MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

16 Fun Korean Christmas Tidbits:

The Famous Korean-Christmas
Cake

1) Christmas cake is AMAZING! Shame on anyone who has ever made fun of one.
2) You can get a cake that looks like a bear head.
3) An Aloe Vera plant makes a good substitute for a Christmas tree.
4) Nothing is closed on Christmas in Korea.
5) If there is no snow for Christmas, frozen cow-pesticide will suffice...
6) We went to an art gallery on Christmas.
7) Picasso and Monet have paintings on display in Seoul right now!
8) NANTA rocks my socks off!
9) NANTA is a Korean performance (similar to STOMP) that combines comedy, drumming, martial arts, and cooking.
10) An awesome Korean family invited us to go see NANTA with them. Definitely worth the Won...
11) Even on Christmas old ladies will occassionally shoo you out of the subway with a broom.
12) There are English speaking churches in Korea.


Our Korean Family and Richard, the
Christmas Aloe Vera Plant

13) Home Alone + Pizza + Christmas Cake + Popcorn = A  wonderful Christmas night
14) If you don't have mom's home cookin' on Christmas Eve, then Dobulgi and Tuna Gimbap will do.
15) Seeing your Principal dressed up like Santa brightens up the Christmas Eve workday!
16) Christmas is always better when you get to spend it with a good friend.





We really, really want to say 'THANK YOU!' for all the presents and cards, it was very special being able to open up some presents on Christmas, even though it made us miss our families back home.  We miss everyone, love you all, and hope you had a Merry Christmas!


Before



After



The Christmas Season is Upon Us!!!

Christmas is almost here!  We have been busy decorating the apartment and getting ready for the holiday season. We have candles, pine cones, Christmas greenery, and even our very own Charlie Brown Christmas tree! 

We found it!

Searching...

Last weekend we hiked out into the mountains in search of a good and sincere tree.  After a little looking we finally found the one for us and cut it down with our kitchen knife.  Then began the long journey to get our tree home without anyone questioning us.  Everytime we would see other hikers coming we would throw the tree in the ditch and pretend to take pictures.  Eventually, however, we could sneak it no further... We "planted" it by the river and waited until the cover of darkness to come back and reclaim it.

"cutting" down our X-mas tree

Decorated with strung
popcorn and reclycled
paper

We also wanted to thank everyone for the cards and gifts!  It is a lot of fun being able to have presents under the tree.  We also REALLY love our stockings we have hanging up!  Christmas will definitely be a lot different for us this year, but it is good to remember to keep things simple and refocus on the things that really matter during the Christmas season :) 

Pig and Kimchi...

Winter is almost here! ...and that means one thing....Time to make enough kimchi to make it through the cold winter months!

Everyone has been getting together with family and making huge batches of kimchi (because there ain't no cabbage around in the winter!)  We even heard that residents of Yeonpyeong (the island that was recently attacked) have been returning because they had to take care of their animals and....make kimchi...

Today we were invited to my school to join in a mini-kimchi making and pork-eating bazaar for lunch.  A bunch of people from around town and even some of my students get together to make kimchi for the poor.  We did our part by going and eating some of the kimchi meant for the poor (we didn't know!!!!).  We also had some cold pig intestines. :)

After the meal we all gathered 'round the kimchi for a picture together.  And, of course, instead of saying 'cheese', you say 'kimchi.'