Another Christmas in Korea

I don't think that being away from home on Christmas gets any easier each year. Seeing everyone's pictures on Christmas day, especially of loved ones, still makes me want to cry. Maybe this will change when I have someone to share it with where I am, who knows. But as much as I look forward to the season, right now, I always welcome boxing day when it's all over. This year, I was lucky to have my sister join me in Malaysia - more on that in another post.

Friday before Christmas we had our staff party. It was pretty tame this year as we only went out for dinner as the enthusiasm for drinks afterwards was lacking. We met at a galbi restaurant and enjoyed some meat and side dishes. We had a bit of a fire issue at my table's grill which I found funny as instead of trying to put out the fire, some were more concerned about getting a video, which you can see below!

We did a secret Santa gift exchange again which was a lot of fun. Throughout the month treats were left on my desk which were always welcomed surprises. I was first up to open my gift and guess. I did not guess correctly so I had the choice of singing a song, dancing or drinking maekju (a mix of beer and soju). Last year I sang, so this year I chose to drink maekju. I found out that my secret Santa was my supervisor Joanne! She got me some purple tights and a black skirt.

The weekend before Christmas, I held the "Second Non-Annual Luda-Christmas" at my apartment. Last year it mainly consisted of co-workers but as I have met more people over the past year it grew a bit in number but we all still managed to squeeze into my apartment. Sara came over the night before and we prepared gingerbread dough to make cookies the next day. After getting up and ready the next day, we headed to Daiso to find some cookie cutters. They didn't have Christmas ones, but we did manage to find dogs, pigs, hearts and squirrels. Sara really gets all the credit for the cookies as I spent the day cleaning up for guests and making soups for dinner.


                                   

While we waited for people to arrive, Sara and I watched The Family Stone, a favourite of mine to watch at Christmas. Once most people arrived we began eating and drinking Ben's gluhwein (6 bottles of red wine later...) We also did a white elephant gift exchange. Each person brought a used, wrapped item from home that they no longer have a use for. Compared to last year, the gifts were awesome! I ended up with a tumbler filled with different teas. Afterwards we headed out to a nearby beer cooler, then stopped by Underground (the local club) and finished the night off at a norebang (karaoke).

Matt dressed for the occasion 

SY & Chris

One half of the group!

All the shoes

Sara, SY, Ben, Reid and Scott in front

Alexis, James and Laura

Myself, Matt, Chris & Kristine

The best cheesecake in Korea

Leading up to Christmas day at school, we decorated our classrooms and practiced a Christmas song with our class for the song contest. I decided to change my approach this year and let the students pick the song, which can be a nightmare, but it went well this time. One day we all piled into the computer room and we went through songs on YouTube until they fell in love with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." They also did the majority of the choreography. You can check out the video on Facebook if you haven't already. My class tied for third place.

Santa also visited LCI on Christmas Eve and handed out gifts to all of the students. This year was the first where I had to address whether or not Santa is real, and whether or not there can be multiple Santa Claus'. This led to a discussion of "Was Santa a baby before?", "How old is Santa?", "Why doesn't Santa die?" These are tough questions to answer to a 7 year old when you don't know the stance parents take on the topic at home. But I suppose it's good practice (?) for when I have children of my own, maybe?

My Class with Santa & Isla wearing my Santa hat 

                             

In December I also went with a group to the European Christmas market. We drank a lot of gluhwein this day too.

Myself with Reid and Noelia 

So crowded!!

This also marked Maynah's last weekend in Korea, so after the Christmas market, we all went for food together then a few of us went for drinks in Itaewon. It never gets easy saying goodbye to friends. 

A few other things not mentioned in previous posts: 

My friend Reid had been learning to play the Haegeum (a traditional Korean instrument) so I went to his recital which was awesome. 

I was in the hospital for two days with pneumonia.

Kristine and I went to the Lantern festival. 

The last board game meetup I hosted before Christmas had the biggest turn out in awhile - so stoked!

It was a good busy month. The end of the year is always busy. So much so that I've blogged less, and realized I didn't even post about Halloween!! Too late? I feel the urge to leave you with a quote about the New Year, instead I will leave you with the weather. 

<3