Christmas time is here. it comes in korea, too...surprise surprise. but Christmas isn't shown physically in the same ways here. while the malls are decorated with the traditional trees and lights, the rest of the city hasn't changed much. strings of red, green, and yellow lights don't outline every house and wreaths don't grace the doors i walk by on my way to school. i haven't seen nativity scenes out in front of churches -in fact i haven't seen a single mary, joseph or baby Jesus anywhere. of course the decorations aren't what Christmas is about -but they do help to bring about a certain feeling of "cheer and goodwill." it's a little weird for commercial areas to be the only places that feel like "Christmas."

but i no longer have to go to the mall to feel the Christmas spirit! i just spent the last couple of hours listening to Christmas songs and decorating my house with anything and everything "Christmasy" i could find. i even made a nativity scene with a few toilet paper rolls and some teabags and ribbon (i can't claim the idea since it came from a product of my dad's early years -but he didn't use tea bags!). it feels just about right. now i just need company to fill every crack and crevice with warmth and laughter. so feel free to stop by sometime this Christmas season (or any time of the year). the Christmas music will be playing and i'll have egg nog and peanut butter balls waiting.




peace and joy to you.