Wow, this will be a long one!

Last weekend I headed up to Seoul for the first time, to properly see it, not just go to to go somewhere else. SOO much fun, I felt like I was back in New York, everyone spoke English, lots of shops I recognised, the subway was so easy, as it was in English.

I did a lot of shopping as found clothes and shoes to fit me, went to see Handel's Messiah and went out for some drinks. It felt like I was on holiday being away from the Goon!

This week the 'Christmas Parties' set in.

On Wednesday I went out for dinner with my adult class. I love my adult class, they are a bunch of housewives in their late 30's early 40's. They were very excited to be out without their husbands or children!

Some of the teachers were out in Bar street, so after I headed over to see them. This descended into random balloon animals, shots and a fire show.

I didn't end up getting home until 3am and on a school night!

Christmas Eve, again headed out to Bar Street and met up with some friends and also didn't get in until 3am!

Christmas day, I invited Jo, Elizabeth and Jimmy over and extended it to any of the other expats in the Goon. This descended into party of 15 people in my tiny studio!

We had our Christmas dinner -

Did some push ups -
Some arm wrestling, Brittany Spears games and dancing!

Then we headed to Bar street - again.

This was definitely the strangest and most nontraditional Christmas I have ever had but a good time was had by all!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas....

I got home the other day to find 1 HUUUUUUGE parcel, 2 smaller parcels and a Christmas card.

The huge parcel was off a friend who had to leave South Korea suddenly for me and Victoria who had sorted out her apartment after she left.

Victoria came round last night to open it and for our usual veggie British dinner.

Let me set the scene.....

It had started to snow in The Goon and we had the Christmas tree lights on and some Christmassy music on.

It didn't take us long to rip through the massive parcel that held Christmas crackers and lots of individual presents, containing much needed and missed items in South Korea.

Such as falafel, English Chocolate, nutroast, tampons and Irish socks. Things that South Korea either does not do or does not do well!

The gift we were most excited about though was ......

Our onesie pajamas!!!!!

We sat down to veggie toad-in-the whole and Earl Grey tea listening to 'White Christmas' feeling like Christmas had finally arrived in The Goon! The only thing that was missing was Eastenders on the TV for us to fall asleep afterwards too!

This weekend Jo and I went to Boryeong for the Cheonbuk Oyster Festival. We got there at the end but still enjoyed a MASSIVE bucket of oysters.

It was huge. We had our own grill to grill them on and then kept popping and spitting water. It was a pretty fun experience. And surprisingly we managed to eat our way through them all!

After we went for a coffee at Gunsan Migratory Bird Observation. They have a rotating restaurant on the 10th floor, which gives you pretty good views of Gunsan.It was at this point that I realised how small Gunsan is, how often I eat out or how famous I am!! The waiter was talking to Jo in Korean and kept looking at me.Turns out he was a waiter at Green Sky (the restaurant in the same building as my gym, that I always go to and the chef always gives me freebies.) and recognised me!

6 Months!!!

Well, this week marks my 6 months in Korea!! SIX MONTHS! I am half way through my contract!!

This time 2 years ago I was in Guatemala, this time last year, I was in Spain and about to go to Ghana! I wonder where I will be this time next year!

I never would have guessed that I would end up in South Korea, NEVER in a million years did I think I would live in Asia for a year. I have never had an interest in Asia and I now I live here!

Not much been happening this week, I broke my chair at work - extremely embarrassing but never mind.... been stalked by KM. Turns out she now goes to restaurants near my apartment and asks if I have been in!!!

Also booked tickets to Thailand for February!!!!! I am meeting a friend I met on my Guatemala program with Cross-Cultural Solutions. Really excited about seeing her again and also travelling with someone, as opposed to by myself like for the past 5 years!! It has been 5 years since I took an actual holiday with someone, instead of going to visit family or volunteer!

So considering I'm not interested in Asia, I doing pretty well at getting around it!

Football in Jeonju

I went to my first ever professional football today! It was Jeonbuk (the province I live in) against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, a province up near Seoul.

It was pretty fun and at only £3 for a ticket a bargain! We won 3-1!

I also attempted to make my apartment a bit Christmasy and with the help of Jo and Selda decorated a tree for my apartment!

China Video!