Christmas in Seoul

즐거운 크리스마스!
Merry Christmas!

The lead up to Christmas here in Seoul is completely foreign to me. Which, I suppose it should be. Many people are unaware of the large Christian population here in Korea and that Christmas is celebrated here. It is not like home however. The commercialism is not as present, which is good. It keeps it more in touch with the roots of Christmas. Children, of course, are hopeful that Santa will bring them gifts, but they are less concerned with the latest toy. Many of my students wish for a new pencil case or notebook. This is not due to lack of funds, but lack of materialism as seen in the American market. The part of Seoul I live in is pretty affluent and many women carry designer handbags and wear expensive clothes, but for some reason my students are less concerned with the latest, greatest thing. They want games for their Nintendos (which many American children would desire as well), but they also are content with something they need like new socks or a pair of mittens. This is appealing to me. However, I miss the commercialism. I miss the huge displays in the stores, the special candy and a Santa around every corner. Korea has bell ringers and Christmas trees in the subway stations and many of the larger shopping areas, but they don't have overpriced, limited edition knick knacks.

While it only slightly resembles the Christmases I'm so used to, it is indeed Christmas. I awoke this morning with the same excitement I have had for the last 23 Christmases. I awoke to an alarm at 7:30 (because I had forgotten to turn it off) and tried to fall back asleep until at least 9:00. However, just knowing that I had presents to open and a family to call made me hop right out of bed. Last night I braved the crowds (and there were crowds, the most crowded I've ever seen the subway, COEX and Korea) and bought myself a few Christmas gifts. I was sad that I wouldn't have anything to open (because I'm materialistic and although I know Christmas is about the birth of Christ, I wanted presents). I came home and wrapped gifts, cleaned my apartment and got Starbucks. It was a crazy, non-traditional (to me at least) way to spend Christmas eve, but it did lend way to much anticipation for the morning.

I got up this morning, turned on the Christmas lights, called my family (who had to call me back because they were eating) and made myself breakfast. When my family called me back I promptly opened Christmas presents. I got a journal, a new case for my iPod, a couple of shirts and a pair of Converse shoes. Exactly what I wanted. Santa is so smart, but according to Norad, he thought Pyongyang, North Korea was really near Andong, South Korea. Come on Santa, that is a pretty crucial mistake. This afternoon I am headed to Caitriona and Sharon's for a Christmas party. I am making mini apple pies with mandu wrappers and apples, cinnamon and sugar. I will pan fry them. It'll be a good time with wine, food and friends. I can't think of anyway I'd rather spend my Christmas away from home.

I'm off to Tokyo tomorrow morning and I'll be back home (which I proudly call Seoul) on New Year's Eve, which I'll be spending with friends. I'm hoping for fireworks and champagne and all the things I've never had on New Year's Eve, my movie version.

Weekend and Holiday Plans

This weekend was pretty awesome. I met up with a few people from the Spanish group from the previous weekend and we checked out a Latin American art exhibit at Deoksugung Palace. The exhibit was awesome. Pretty small collection, but it showcased some of Frida Kahlo's early works and a few Diego Rivera's. Some of my favorite works were from Fernando Botero and Wifredo Lam. After seeing this collection I wanted to hop on a plane to Argentina (where most of the collection hailed from). I will be going back there at least once more before it leaves in November.
The palace itself was small and relatively untouched. The colors were faded, but I liked that. It showed the palace as it should be after thousands of years. The area surrounding the palace is City Hall and the location of the beef protests right before I arrived in Seoul. It also where I happened upon the Chili Festival two weekends ago. It is quite beautiful and a 15 minute walk down the street lands you at Gyeonbokgung Palace and the area surrounding Cheonggye Stream.

We found a place for lunch and I had the best bibimbap ever! It was a cheese, vegetable and meat deal that tasted very similar to Mexican food. It was fantastic. The place was aptly named Bibimbap and I wish I remembered how to get there from the subway, but I know I could get there if I walk around again.

On the way home, on the subway, a group of school girls got on. After they talked to the most adorable baby they said hello to me and asked if they could talk with me. Of course I said yes and they asked me bunch of questions and I them and we had a short little conversation in English. The girl who did the most talking (while her friends giggled) even thanked me for letting her talk to me. Just another day in Korea.

After I got back from the exhibit, I chilled for a bit and then I went to COEX to meet up with another friend from Spanish group. We ate dinner at On the Border so I got yet another Spanish food fix. This time I had a chicken taco, rice, black beans and 2 cheese and chicken empanadas, and a margarita of course. No pictures of that, but it was pretty tasty, a bit more expensive than Korean food, but I suppose its ok to eat Western once every 2 months (not including McDonald's, I consider that global food...haha). Anyway, I didn't do much on Sunday besides go to the gym for the first time and it was awesome! I went again tonight after work and I am going to make this part of my daily routine. Tonight after working out I went to the restaurant in the bottom of my building for madu rameyon (ramen noodles with madu dumplings) it was pretty tasty. I mean I know I love mandu and rameyon is delicious as well so put the two together and you've got a winning combination.

In other news, I think I have my Christmas holiday plans all figured out. I just need to check on a few things and buy tickets/make a lodging reservation. Otherwise its looking like Indonesia, a few days with Molly who is teaching in Bandung and then a few days on my own on the beaches of Bali. I had thought about Beijing, but the tourist visa stuff is more of a hassle than I want to deal with right now and it's cheaper to do one country. I will make it to Beijing (and other parts of China) before I leave Korea, but the more I thought about a Christmas/New Year's vacation the more I wanted to be warm and it'll be about the same temperature in Beijing as Seoul. Right now I would be happy with cold, but come December, I'll probably want a break and a tan.