Best wishes for a belated Christmas and New Year!
I promised this post a long time ago and I'm sorry that I failed to publish until now.
The month after Anthony's visit was a whirlwind. I had my last round of classes with my graduating third graders. I started teaching at another middle school twice a week. The temperature in Ulsan has grown progressively colder, but no semblance of icy white dust has stuck. I celebrated Christmas, the New Year, and my birthday, and I have absolutely no idea how it flew by so fast.
Last Christmas was my first without my family, and as someone who places importance not only on tradition and holidays, but especially on that magical
feeling evoked by the holiday season, it was hard for me to be in a country that doesn't "do" Christmas. Despite December 25th being Jun's birthday, the day came and went without the kind of pomp and circumstance that I craved.
This year, I was proactive. I acquired a Christmas tree back in August from an expat who was trying to rid herself of possessions before returning to her home country. I invited Jun's mom to celebrate with us in Ulsan. I volunteered to read poetry and play the violin at the church Christmas concert. I signed up to volunteer at the local orphanage. In some ways, I spread myself too thin.
Between the Christmas Eve vigil mass and Christmas morning, I did my best to clean my apartment and bake as much food as possible (I don't think my bathroom has ever been as spotless as it was after I went over the tile with a toothbrush). Jun and his mom arrived in the morning and I was thrilled to find that she'd bought me 2 dozen red roses. My darling engineer gave me an electric toothbrush, which was less exciting but admittedly practical (especially because I had to get a cavity filled this fall and I'm eager to repeat the experience never!).
Jun and his mom and I got to exchange our gifts, eat the food I'd prepared, and sing happy birthday to Jun, but I quickly had to get to the orphanage. Su and I met my friend Soyoung and we spent the next several hours with various children, some of which liked us, one of which insisted that we eat her imaginary food, and two very little boys who wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. (My Korean skills are perfunctory but I definitely comprehend when I'm being ordered to go away). We ended the afternoon with some Christmas carols and a visit from Santa, which appeared to thrill the kids.
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| Me and Soyoung |
Back in Ulsan, I performed two songs in a musical duet with my friend George, playing borrowed violin that made me realize how much I miss playing. (I broke my elbow three years ago, putting a necessary stop to the musical career that began when I was in first grade, and there was no way I was going to check my precious instrument as baggage to bring with me to Korea. Sadly, it's collecting dust at my parents' house now). By the time Jun, his mom, and I were all back home, I was thoroughly exhausted but it had been a happy Christmas; I hardly had time to feel homesick. The following day, I was able to open my Christmas gifts from my family over Skype and watch them open their gifts from me. Technology is a significant comfort in the wake of the holidays.
The following week, Gloria and I had a girls' night on New Year's Eve. She's not going to be teaching with me next year, which is sad. But we had a good time ringing in the new year. In the morning, I woke up early and climbed up to the roof to watch the first sunrise of 2016. As my fingers steadily lost feeling, I nearly gave up on patience and went back inside, but thankfully the view was worth the effort.
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| Welcoming 2016 from my rooftop |
Jun and I celebrated the New Year and my 25th birthday in Gyeongju. For my readers who don't know, Gyeongju was the center of life during the Silla era, which lasted from the first until the tenth centuries. Gyeongju is quietly brimming with history. Despite the cold weather, it was gorgeous.
My real birthday is January 9th, and unfortunately Jun had to work all day (hence our early celebration in Gyeongju). Su took me out to Seongnamdong for lunch, shopping, and cake. Later, I got to meet and drink chocolate with Emily, a new Ulsanite and the former roommates of one of my best friends from Minnesota. Small world!
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| Su lighting the candles |
It's weird being 25 (er, 26 by Korea's age system). On the one hand, I still feel like I have no idea what being an adult means, and sometimes I worry that everyone will realize that I'm just a fraud who will never be a grown up. On the one hand, I think I've grown and stretched and
become more of myself acutely in the past year.
Cheers to 2016!
