Kristmas in Korea

So, I was actually trying to stay away from the Christmas spirit a little bit this year. Don’t get me wrong- I love me some good carols and a well decked hall, but being so far away from home and traditions and a crackling fire was making me a little bit blue.  Korea is not nearly as Christmas Crazy as the states, so it was actually pretty easy to avoid the Christmas countdown and focus on getting acclimated to my new surroundings. However, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day just happened to fall on the weekend this year, so I turned Christmas Day into a tourist Sunday/ make new friends day/ help those who go without day (read: my new friend planned the whole day and I followed her around).

I started the day by taking the train into Seoul to go ice-skating in Seoul Square. The square happens to be right next to one of the palaces, and again, when I got off the train, I was treated to a guard changing ceremony! Except this time I saw the whole thing, not just the end. 

I watched while I waited, and then the skating began! It was great to get these feet into skates again, I even did a twirl or two. (My friend has also worked at a special needs summer camp- so I was only able to fit the twirls in when I was not gabbing my mouth off about Camp Huntington. Sorry friend! When I get going I just can’t stop…)

Then we ventured to a place called Myeongdong, which is a big shopping area in Seoul (complete with a Forever 21, Gap, and Uniqlo). Let me tell you, if you ever have a desire to feel like part of a herd of cattle, go to Myeongdong on Christmas day. Christams is something of a couple’s holiday here in Korea, and it seems that  Myeongdong is THE PLACE to take your significant other. I don’t know why, but its what happens. It was very, very crowded, but still fun since we had a great meal and did some great people watching (and people pushing).

Then we headed to the main event: giving back to those who go without. My friend is active in a local volunteer group and was nice enough to invite me along to help spread the cheer. We worked with a local church, going door-to-door to pass out boxes of food and toiletries to people living in the flop houses of Seoul. The buildings consist of dozens of 3 meter by 3 meter rooms, each inhabited by one person. There is a communal bathroom, and very little heat or ventilation.  That being said, the people that we saw all were all in high spirits and seemed to be glad to get a knock on the door. We went around in small groups, and in my group there was one other American girl and two Koreans (handy for translation purposes).

From elderly couples to young professionals, middle-aged housewives and even young children- people from all walks of life came out to deliver the merriment. Everyone was great- but the kids were amazing! The houses we were visiting were not nice, and I thought that some of the people we met looked a little scary (poor hygiene so bad teeth etc) but these kids had no fear! They walked up to each door and delivered the packages like champions. If they are our future leaders, then I say things are looking up.

So, all in all, I had a great Kristmas. A little bit of winter, a great meal, remembering the important things in life, and of course, continuing to spread my wings and explore in this little place called South Korea.