Christmas In Korea, Year 2

     Greetings from my desk!  Wow, it feels great to say that.  After 16 months in Korea, I finally have 1 school at which I can absolutely desk-warm while students and teachers are on vacation (as opposed to 5 schools that demand attention to different programs each day of the week, as was the case last year).  This means that I have some time to plan English camp, and plan next semester (diligent thinking!), as well as some time to catch up on anything else I'd like to--movies, music, blogging, reading, anything!  So I'm happy to write this from my desk on a frigid Thursday afternoon.  My camp planning is complete and I think it's fair to take an hour of my time and tell you a little bit about Christmas in Korea.

It's come and gone.  
Christmas for a 2nd straight year in Korea.  

     I wish I could tell you that it cured my homesickness, but has not.  However, this was really as great a Christmas as I could've expected with some folks that I, without hesitation, would certain call a semblance of a family here in Pyeongtaek.  Last year, I had a really nice brunch with some good friends, but spent the majority of the day sitting on floor heating, waiting for a chance to Skype with some family, and generally feeling sorry for myself.  

     It goes without saying at this point that the homesickness reaches its peak around the holidays--namely, in my case, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  While there's no need to inform you about the brilliance that is the Hurd Christmas agenda, suffice it to say that it involves a midnight choir service (complete with the classic, candle-lit "Silent Night"), some morning gifts from relatives, football watching and playing, Christmas music on repeat, about 25 friends and relatives packing into houses that can't possibly accomodate such a crowd, a little shopping, some historical bumming around and bar crawling in Philadelphia, and, consequently, more cheesesteaks, hoagies, and hot wings than you can shake a stick at in a year's time.  The only thing that we're usually missing on that trek to Pennsylvania is snow.  

     So you can imagine Christmas in Korea is...well, a tough sell.

There's no right way to do Christmas. You just do it. 
The best way you know how.

     Completely inconsequentially, I was watching "Shrek the Halls" with my students not a week ago (in part because it's kid-friendly and runs for approximately 28 minutes, and in part because it's the only Christmas-themed movie I could find that had subtitles attached).  

     Although I grew sick of the movie, one line stood out.  Puss, to a saddened, sorry Shrek who has never experienced a "real" Christmas, says softly and confidently,

     There's no right way to do Christmas. You just do it.

     It sounds simple and ideal, but I think it rings true for almost anyone.  I cannot truly and simply explain to anyone, exactly, why we do what we do on Christmas and Christmas only.  I cannot truly and simply explain to anyone why the 1 day of the year on which I feel comfortable and even joyful going to church is Christmas Eve.  I cannot truly or simply explain what connection, if any, stuffing myself with hoagies and chicken wings have to Christmas.  This is the beauty of Christmas, I think--it's different for everyone, and that's what we take such pride in.  It feels quirky and comforting that the things in which I take the most pride in over the holidays have come to mean nothing as far as the actual "Christmas" part of it is concerned.  It's not like we couldn't do such things on any other day of the year, but we only do them around Christmas.  It's a powerful holiday.

Christmas in Korea.

     So as homesick as one might be abroad for the holidays, the best thing one can do is exactly what one would do at home, no?  I've been watching college football bowl games at my desk, eating a bit more Western food this week (shameful), and [prepared some gifts to exchange with my girlfriend.

     But it is always people who make such things memorable, and I cannot thank my friends--no, my family here in Pyeongtaek for making this Christmas as memorable as it could have been abroad.  My good friend Cheng hosted a great potluck dinner and gift exchange night, and for those 6-7 hours, with some of my best friends in Korea, I didn't once think about what I might be missing at home (no offense).  In that moment, there was, truly, no right way to do Christmas.  We just did it.

     With food.  And more food.  And friends (family).  And gifts.  And card games.  And lots of picture-taking and goofing around.  And hugs.  And more food.  And alcohol.  And lots of alcohol.  And Christmas decorations.  And even a dog.  And more alcohol.  And more food.  And friends (family).  

     Thanks to everyone in Pyeongtaek who helped me have an amazing Korean Christmas.

     And thanks to all friends and family back home, who served as a most powerful reminder of just, exactly, why there is no place like home for the holidays, and who I can confidently say I will be returning home to next year for Christmas 2013.  

     Here are a few pictures from the holiday here in Korea.  A Merry Christmas to you and yours.

     Love,
     Sam.