Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Korea is definitely different, but we're making some great memories here.

Christmas Eve was spent with a pile of Meaghan and Kevin's friends in a large apartment overlooking the sea. We started the festivities early in the evening and had one giant sleepover. Some highlights included ridiculous dancing to Transiberian Orchestra "skid-licious" Christmas music, and singing to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You", R&B version. We ate chocolate, introduced Koreans to homeade egg nog, played games and wore Reindeer antlers and Santa hats. It was a beautiful night and Kevin and I went for a motorcycle ride. He let me drive it for a bit. It was my favorite part, especially running all the red lights.


The Esser family tradition dictates that puzzles must be done around Christmas time. Our wonderful mother sent a suitcase full of presents for us, and a quick shake of all of them indicated a puzzle. It was addressed to me and we opened this one only on Christmas Eve. I squealed with delight when I saw the handsome face of Jack Sparrow staring at me with that half crazed pirate look I love, ony because it's Johnny Depp giving it. There was a complimentary poster that came with, but being the wonderful sister I am, and noting the bare walls in Meaghan's apartment, I not only gave it to her, but taped it on the ceiling above her side of the bed. What a giving sister I am.

This morning we opened presents with our friends here, Kevin's making us all omelets, and after that my sisters and Kevin and I will go back to do our own Christmas. A nap will be in order and then we're going to an Indian restaurant for dinner. Who says you have to eat turkey on Christmas?

The past few days have been filled with excitement and activity. We went to a club and loved the attention as we were the only foreigners in the whole place, enjoyed free drinks and Korean food by crashing Meaghan's staff Christmas party, and have been very silly and giddy, as only sisters can be. We went to the fish market where I bought a live octopus to eat. Unfortunately the language barrier was too much, and they wouldn't cut it for me (the tentacles still move when you cut it). By the time we tried to communicate with the 3rd Korea to explain that yes, this white girl wanted to eat it, the octopus was half dead and we had to throw it in the garbage. Lynae felt bad for the octopus. I still want to try to eat him.

Merry Christmas!