Christmas and New Year over here ...

So I wasn't sure how Christmas ad New year would go over here and even though I was aware that it wasn't much of a big deal it was still really different from what I expected.
South Korea was traditionally a Buddhist country but over the centuries the Christian and Catholic communities have grown immensity, especially during the 1970's and 80's and now surpass Buddhism as the countries main religions.
Anyway obviously people take their religious events and put their own spin on it.
In the U.K. Christmas is a mix of the religious element and a lot about family, celebrations, decorations and gifts. It's generally a time when people are supposed to be super happy and I must admit I usually am!
I think my mum was really worried about me being away from home for the first time at Christmas and made a great effort to send me over nice wrapped gifts and Skype on Christmas Day. Also one of my friends from Scotland sent me some lovely gifts too.
Other than this tho, Christmas could not have been more different...

Some of my xmas pressies that were sent over from Scotland! 

My mum sent me a kindle. I didn't have one in the U.K. because I love real books, I'm not one for technology at all so I asked for the simplest model. There is no point in buying lots of books over here that can't take home so it makes reading new books very convenient. It's still not the same as the real deal though. #bookwormforlife

I was actually moaning so much to my friends about my hands being cold because I had to take my gloves off to touch my phone constantly. Then my my mum sent me these wee belters, no cold hands for me anymore. Must be fate.

This absolutely gorgeous little bag was sent to me by my soul sister from Scotland. She knows me so well!! I love leopard print and leather, together this is defo a winner!

And my 'hideous' cat bag that I bought myself at Dongdaemun night market. The fact that everyone else thought it was horrible made me love it even more....

In Korea they have a holiday very early on in Autumn called Chuseok which is pretty much their Christmas. It is a massive occasion where everything is shut down, people visit family and make massive traditional meals and give some form of gifts.
However December the 25th  is considered a 'couples' holiday with everyone going about holding hands looking lovingly into their partners eyes. Shops and restaurants are open to browse or eat or anything you fancy. It really is just a day like any other with the exception of most of the people walking about in twosomes.

This year I finished work at half ten on Christmas eve and only had one day off so I decided to do nothing that night, Then on Christmas Day I made an alternative holiday dinner as naebody I know has an oven and you can't just nip to Asda for a cooked chicken! SO I made some extremely festive pasta and garlic bread for myself and Harmeet the other female foreign teacher at my school. It was the best meal I've made here so far but was a far cry from the mouth watering feasts of a traditional British Christmas dinner. Harmeet however did bring a bottle of Strawberry wine which was definitely the highlight.

Not very traditional but it was nice and I learned not to let Harmeet take photos for me, ㅋㅋㅋ

It didn't help that my pals from home were putting up cracking Xmas party pics left right and centre. As with everything over here it is what you make it and I must admit I didn't make one bit of effort if I'm honest. I know people over here that had a great time but hey ho, there's always next year eh, although I think next year I might consider flying home for good old Jesus's birthday.

The fact that New Year was during the week it made it quite hard to do anything decent as I live quite a bit out from Seoul and not near any other biggish town.So I just went to the local bar with my fellow English teachers and a couple of my Korean friends. It was a good night, we stayed out till about 5am with my best friend over here chatting about everything. She is Korean and married with two children so we have pretty different lives but we have lots in common at the same time. She really is my rock and I feel lucky to be going into 2014 with such a wonderful friend.

Justine brought her tiny little poodle to the bar to say hi! He is 5 years old!!

My Chingus (friends)

Lemon SOJU!!!!!

My best!!!!!! <3

But enough moaning from me, I did enough partying the weekend in between these to make up for both Christmas and New year but that will have to be another post.

Hope you are having a great 2014 so far! Xx