Christmas Abroad

I know I'm behind on blogging... story of my life, but I figured I'd would fill everyone in on how I spent my Christmas abroad.  With only 25% of the Korean population being Christian Christmas is not a huge deal over here, which is why I figured it would be even more difficult to be away from family during the holiday season.  Luckily my friends and family made my Christmas one I will always remember.  With Seoul always lit up there were many Christmas lights to look at and get you in the holiday spirit.  






Some friends and I tried to track down the amazing lights I found on the Internet, but failed when we showed up to only find one HUGE Christmas tree.  At school we put on a Christmas program where my kids performed a Christmas play, song and dance.  Teaching the lower level children there were many days I wanted to rip my hair out but in the end I was VERY proud of my little kiddos for the spectacular show they put on for the parents.  We had to work Christmas eve, which really made it not feel like Christmas until I received 3 packages and many cards from home.   Santa came to visit my kids, so it sort of put me in the Christmas spirit.  In one of the packages I received from Lauren there was a stocking, many wrapped presents and a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, which I set up on Christmas Eve night so I would have something to open on Christmas morning.  With the close knit group of co-workers at my school we figured we had to do something to make Christmas overseas feel like Christmas.  One of my friends Lauren hosted a Christmas party where we crammed about 30 people into our small apartments and did a white elephant gift exchange.  I followed the night by skyping family and friends to feel like I was at home.  Christmas morning I opened all my presents and headed over to my friend Tyler's apartment where Tyler, Tyler, Molly & I played cards and watched Christmas movies in our jammies.  We then headed out to dinner at a restaurant that served their version of Christmas dinner consisting of turkey, stuffing, ribs, salad, soup, veggies and other goodies.  The owner actually told us he really liked that we came out in our pajamas since no one should have to get out of their pajamas on Christmas day.  We then had to work the day after Christmas so that was all the celebrating we could do and it was time to get back to the grind of work.  Although it was definitely not like any other Christmas I have ever had, it will definitely be one I will never forget spending the holiday abroad with great friends.