After the speech, I went back to the dorm and treated myself to a coffee from Caribou Coffee for being a good speech goer and because if is getting really cold here in Seoul. So when I got into the lobby of my dorm there was a gigantic tree in the middle of the floor. I also got two packages from home and a letter from my grandfather.
When I went up stairs to get my laptop and books to move into the study lounge to work on homework and final group projects, I brought the packages and letter with me. Inside there was candy, treats for my finals, some magazines (Seventeen and my sorority's mag the Angelos), as well as a few wrapped presents for Christmas ( and yes they are still wrapped and now put away with the package of Christmas presents sent by my grandmother a few weeks ago). But my favorite things had to be my grandfather's letter and the letter that my younger sister wrote me. There was no grad expression of love and no come back we miss yous, but they still brought tears to my eyes.
My sister had drawn some pictures for me and talked about how things were going back at home and that she and the family wished me a fun rest of the year and to enjoy Korea. My grandfather was just telling me about daily life at the family farm and what was gong on in hie life, and like normal wanted me to think about renewing my interest in joining the armed forces. Normal things, but I still teared up. I have missed my family since I passed through security at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was back in August, but this is the first time that I had started tearing up when I had gotten something from them (even now I am getting choked up) or talked to them via Skype.
Family is a really important thing for me, especially around the holiday season starting at Thanksgiving and going all the way into the New Year; mot just my immediate family, but also my extended family, all the way to second and third cousins. To be here in Korea is a life changing experience and I am loving being here, but it is hard at times being removed from my family.My program had a Thanksgiving dinner and I had another one with one of my close friends that I have made over here, but it was just not the same as being surrounded by my crazy family at one of the multiple AFGs that happened.
And looking to the future, I am going to be in Hong Kong with a friend form middle/high school for Christmas and back here in Seoul for New Years. Both new experiences for me, as they will be the first times that I have spent away form my family. It is weird, because with out my family being here, I have lost the anticipation form waiting for the dates. It is like the sparkle and shine from the holidays is gone, they are just days now.
But that is what they are here in Korea anyway (in Asia actually), from what I have heard about from my friends here in Korea. Christmas and New Years are more holidays targeted toward couples and you really only have major family time if you are really young and or do not have a significant other. Sure there are some families who celebrate like back in the States, but for the most part is just a couple holiday.
But I am not going to let that get me down. I am going to have a great time in Hong Kong and then seeing how Korea celebrates the New Year with the CIEE members who are staying over the break like me. And it is not like I am not going to see any family members over the two month break. In January I am going to visit my cousin who lives in Japan and am going to see *coughstealcough* her 5 month old daughter for the first time. Which is really cool, because I will be the first person on my side of the family to see her in person. Plus I will be able to cook and see Japan with a really close cousin of mine!
So the holidays here in Korea have been a little emotional, or lack there of in some cases. Here is hoping that everyone is enjoying being with their families for the holidays!!
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