merry christmas

Merry Christmas from South Korea!

Yesterday we spread some Christmas cheer around our school by wearing silly little elf headbands in our classes. I think it was one of the best days at work, doing Christmas themed English activities and playing Christmas music for the kiddos.

I wrote Merry Christmas on all of my white boards and some of the kids asked me how to do cursive handwriting. They were mesmerized. It was great to see their faces light up trying something new and challenging.

Yuri and I spent the rest of our Christmas eve together by singing/rapping our hearts out to some Christmas Carols at a noraebang (karaoke room) and today I was able to Skype with my family opening up the sweet gifts that they sent along in the mail. It's been a relaxing day.

I couldn't help but open a couple of my gifts the night before. I had been looking at some of these packages for nearly a month!

One of the sweetest gifts was from one of my adult students, Hye Young. She neatly hand stitched the little slippers for me in the picture. It's something I will treasure for a long time, for sure.

You don't really consider how much you love your home province until you are unable to go there. It was such a nice surprise to receive so many Newfie-themed/home comforts gifts. Seriously, perfect. I decided they deserved a photo all on their own with my teeny tree.

I especially love the Newfoundland flag hat from Elizabeth and the Jellybean Row ornament from Robyn. I can try to make my own version of the Festive Special with the Chalet Sauce!! The Newfoundland Chocolate Company stash is almost too beautiful to eat.

Again, packages and cards from home made me feel a lot closer to it. Thank you for your thoughtfulness on a potentially lonely special day!

Well, as they say here in Korea,

메리 크리스마스! 

(may-ri ke-ri-se-ma-se)

listen to | girls generation

I think this is gonna be
a Christmas worth remembering
the best you’ll ever see

I found this English version of their song Dear Santa and thought it was perfect to share. I don't understand the Korean one, anyway! (The beat picks up at 1:30)

I won't be home for Christmas this year. It's the first time I won't be sitting around the living room with my mom and dad, sisters, bro-in-law and grandmother or enjoying Christmas Dinner. Oh, the Seven Cup Pudding--the only day my mother makes it! Homesickness will be on high levels on the 25th.

While I don't think this will be the best Christmas I've ever seen as the song says, it is still worth remembering! I strung up some lights around my room, found a cute little tree to decorate in the apartment, and thankfully Santa's elves at the post office made sure of the safe arrival of a few presents from family and friends back home!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, everyone!

november hike video - goraksan

I had hiked Goraksan back in February with a couple of friends, so I wanted to try going on my own this time. Actually, it was my first solo hike here in Korea. It felt good, the solo part. And if you're the type of person who really enjoys taking the stairs and doing lunges? Well, this particular mountain has about 300m worth of steep stairs, straight to the top.

It is worth the climb.

It doesn't take long. I was up and down the mountain within a couple of hours, including a leisurely break to have my little picnic, enjoy the panoramic views of my city and well, take lots of footage of it all.

The Fall leaves were at the edge of going past their prime, as was the nice weather, so I wanted to appreciate them before it was too late. I'm so glad I did.