Merry Christmas

I'm sitting alone in my office trying to wrap my mind around the fact that it's Christmas Eve. The calendar says it's a fact, but my heart refuses to believe it. Sure there are lights around campus, but today seems just like any other day. Where is the Christmas tree and its scent? Where are the ornaments? Where is my family? Where are the Christmas cookies, fudge, and eggnog? Where is the fire in the stove and the faint smell of wood burning throughout the house? Where is the sound of cards shuffling as the epic bridge games begin? Where are the delicious aromas of Mom's roasts and pies wafting in from the kitchen? Where is the laughter as we poke fun at each other? Where are the footsteps and giggles from my niece? Where is the wreath on the front door? Where is the togetherness?

I miss all of this and much more. I don't think I've been homesick at all since I've come to Korea, but I think I'm there as Christmas arrives. Don't get me wrong, the foreign faculty are getting together tomorrow and it'll be a wonderful time with this loving community, but it won't be the same. My Christmas will be different this year.

But then I stop and remind myself that Christmas isn't about me. It's not even about my family or friends. Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth. The old saying is that "Jesus is the reason for the season." Sure, we say that, but how often do we get caught up in everything about our "version" or "picture" of what Christmas should be (perhaps, *shudder*, something like Thomas Kinkade might picture Christmas as?), that we really miss what we are supposed to be celebrating? We might even go to such elaborate lengths as going to church for the candlelight service (is that just another warm memory too?) and listening to a Christmas morning sermon. But is that really getting the message through? Or is it like we so often regulate church to on Sunday; an hour or two of a service so we can enjoy the rest of our day off? Now the point isn't that we go to church more or anything of that sort, as that would make it even more of a duty or obligation which would unfortunately take celebration out of Christmas. I'm not trying to be a Scrooge about Christmas traditions either. The point is that we really think about and remember God's gift to us. We should integrate this into our family traditions and celebrations. Often I think we do this already, but it's nice to be reminded of it. We should not only celebrate Jesus' "making himself nothing"(Philippians 2) for us around Christmas either, but every single day. We should not have to be reminded of this, but how easily we forget! We neglect God's love as if it was trivial, as if it didn't make a difference. Help us Father to not neglect or get distracted from what should be the real focus of this holiday. Let us truly know what we are celebrating on this day.

May you have a merry Christmas as you remember God's love to us.

Students

Three days into break and I'm missing seeing everyone around campus. I'd sure rather be teaching than logging in grades. So before I forget, here's pictures of my two conversation classes from the semester. A few students are missing from each picture. We saw each other four days every week, so we got to know one another fairly well.

Junior Conversation

Freshman Conversation (all the girls signed up for me and the guys signed up for Ashley's class). This was after our class party.

Final Exams

Final exams have started which means I have roughly 125 interviews with my students this week. I did a few on Friday and then today I started them in earnest. Many of them have small mistakes that are humorous, but these definitely stuck out so far today. I was laughing out loud for the first one, and barely containing myself when I heard the second one (I couldn't laugh because it wasn't an English major).

Q:"Do you like science fiction movies? Why or why not?"
A:"Oh yes! I love the special effects. Like Star Wars." *starts waving his hand like a x-wing or something* "and then there are lasers!" *holds his other hand underneath and starts shooting up towards the other hand* "phew phew phew! foosh!" (and other sound effects) "It is spectacular and fantastic!"

Q:"Is fruit good for you?"
A: "Yes. I like apples. They help with constipation. When I am constipated, I eat apples."

ADD-ONS (after all of the exams are finished):
"As you know, ALL males like martial arts."
I love the absoluteness of this statement and the fact that because I'm also male, I clearly would agree to it.

"I think you're getting handsome because of your beard."
While I appreciate the compliment on the beard, I have to wonder about my appearance pre-beard...

Q: Describe what a folktale is.
A: "A folktale is a story told mouth to mouth..."
This was a very common answer (or part of an answer). Lost in translation methinks.

I also learned this week that kimchi not only prevents the swine flu, but also cancer...sounds like old wives tales are strong here.

Christmas Tree Festival

The other night I attended the opening ceremony for Kosin's Christmas Tree Festival which should really be named Christmas Lights Festival. This tradition started a few years ago after the former president of the university decided to copy the lights he saw while studying at Dordt. So for the last few weeks the maintenance guys have been working on setting up displays, running lots of wire, and of course, hanging up lights. Apparently this is a hugely popular event and the place will be crawling with people close to Christmas. Even this week there's been a ton of people wandering around the campus once the lights turn on at night.

The staircase...aka "Steps of Heaven"


These are everywhere...Jesus is not to be found in this manger.

The sign says "Mount Zion". Anyone else confused as to why Santa is there?

A Kosin Thanksgiving

Yesterday was the first time in my life that I didn't have Thanksgiving off. But with all the American (and those appreciative of American holidays) faculty, we decided to have a dinner. There's quite the spread of age in our family which made our meal feel that much more reminiscent of the feasts we've all had in our past. While there were some families present, most of us came from different families, yet we share a common bond here and we celebrated part of that last night. It struck me as being similar to our fellowship at the Lord's table presently, and perhaps a small preview of what it will be like in eternity.

Some of my adopted family and the turkey.
More delightful people.
Starting on the sides.
My plate including homemade bread (with real butter!), mashed potatoes, and turkey. I swear I had some vegetables too.

Last year when I visited my sister and brother-in-law at Thanksgiving, my niece was fascinated by my beard. The same is true for the daughters of my colleague.
She realized everyone was taking pictures and got shy. I was still laughing.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Pie Making

Pie Making by Elijah
For starters, you need a strong desire for pie. Let this simmer for a few weeks, while resolving to make one even if you lack an oven, pie pans, or what most would consider typical baking implements. Ask around about where you can buy pie pans, and be pleasantly surprised when someone has some you can borrow. Get permission to use someone's oven. Track down the ingredients in whatever manner you can (read here: buy, beg and steal...ok, don't steal, just beg harder or fork over the cash). Also procure any baking implements such as measuring cups and mixing bowls by the aforementioned tactics. Once this has all been completed, come to the realization you don't really have any counter space on which to make the said pie. Improvise and use your table (which is a few feet from your bed). Mix your ingredients and cut in your shortening with the handles of forks since you don't own a spoon. Add in a little Iron & Wine, Colour Revolt, and Modest Mouse, a couple trips upstairs to use Andy's oven, and a few hours and hopefully you'll have two delicious apple pies.
Totally worth the effort.

Ramyon, Students, & Snow

Ramyon (not "ramen" as that's just a brand in the U.S.) is more popular (and more tasty) here in Korea than in America. Last night we (the foreign professors) put on a Ramyon Social for the English Department and the international students. We had a fair number of people come, although considering my personal experience with free food as a college student, you would've thought the attendance would've been higher.

Here's all the ramyon we bought.
MG quickly made friends with the Junior guys (Joshua, Colin, Kevin, and Paul).
French/Dordt, who had just won the English Department Presidency. He was at Dordt last year.
Two of my juniors, Brown and Joshua. Brown is hilarious.
Min and Tupenny debating the finer points of ramyon.
Some of my freshmen girls. Kelly, Evelyn, Dorothy, and Song.
Oh and it snowed this week. Not much more than a dusting, but I guess it's the first accumulation in at least 5 years. The Koreans were pretty excited as it was quite unexpected. Here's the official slogan of the college. "Coram Deo" means "before the face of God."
Footprints up to Shalom.
As you can see, the roads were pretty clear, and it all melted by the afternoon. Pretty much like what happens in Virginia.