It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I believe that of all of the holidays that we celebrate in America, Christmas by far is my favorite.

I have the fondest memories of Christmas from my childhood and those memories are rekindled and more pronounced year after year. I think too that it also depends on where I am on the planet logistically and what has occurred in my life prior to the holiday season that will light the memory spark causing it to glow even brighter in my mind.

Well this year it is the obvious in that I am 6000 miles from home, in a country that seems a bit ambivalent when it comes to celebrating Christmas.

To the credit of some commercial entities, there are twinkling lights and decorated trees in their establishments. But I can say that I've yet to see the glow of lights coming from any residential property in the community where I live save for those on my balcony. Although I do believe that some have trees in their homes, just not in or near the windows. I'm just grateful to be able to have done my part in adding to the festivity of the season.

While riding to work last Monday to my surprise the bus that I boarded had it's aisles decked! Isn't that a song? Deck the aisles with boughs of holly, fa la la la la...Wait that's halls right? But hey it works with aisles too! (*>0<*)

I was oh so delighted that I had to take a picture



Then later in the week I managed to catch the same bus again and low and behold guess who was driving? Yep the big guy himself, ole' saint Nick. I didn't take his photo though, didn't want to blow his cover!!!

You know that when I was a child I saw him and the reindeer flying across the sky one Christmas eve. You do know that don't you?

My,my what a well told story and a big imagination will do for a child. My sister and I laughed when we recalled this story again on Christmas day about how our older brother had us totally believing that we saw santa.

But it's memories like those that I hold dear to my heart. Or like when our parents were creating an ice rink in the backyard because we were getting ice skates as one of our gifts that year, so of course we were told that santa had to land there. Hoodwinked again!

And so that I am apart from family and friends Christmas has much more meaning to me this year indeed.

Thankfully I can talk with them via Skype and listen to music online. Daily I filled my space with the sounds of Christmas logging onto the local radio stations from back home. I was so happy and joyful in my humble space.(^0^)

I also had the joy of taking part in the Christmas play at church. After all it is a high holy time for practicing Christians all over the globe. And what is Christmas without the Christmas play right?



And of course there was singing in between so that was an added bonus for this songbird. I even tried spreading a little Christmas cheer to four of my neighbors in my building.

I'd decorated my door and decided to go an extra mile and become a secret santa by hanging a decorative ornament on each of their door handles, but to my chagrin, a Grinch showed up sometime during the night and removed them from the doors.

However, mine thankfully was left in tack. It's good to know that the Grinch has a wee bit of sense. But I didn't let that mean act dampen my spirits because I know that my heart was in the right place and tis the season to be jolly!

So for me it's still the most wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas and God's blessings to all.

The Wedding Anniversary Singer

Today I had the distinct honor of singing at the 50th wedding anniversary celebration for the parents of a friend of pastor Kim's who pastors the church that I attend.

It was indeed a surprise when I was approached one Sunday after service and was asked by his friend if I would like to sing a song.

It was held in his multi-purpose center adjacent to his home. He is also a pastor and this facility is where he holds church services. His wife, children, parents and nieces were dressed in very festive traditional garments while he wore a navy western style suit. His appearance is very conservative and humble.
There were many Koreans of course and to my surprise a family of East Indians. (I'm so accustomed to being one of the two foreigners in our group and the only American. The other foreigner is the English speaking minister who is from Ethiopia).

The area where they live has more new home structures as opposed to the many hi rises that are found in my community. There is a definite country feel to it. No corner stores.

The scene was typical of any special buffet style event back home including, caterer, dj, and photographer. The dj also came with an emcee for the presentation portion who also doubled as a Karaoke singer for the dinner entertainment.

There was even a huge piece of meat on a grill as we entered. Looked like a quarter of a hog. I was surprised though to see Korean wine, Soju, on the table, but I guess he knows his people.

The program began with prayer, then I sang, My Tribute, by Andre Crouch. Next pastor Kim gave a sermon, from John 2. Then the presentation of honoree's family,toasting, photo session and so on.

One standout was the game show like songs that peppered the emcee's speaking during the presentation which was rather comical.

There was a poignant moment during the viewing of a video from their eldest son, also a pastor, who lives in the U.S. His three children read a message to their grand-parents, they only speak English then the son read a message to his parents in hangul. Not sure if he was translating the children's message but his mom wept a bit.

The oddity though was how the guest was really noisy during the presentation portion, then many began going back and forth to the buffet during the presentation.

I was trying to stay focused but my American brain was tripping.
I'm thinking isn't there any protocol, and why aren't the caterer folks stopping these impatient guest and shouldn't the honoree's be served first??

Foreign country, different standard.

But I was really annoyed by this. Then once all was finished and the formal announcement came to indulge, the atmosphere took on a high keyed, frenetic, fight for food.

