No "Ho-ho-ho!"

Spending Christmas in South Korea was only my second time being away from home for the holidays. My sister, Natalie, and I backpacked Australia for a month during college winter break in 2005. Spending Christmas on the beach in Perth and seeing Santa on the subway was a little different, but so memorable. In fact, I remember receiving a stuffed koala bear from Natalie's friend, Dave, when we arrived in the Melbourne airport on Boxing Day (day after xmas). That little guy sits on my dresser back in the states. Sadly, Dave passed away a few months ago in a tragic accident in Turkey, so the bear leaves me a tad teary but always reminds me of Dave's kindness and hospitality.

At least Christmas is celebrated in Australia.

Here is the series of questions I asked my students regarding their Christmas plans:
hh: Will you open presents tomorrow morning?
students: No.
hh: Santa won't bring you any presents?
students: No Santa.
hh: No Santa in Korea?
students: No.
hh: Ah, yes, Korea's probably too far.
students: (laugh) Yes, too far.
hh: So what about a Christmas tree?
students: No Christmas tree.
hh: Will you have a big dinner?
students: No. Just sit in big room with family.
hh: Wait. No presents... no Santa... no Christmas tree... no dinner?
students: Yes. Go to America, teacher.
hh: (laugh)
students: (laugh)

Sooooo the conclusion here is that there is no Christmas in Korea--not the American way anyway. No decorations (only cheapy $1 crap at Lotte Mart). No gift baskets. No tacky sweaters. They just hang out with family all day. Married or unmarried couples spend the day together too. Oh, and for you single people out there, you hang out with other single people and get really drunk (which doesn't actually sound too bad considering your other option is being locked in a room with your folks). Therefore, a group of Westerners decided we would make our own Christmas here. An engaged couple had about 20 or so people over and cooked us all a huge dinner, which was actually one of the best meals I've ever had. Steamed veggies, salad, mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, stuffing, turkey, short bread cookies, and egg nog! And all this they did with a stove top, microwave, and rice cooker! We played Rob Your Neighbor, and I won a sweet pair of fuzzy rainbow socks. My English friend won a pair of butt implant underwear--funniest and best prize in the pot! Of course we played the usually drinking games--F the dealer and Circle of Death. I recreated high school memories by writing dares on every block of a game of Jenga that someone won in Rob Your Neighbor. We summed up the night by purchasing large quantities of soju and sprite and heading to a norabang (karaoke room) singing the Beatles, Justin Timberlake, and everything in between. Honestly, it was an amazing Christmas. An amazing week.

Of course, I missed seeing you. Seriously, if you are reading this, then you must be someone that actually cares about me. How about next year?

xx
hh