happy new year

So finally, here is my post about how I spent my winter vacation. Sounds like a school essay title doesn't it? But yeah, I had a great week off, and I did not just sit around on my butt all week. I actually got out there and did stuff, despite the freezing cold weather. It was actually a good time...and I was able to relax, which was ultimately my goal anyway.

So what did I do then? Well, on Christmas Eve I had planned to spend the day with a few girls from the anime club thing we formed about a week prior to that. We went to one of the girl's sister's house which was equipped with an oven, a rare household luxury here in Korea. We then proceeded to bake up a storm...and soon the place was smelling heavenly. I made Russian teacakes & sugar cookies, my two favs. After that another guy from the anime club met up with us there and we watched a couple of episodes. We were all planning on going out to dinner together after that, but opted to go with Danya (the other anime girl) to have dinner at one of her Korean coworker's houses. We packed up our stuff and headed to the subway...

I was amazed as soon as I stepped in the door to this place. There were several plates heaped with delicious looking food...and a dessert table to boot! It all looked so yummy!!! So I was so very excited and happy that I got to spend my Christmas Eve having such a wonderful feast, and it was all really really good. After dinner and a couple glasses of wine each we headed across the street to the local norae-bag (karaoke room) where we stayed singing cheesy boy-band songs and Christmas ballads until the wee hours of the morning. It was a great night and a fantastic Christmas Eve...

our Christmas Eve dinner

On Christmas Day my roommate Erin was hosting a small potluck get-together with friends in the afternoon, so I just spent most of Christmas morning lounging around and cleaning, nothing too major. Everyone started arriving at about 4pm and then we stood around talking for the next hour or so until everything was ready. Dinner consisted of two roasted chickens, pasta salad, roasted potatoes, tater-tots, salad & rolls. We also had a plethora of gourmet cheeses, fruit and nuts to snack on too. Once again, everything was really good. After dinner we watched Home Alone & The Nightmare Before Christmas. Soon after, my friend Danya called me and wanted to know if I was interested in climbing up Mt. Namsan that evening. I knew it was cold out, but I thought that the spectacular view from the top would be a perfect ending to a great holiday. So she and I hopped on a bus to downtown and spent the remainder of the evening meandering around the newly opened pavillion atop Mt. Namsan. Another good day.

our apartment decorated for the Christmas potluck

The rest of my vacation week I spent shopping and hanging out with Dan from the anime club. On Wednesday of that week I went to COEX Aquarium. It was pretty cool, though not nearly as great as Chicago's Shedd Aquarium (of course). Still, it was a good way to pass a lazy afternoon.

some fishies at the aquarium

wave hello to the scary scuba guy

This past Friday I hung out with my other roommate Amanda and some Korean friends of hers. We went down to Myeoung-dong shopping district and had shabu-shabu for dinner, which was really good! The next day I had the anime crew (and some other friends of theirs) over to my place for more episode watching---this time we watched Escaflowne. In the evening some more people joined up with us and we started getting ready to go out and celebrate. At about 10pm we headed down to Limelight Club in Itaewon to ring in the new year. I ended up kissing some strange guy on the cheek at midnight, I wasn't about to be left without someone to kiss at midnight this year...though I couldn't even begin to tell you the guy's name. Not important though, since I didn't see him again after that. The anime crew and I spent the remainder of the evening at Limelight dancing the night away. At about 3:30am one of the other girl's dates drove us all back to my place where we crashed until the next day.

the shabu-shabu

New Year's Eve pre-partying (doing car-bombs)

Dan attempting to slide on the floor of my apartment

the club

So that was my holiday in a nutshell. Not too bad for being here in Korea...but of course I still missed everyone from back home. It just wasn't the same being here. Still, I'm glad I had friends to spend it with. :)

Happy new year everyone...