Koreans love to eat.

People were reaching and grabbing hand fulls of plates, plastic cutlery, yes there were forks and spoons, as well as chopsticks.

There was line cutting, and cross contaminating serving spoons, I was so surprised. I almost gave up my space in line to allow those surging behind me to jump ahead.

There was not a lot on the buffet for me as it were but I managed to get salad, rice and fresh and fried vege-spring rolls. It was okay.



As we were leaving we each received a parting gift. I experienced this once before when the church celebrated it's 1st year anniversary which I thought was a nice touch. Except when I opened the gift, to my surprise, it was a towel.

A bit perplexed, I'm thinking. so what's with the hand towel. It's, basic white, embroidered in blue, and dated so of course commemorative, but a towel.

So as I'm being handed the parting gift this evening, my brain reflected back and as I handled the box I think... towel. This one is also commemorative but it's turquoise with a purple design.

Foreign country a different standard.

I'll see how many I collect during my stay.

OPERATOR ERROR

So my movie was saved all along. I found it while frantically searching. Now I'm troubleshooting errors to get it uploaded.

In the meantime I've sense returned to the mountain several times and the landscape has changed, so much so that I didn't readily recognize the path. The leaves have fallen and turned to brown and the paths are all covered over.

Today as I walked I began to notice the ones that were smashed and crunched, revealing the trail. I really needed it too because I veered off in the wrong direction a few times.

As I continued up I realized how familiar I've become with the surroundings and that adventurous spirit in me wanted to purposely wander off, So I did.





I struck off on an eastward path to see where it would take me. There were a lot more tombs on this side. It made me imagine the scene of loved ones carrying a relative to a final resting place on the mountain side and what the processional must be like.

I also discovered a few tomb markers with crosses on them which erased my thought that only Buddhist were buried up there.

The deal is because South Korea is a Peninsula,and it is surrounded by mountains, there is only so much flat land so they use the mountain land as burial grounds. Cremation is also popular here due to the lack of land.

So as I continued to explore this new path, not knowing where I'd end up, I came across a clearing with a beautiful view of "my mountain". Seeing this mountain gave a good perspective on where I was.

From my balcony window I can see this mountain, (photo above) that I call my mountain, but this vantage point gave me a better view. It has a name but I dare not try to spell it. It sounds like "gay young" I did not take a photograph today as the sky was rather overcast and the mountain was in the shadows. I plan to go on a clear day and get a shot so watch out for it.

As I continued there was nothing particularly unusual. Then I heard a child's voice. Looking up I saw that I was heading down and there was another path across the road. So down I went and back up again. Much of the same. burial grounds and fallen leaves and trees so I turned back.

I was hot and tired but I made my way back to where I turned off. From there I continued my climb. I encountered many people along the way, including the mom of one of my students. I always find it fascinating that I can literally be in the middle of nowhere, and still manage to run into someone that I know. And it also never fails that someone will insist on trying to communicate with me even though neither of us speaks the others language. But somehow we manage, then the silence returns.

At the top there were several people enjoying the local fare that's offered by the ambitious businessman who is there to meet the needs of the weary hiker.

So as I made my way onto the rest stop at the top, an elder hiker comes up the stairs. He began to speak to me in Hangul (Korean) and I smiled. Then he asked in a broken English way, what was my country. I happened to have on a hoodie with the flag on it so I pointed to the flag and then said U.S. He acknowledged and then wanted to know how long I've been in Korea. He offered me a Halls which I gladly took, since I was thirsty and didn't bring water.

I cooled off and began to leave. This elder,now sitting with the others in the eating area, began to speak to me again. Not completely understanding, it seems he wanted to know if I'd tried something that I've seen served there every time I've trekked to the top. Thinking it was soup I asked what it was made of.

He said it was not soup but could not, in English say what it was, so he spoke in Korean to the others but still insisting that I stay. Then one guy said that it was whiskey or Korean liquor and I'm now observing the businessman hand him three containers, one that had anchovies in it. (They eat those like candy)He also handed over two cups of this liquid that looked like milk.

I am graciously saying no and moving away but he is handing me this cup. So I take it to smell, spilling some on my jacket as I detected a scent of something fermented.

I'm done! I said OMG. One guy who was doing sit ups got a good laugh from it all, I said, "give it to that guy" and off I went back down the mountain.

Now I'm walking away smelling this fermented spill and looking at this wet spot on my jacket turn an ashen white as if some baby threw up on me. Disgusting! But innocent I suppose. He just wanted to make my stay interesting I guess.

But I can't imagine those who are drinking and navigating this mountain path. I even saw some people that I'd passed, heading back up again. What is that, exercise??? I suppose, but that mountain is no joke. But I forgot these folks live here and probably walk this thing everyday. The mother and child that I saw on the other side were probably taking a short cut.