We send Christmas greetings to all of you. We will be in Korea over the holidays and look forward to what adventures await us as we celebrate the birth of our Lord in a different culture. The differences in our two cultures is already apparent; few decorations, no party or shopping spree atmosphere here. So far, December is passing like any other month. There are a few radio stations we get that play some English songs and they do a few Christmas songs now and then. At church today there was no mention of Christmas yet in song or sermon. There is a small Christmas tree on the platform now, just put up this week. The international office here is trying to plan a Christmas party for the English teachers this week. We hear talk of dinner, and some Christmas songs being sung. Koreans go out of their way to make us Westerners feel at home during the holidays. We appreciate their effort. What is interesting is they do much of this for us. In their own culture Christmas is a 2-day event, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I tell my students about how December is one long Christmas party and shopping spree in America and they react in disbelief. I have spoken to my students and they tell me that here no one over 11 or 12 years old gets a gift. They do not share gifts with parents like we do. They are shocked when I tell them I still get a gift from my mother, and I still give her one! They do more family gift sharing here on New Year's Day than on Christmas. Money is the traditional gift. One student got equilivent to $300.00 last year, but he gave half of that away to younger siblings and cousins! Tradition!
If Koreans are not Christians, Christmas Day is really just another day on the calender, except some do get the day off to drink and have dinner at home or in restaurants. Some of my students want to work in restaurants on Christmas Day because they get paid more for that day. If they are Christians they go to church Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for a service. Then, it is over. When I told my students some of the gifts we give and get, they again had disbelief. They could not believe parents would buy their teenager an ipod, or laptop, and such for Christmas! Nor could they believe we have a Santa in nearly every large store! At the Lotte Mart store where we shop (like Wal-Mart) there is a display of Christmas decorations and cards about 12 feet by 12 feet; and that's it!
Since I like novelty more than Bonnie I don't miss the Christmas Season yet. I think Bonnie misses the music and decorations in the stores. I know I don't miss all the parties and dinners!
We are at the end of the semester now. This week is finals week. Time flies here! We will have about 2 weeks off and then we teach an English camp here on campus. This is a 2-week camp that children (grades 3-8) attend to learn English. They stay in the dorm during the week.
After the camp is over in mid-January we head home on Inauguration Day. Right now we are in serious conversation with a travel agent about a trip to Vietnam in mid-February to meet Phuong's family and attend her sister's wedding. This trip is only in the planning stages right now. It may or may not happen. There are many complexities about this trip.
Reflections: the semester has been good. I think we were both more relaxed this time. I did not experience the acute fatigue I did the first semester. We both feel good. We continue to meet new people and build relationships. I believe we are in God's will here. How long will we stay? I have no clue. We are open to whatever God has in mind. We have been invited to Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines. If we go to these places I want to go not as a tourist only, but to engage myself in some kind of ministry. My eyes have seen the church and the world in a new way here. God is doing some awesome things in it regardless of the negative press we hear all the time. God is on the throne and His gift to me here has been to show me in some small way what He is up to these days, and it is great! I see Him in every student, and in every opportunity. I am glad I have lived long enough to experience these things. Merry Christmas to all!
I have read and approve this message -- Bonnie.
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