Finally, the Holidays are Over!

It seems we say it every year. We dread the approach of the holidays and the madness of it all. When the beautiful day of December 26th finally comes, we breath a sigh of relief. Well that cannot be more true this year. Now, to be fair, I did have a very nice holiday and I made all the attempts I could to have a great Christmas. However, Christmas in Korea will never be better or greater than home. I have realized how ridiculous I've been in the past with frantically buying presents and making mounds of food for Christmas, but all I need at this time it to be with my family. Its sad, but I admit, that it took 6,000 miles and being in Korea to realize that. What has been an absolute blessing is skype! I was able to see my family open their presents from me, talk to my extended family at the Christmas Eve party, and I spent Christmas morning in America (Christmas evening in Korea) with my family infront of the tree. I don't know how I would survive if I couldn't talk to or see my family, even in the cyber world. But the holiday season passing is a great boost for my depressed spirit! All month I have been anticipating the holidays in a sad way, even though they turned out okay.

The Christmas celebrations started on December 23rd when we had our big party for the kindergarten kids. They got to open presents (from their parents), see Santa, and make little snowman from cups. They had so much fun and were so cute! That night my two Chingus (friends) and I went to Home Plus and spent $150 on a Christmas eve feast for 25 people. On Christmas Eve, after work, we started cooking this amazing feast! Everyone showed up to my apartment and we ate, drank, and laughed the night away into Christmas. On Christmas morning, I skyped into my big family Christmas Eve party and talked to my cousins, aunts, and uncles! It was so great to see everyone and I think I need to call the inventor of Skype and personally thank him for this amazing invention haha! After skyping, three of the teachers and I made breakfast and opened our gifts from home infront of our tree :) We had 3:00 reservations at a western restaurant for a huge Christmas buffet. We went with probably every other foreigner in Korea because there was not a single Korean person in the entire restaurant. It was so weird being in a place where I could have an actual conversation with a stranger. Anyway, I have to admit that our homemade Christmas Eve feast was soooo much better than this restaurant, but at least I got to be with friends on Christmas! As much as I complained before about the holidays being a complete bummer, I made the best of the situation. As I said to my parents, with all the sadness I feel at this time of year, I wouldn't trade this experience and the life lessons I am learning for anything. If it means suffering through Christmas in Uijeongbu, South Korea than so be it!

Now that Christmas is over, I get to look forward to an AMAZING New Year's in SEOUL!!! It's going to be the best New Years that I will remember forever! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!