first went to pick up a bottle of red wine at the grocery store then headed home to make more cookies and start preparing for my Orphan Christmas Party tomorrow.

So I strung up some lights and listened to some Miles Davis, and am now chilling my cookie dough, drinking red wine from a mug I got that says, over a picture of a lion, 'Strut Strut: Strutting in the street make me so happy. why don't you raise your shoulder higher. Maybe you can feel like the Queen or King. Look at me~ Get set~ Go~'

So that's my Christmas Eve. Really I'm quite content with it. I spent the evening having fun with people I really enjoy and care about, and now that I'm alone I'm just relaxing and enjoying the fact that I'm here. Tomorrow I'm expecting about 12 people over for food, drinks, and the making of merry. So don't worry about me being alone.

I don't know what I expected on my first Christmas away from home. But I think that if traditions have to be broken, it's good to spend the day making new memories with memorable people. And I think tonight was just that. Nothing fancy for sure, but it was nice.

Here's a picture of me enjoying my wine in my apartment.




Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that whatever you're doing or whoever you're with, you take the time to be thankful for it, whatever it is.