Christmas in Korea

Christmas at home is what I have REALLY missed this year. I'm usually the soul of the Christmas spirit in my house. I'm the one crawling out on the roof to put up the twinkle lights. My Mom and I are the ones who really do the tree decorating. i was always the one who would get REALLY excited about Xmas cause it's my favorite day of the year. Nothing comes close. I love the overblown commercial Christmas. Christmas isn't about religion for me. It's about family, decorations, music, good will, and presents. Korea's Christmas is not about family. Christmas is for couples and kids (who barely even know about Santa. They don't know he lives in the North Pole and don't really know about the Reindeer). There are decorations out and about but for the most part, the holiday season in Korea has been just any other month. And, I've been alone for it for the most part except for a few outtings with my coworkers (Lotte World, Messiah, and XMas dinner) and Mycroft. So, overall, it's been a blah Christmas with almost no presents, few celebrations, and a teeny Christmas tree on top of Mycroft's crate (and I only have that cause it was here when I got here from a previous teacher). I've been rather depressed over most of it and I'm kind of glad it's over and I can start looking forward to next Christmas when at least I will be home for it.

Lotte World in December was cold and rainy but still fun. It's Korea's rather toned down and smaller version of Disneyland with most of it being indoors. I have pictures and such I'm going to post later once I find my camera (I THINK I left it at school). There were Christmas decorations and music and the best part was the stage show where they did a Christmas version of Cinderella. Watching Santa boogy down and breakdance with Cinderella was a riot I actually got on video. The rides were fun too and it was altogether a fun way to spend a free Thursday off.

Messiah was a delightful evening. A bunch of us from school went to listen to a full performance of Messiah. The US Ambassador to Korea actually was there in the audience but I didn't see her. There was a full orchestra and the soloists and choir were excellent. All together a most delightful experience which brought back memories of when I used to sing the Messiah at Christmas. Hearing some of the choir number was like revisiting old friends.

Christmas Eve Day was fun with the Christmas party and each of the Kinders was dressed up in a Santa suit. They sang, they did little plays, and then Santa came and gave each of them a present. All and all, very cute.

I did get a few presents, though. I got some Christmas cutout cookies Mom made from home and a pair of fun socks from a family friend which was most unexpected. And then, I got one last very unexpected Christmas present.

Christmas Dinner was at this Irish (and I DO mean Irish) pub in Itaewon. There was this big buffet of traditional Xmas foods including turkey, smoked salmon, mashed potatoes, bread and more. There was pumpkin pie and greenery and twinkle lights hung above the bar as well as a Christmas tree beside the buffet. Both stories were chocablock full of foreigners. It was very strange to see so many non-Koreans in one place. I'm used to being the only one except at school. It was also strange to hear English being spoken. I am used to, nowdays, having background Korean conversations around me more being like white noise. I don't understand what is being said so suddenly hearing English again all around is a bit of a surprise. For awhile I thought all the turkey would be gone by the time Hannah, Margaret, and I got to the buffet but they brought out more. Who would have thought chicken wings were a traditional Christmas food? They tasted good though. After we got our plates full we picked our way over to perch ourselves on bar stools around tables that were completely full. I was right by the window which wouldn't shut properly and let in a draft. It was quite nice considering how warm it was in that building. I got myself a mojito and we talked while I got pleasantly blurred. It was one strong mojito. Then, remember that unexpected Christmas present? Well, it started snowing! The one thing I had REALLY wanted was a white Christmas and it happened over Christmas dinner. I opened up that window and stuck my head outside into the snow and let out a cheer. It was great. It didn't snow hard and it wasn't more than a dusting but it was snow and that's all that counted.

I've spent the rest of the weekend watching Doctor Who, writing Gaia, mixing Who, and relaxing. I think I might make the trek out to Yongsan and seeing if I can at least reserve myself a ticket to Avatar in 3D IMAX. Not the best Christmas overall but it could have been worse.