This post is way overdue (over a month late? I just have no excuse), so I apologize.
I was fully expecting Christmas to be just another day for me. I had no plans, no tree, no family in the country. I wasn't really bummed about it (in fact, I'd even opted not get a tree or decorate, although I could have), but I didn't anticipate it being something special. I even opened my Christmas presents early (thanks for shipping me stuff, guys!) because I figured it wouldn't matter if I did it on the day or not.
But I went to my church's Christmas Eve service and had a blast. A few of the other single folks and I hung out afterwards and didn't get back till 3 a.m. The snow was falling thick and we had snowball fights and ate ice cream (surprisingly popular in the winter here) and played pool.
The next day was a white Christmas. After the service and delicious meal, most people went home to be with their families, but the pastor said, “But the church is our family,” and took a bunch of us to Jeonju in the van.
The pastor and his wife, a couple and their middle-school-aged daughter, an older English teacher, my good Korean friend, and I were the participants in this adventure. Jeonju is about an hour away by bus or car, and is the capital of our province, Jeollabuk-do. It's known for bibimbap (a Korean food) and its traditional Hanok Village, now a major tourist attraction.
We went to this traditional village and explored and browsed the stands of handmade jewelry and wares. We went to a traditional Korean teahouse and took our shoes off on the outside step (right by the snow!) and settled into a warm room with heated floors and a low table.
There we enjoyed a nice array of snacks and tea, and I ordered the Flower Tea, at my pastor's wife's recommendation. It was so good, and both the sight of it and its aroma were so pleasantly delicious.
I have to say that this Christmas was far from boring - in fact, I'd rank it among the most exciting Christmases I've had. While I certainly would have loved to spend the holidays with family, this Christmas was definitely memorable.
I was fully expecting Christmas to be just another day for me. I had no plans, no tree, no family in the country. I wasn't really bummed about it (in fact, I'd even opted not get a tree or decorate, although I could have), but I didn't anticipate it being something special. I even opened my Christmas presents early (thanks for shipping me stuff, guys!) because I figured it wouldn't matter if I did it on the day or not.
But I went to my church's Christmas Eve service and had a blast. A few of the other single folks and I hung out afterwards and didn't get back till 3 a.m. The snow was falling thick and we had snowball fights and ate ice cream (surprisingly popular in the winter here) and played pool.
The next day was a white Christmas. After the service and delicious meal, most people went home to be with their families, but the pastor said, “But the church is our family,” and took a bunch of us to Jeonju in the van.
The pastor and his wife, a couple and their middle-school-aged daughter, an older English teacher, my good Korean friend, and I were the participants in this adventure. Jeonju is about an hour away by bus or car, and is the capital of our province, Jeollabuk-do. It's known for bibimbap (a Korean food) and its traditional Hanok Village, now a major tourist attraction.
We went to this traditional village and explored and browsed the stands of handmade jewelry and wares. We went to a traditional Korean teahouse and took our shoes off on the outside step (right by the snow!) and settled into a warm room with heated floors and a low table.
There we enjoyed a nice array of snacks and tea, and I ordered the Flower Tea, at my pastor's wife's recommendation. It was so good, and both the sight of it and its aroma were so pleasantly delicious.
I have to say that this Christmas was far from boring - in fact, I'd rank it among the most exciting Christmases I've had. While I certainly would have loved to spend the holidays with family, this Christmas was definitely memorable.
