The Christmas excitement really began when we got a package from my parents. We were SO excited to see Christmas cookies!!! EEK!
As I said in the last post, Chaz and I worked to get into the Christmas spirit in the week leading up to Christmas. This included classic movies such as Elf, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. We had visits with friends (Kelly, Andrew, and Eunah) including hot chocolate, Christmas cookies sent from home, and cheese balls. Our friends Callie and Aaron (from Illinois/Minnesota) also had a Christmas party the weekend before Christmas, so it was fun to gather with foreigners, laugh, spread Christmas cheer, and exchange white elephant presents. One of those gifts included "official" Adjumah (older woman) wear complete with big hat, sleeve protectors, a straining bowl, and ankle weights. A-like so:
Christmas Eve brought the last day of school before winter break. It was a half day (thankfully) and included all of the teachers going out to eat. It was nice to celebrate with the entire staff. That night we went to the local Jimjilbang with some neighbors. The Jimjilbang was an experience I was greatly looking forward to but hadn't had before Christmas Eve. Jimjilbangs are public bath houses. So basically, you go, get naked with Koreans (guys and gals are separated), soak in tubs, scrub off dead skin, hang out in steam rooms, and just relax and get squeaky clean. After bathing, you put on scrubs and hang out in the common room (guys and gals welcome here) where you can relax on mats, buy snacks and drinks, etc. It's a great place to visit or to spend the night as it's only 7,000 won (less than $7) to get in and stay as long as you want. It was an awesome experience and a great way to spend Christmas Eve relaxing with neighbors. We brought our own potluck food in and Christmas music and sat around eating hummus, gim-bap, nachos, talking, and listening to music.
The night ended early, however, as all of us were going to Sung Ae Won orphanage the next day. At 7 AM Christmas Day, Chaz and I headed on the subway dressed as elves and carrying presents to join 43 other wayguks (foreigners) to spend the morning with 75 orphans under the age of 7. It was an excellent morning filled with teaching kids a song and dance, playing games, and then having them go through stations (face painting, balloon animals, coloring, Santa hat decorating, and story-time).
Santa even showed up and took his picture with all of the kids. Just when they thought there could be no more excitement, Santa "disappeared" only to reappear with a couple of his helpers (a girl dressed as Rudolph, and Chaz and I) to hand out a present to each of the kids. They were floored. All of the presents will be shared amongst them, but it was so special that each of them got to open a present on Christmas Day.
There was one girl who so reminded me of Mikawea and brought me back to Rwanda. She sat in the front row, and every time we said a kid's name who was sick (the sick ones were upstairs), she would scream, "Opsaio!!!!" meaning, "Not here!" She was just waiting for us to say her name. Then, when she got her present and opened it, a Hello Kitty stationary set, Her mouth dropped and her eyes grew huge. She just couldn't believe how wonderful it was. That is a sight I will carry with me. Chaz and I also got to join Santa and a few other foreigners to hand out presents to the sick kids upstairs. These were our favs as they were so excited to see us and immediately ran to us and gave us the biggest hugs. One girl jumped on Chaz's lap to ask for help putting her present together and colored on his hand. Just might have to take that one home. ;)
Christmas night brought even more wonderful events as Chaz and I opened gifts (he got me Apple couple's sweatshirts...perrfect). In case I haven't posted this, couples in Korea wear the same clothes. I'm not just talking about shirts....they get couple pants, couple shoes, couple coats, and yes, even couple underwear. So to fit in, Chaz got us the perfect, most nerdy couple shirts in the history of couple shirts. After our Christmas together, we joined my co-worker, Gyu-Seok, for a Christmas party. Because of language difficulties, we didn't know what to expect at all. All we knew was it was a Christmas party at a wine bar. We almost didn't go because we thought it might be too expensive, but Gyu-Seok talked us into attending. Come to find out, it was a Christmas party for an adult English club. It was a group of around 10 Koreans who meet every Sunday to practice English. They decided to have a Christmas party for the first time, and make it a wine party, so they rented a small room in a building, had Christmas music playing, set up a beautiful table with appetizers, and drank wine together. Chaz and I were guests of honor as we were the only two foreigners joining them. It was an absolute BLAST! We drank wine, chatted, and then played three games which had us all cracking up and breaking down comfort barriers. During one of the games, we all had to take turns singing or dancing (with one girl doing a "Sheckshy Dance"). Another game had people commanded to do embarrassing things (give a piggy-back ride, sing a love song to someone, kiss someone on the neck, etc). It was absolutely the perfect way to spend Christmas, and we thanked Gyu-seok over and over for talking us into coming. We hope to meet with the group again.
The day after Christmas brought us another Christmas party (it felt like home.....10,000 Christmas parties to attend) at our friends', Randy and Charlei's, house. They were the same couple who hosted Thanksgiving. Charlei's family had gotten into town the day before, so we had actual family for the gathering which made it so special. We ate tremendous food complete with turkey and ham. Glorious.
With the end of Christmas gatherings brought the end of my long weekend without teaching. I went back to work that Monday to do my four days of Winter Camp. During Winter Break, the school still holds optional classes for students to attend. These classes are usually fun, however, as teachers play more games since it is break. Also, they are only half-days, so most English teachers are let out by 12 to go home. I LOVED my Winter Camp. I had 18 students for three periods a day for four days. My theme was "Discover Yourself," so each day had a specific theme (myself, my family, my country, my world). We did vocabulary every day, projects (life maps, a newsletter article), and some games. Each day I posted their work in the room.
One of the best days was the "My Country" day. I had students do an Amazing Race (thanks to the idea from Charlei) where they had ten questions to answer about Korea that were scattered around the school grounds along with clues to where the questions were hidden. Students had to race around the school finding the questions (hidden at the soccer goal, front gate, library, cafeteria, etc.), and then answer the questions correctly. Then, we checked the answers, and whatever team had the most correct got candy. Students had a blast, and one of them even said, "Teacher, good adventure!"
I had an amazing time the entire four days and was sad to see it end. It was awesome to be able to spend some actual time with students where I could build on what we were learning (it's so difficult only seeing students once a week). It was the first time since coming where I genuinely enjoyed what I was doing and was a great reminder that yes, I actually LOVE to teach. I felt even better when I heard from the teachers that the students said they didn't want camp to end—something NO Korean student ever says...especially at my school. I hope the students visit me when the school year begins again.
New Years was great, but pretty chill. Chaz and I hung out with friends Gon and Matt (who visited from Seoul....he went to Iowa State and was friends with Kat in Ames, then met Kel last year), and then Kelly joined us after midnight (she was at a concert). We tried to stay up to see the first sunrise of the year (a tradition in Busan), but once it hit 4:30, I was ready for home.
To end the holiday season, we attended a Christmas Light Festival at Kosin University in Busan. It was great to look at the insane amount of lights and think of festivals back home. Although the holidays were quite different this year, they were great in a new way.
Now, I am relaxing at home as I am done with school for winter break. We have the last week of the school year beginning of February, and then the new school year beings the beginning of March. Chaz and I hope to take a trip the last week of January, but haven't made plans as of yet. I'm really looking forward to this new year and new decade as I know it will continue to bring excitement, love, old friendships, new friendships, reunions, and many adventures (known and unknown). Just as last year, one year from now I don't know where I'll be, but I'm not worried about the future, I just know wherever it is, whatever we're doing, Chaz and I will make it an adventure.
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