A Korean Khristmas

This was my first Christmas without my family. Most foreigners I’ve spoken to here say that Christmas gets depressing for them, but I am lucky enough to have found some great friends that feel like family to me, so it was a very beautiful, relaxing, and fun Christmas.

Khristmas in the Aparte.

The girls and I decorated the aparte while listening to Christmas music and drinking wine.

I bought stocking and personalized them for Laura, Myles, and myself, and hung them with care...on the wall.

I spent Christmas with my 4 best friends, Mary, Ben, Sarah (+Jinu), and Myles, and Ben and Sarah's parents who came here from Canada for Jinu’s first birthday and Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent at Ben, Mary, and Sarah’s apartment. Mary made a delicious meal for us of fish, chicken, squash, sweet potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, and broccoli. We had Mary’s homemade apple crumble for dessert, accompanied by wine, makgeolli, and whiskey.

The gifts "under" the tree at Ben and Mary's aparte.

Khristmas Eve dinner Korean/Canadian style.

Christmas morning Myles and I opened our stocking at our apartment, and head over to Ben and Mary’s for brunch. Before making brunch we opened pressies and basked in the joy of giving gifts. Then we had our wonderful English brunch complete with bacon, egg, toast, and jam. It was truly a great start to Christmas Day. For the remainder of the day we laughed, chatted, and enjoyed each other’s company. At 9:30pm we had to catch a 3 hour train to Joon’s (Sarah’s husband) hometown where we planned to hike, celebrate Jinu’s first birthday Korean style, and hopefully fit in the Green Tea Fields, and Jirisan National Park.

*Heather, Brian (Ben and Sarah's parents), and Jinu looking at a gift from Sarah.

*Mary, Jinu, and Ben displaying some hand crafted gifts a la Sarah.

*Jinu trying to steal one of my pressies!

We arrived around 12:30am to a town in the South called 순천 Suncheon, known for its mountainous and sea side views, and also the birthplace of Jinu’s 아 빠 (father). Joon’s parents, who drove us to our Love Motel, met us at the train station.

After a semi-good night’s sleep, we woke up bright and early to go on a short hike on a mountain behind Joon’s family’s apartment. What a great way to start the day, the air was cool but refreshing, the hike was the perfect difficulty level for 8am, and both the mountain itself and the views it provided were perfect.

A view from the mountain behind Joon's family's aparte.

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At the top...we made it!

Brian, Ben, Mary, Joon, and Myles at the top.

When we were off the mountain we went to Joon’s parent’s apartment for breakfast, before going back to our motel to get showered and dressed for Jinu’s first birthday celebration. In the past, many children in Korea didn’t make it to their first birthday, which is why it is celebrated so exquisitely. The First Birthday in Korea is called a 톨 Tol, it typically is held at a banquet hall or restaurant, and includes the baby's parents greeting the many guests, lighting candles on a birthday cake, the 톨자비 Toljabee (which I’ll explain soon), sharing a meal and making a toast. The parents wear traditional Korean clothing, 한복 Hanbok, as well as the baby.

Joon, Jinu, and Sarah wearing Hanboks.

The Lee and Tucker family together for the first time.

*The Lee-Tucker family plus Myles and I.

Jinu wishing he were a big boy.

The Toljabee: where there are various items that are placed on a table. The baby (in this case Jinu) picks up an item that is intriguing to him, and that item is supposed to be telling of its future. Each item has a different meaning. The most traditional items are thread, a brush, a Korean calligraphy set, pencil, book, and money, but parents can also choose items they would like to have as options.

*Jinu choosing his future...

Jinu chose a gavel, a judges mallet, that suggests he will work in a law related profession.

*He chose the gavel!

After the birthday party, Sarah, Joon, and Jinu got changed and we went to 보성 Boseong to see the famed green tea plantations. There are thousands of tea trees lining the slopes of a small mountain, arranged in manicured rows following the organic curves of the slope. We climbed to the top of the mountain to gain a second perspective on the stunning fields, and caught a glimpse of the setting sun at the top. When we descended we had some 녹차 (green tea) ice cream, and a green tea latte. We finished our evening with drinks at Joon’s parents apartment, and off to bed we went.

Manicured rows of green tea.

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*Me, Mary, and Sarah.

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*The Lee and Tucker Family's plus Myles and I.

*Heather, Joon's mom, Me, Sarah, and Mary.

*Mary and I...too cute!

*Catching the sunset at the top of the green tea field.

*Dinner in Boseong after a looong day.

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Rising early again to make the most out of our last day in the South, we all climbed into the rented van and drove for about 2 hours until we reached 지리산 Jirisan National Park. It is the largest national park in Korea, not including the coastal national parks, and is the second highest mountain in South Korea, its highest peak reaching 1915m-high. It boasts views of mountain ridges that seem to go on forever, and closely resembled a sea of waves as the peaks were capped with snow. We hiked a trail leading to Nogodan, a 1507m-high peak in the west of the park. The mountain was covered with snow and ice making for an interesting and tricky climb at times, contributing to a stunning and unforgettable hike. The beauty of this mountain is without words, and the fun had is indescribable.

We stopped for lunch and this was our view.

Mary keeping Jinu warm.

*Getting Jinu ready to climb a mountain.

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The snow covered steps...very slippery!

One of the very incredible views from the top.

*Beautiful mommy and sweet baby

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*Sarah and I trying to help Joon carry Jinu up the mountain.

*The fam.

*Team Awe-ful...fighting!

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*Unbelievably, Joon’s dad carried Jinu up the whole way, apparently he is a tank.

*Another one for Team Awe-ful

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*Another mountain conquered

This Christmas proved to be full of love, life, and laughs. It surpassed my wildest imaginings of what my Korean Khristmas would hold. So thank you everyone for an unforgettable, miraculously delicious and exciting holiday season. I love you all with my whole heart.

And to everyone at home, I hope your Christmas’ were busting with love, laughter, and festivities. Sending much love from Korea.

매리 그리스마스

*All photos with an asterisk are taken by Mary, Myles, or Ben.

Farewell 2009, Welcome 2010

As with most things in my life, when something ends I like to acknowledge it by remembering, reminiscing, musing over it, finding lessons, and truths, and welcoming something new with open arms. Although they may be shaky and unsure, they’re open.

I am both saddened and excited by the end of 2009. Saddened because despite the challenges of 2009, I would venture to say that it was the best year of my life thus far. Excited because although I would so boldly state that is was the best year of my life thus far, it was also the most challenging, sad at times, and full of obstacles to overcome. Putting aside all of the negative reasons for being excited to see a new year, I am also pleased that 2010 has arrived as I am on a great path of discovery that is sure lead me to many amazing experiences and adventures. Having a fresh start, a new beginning, with a clearer, more positive, and inspired mind is an extremely warm and glorious feeling.


2009 started with uncertainty, doubt, anxiety, and questions. Those questions challenged me to create a new path for myself. I made the brave choice to quit my amazing and secure job, leave my supportive friends and family, pack up, and move to a country I had never even visited and didn’t speak the language to live and work for a year. This choice has proven to be the best choice I have ever made, and I am extremely proud of myself for it...and modest too!

Since coming to Korea I have had ups, and downs, thankfully mostly ups. I have gained and lost relationships, creativity has sparked and waned (and sparked again), interests have been lost and new ones developed, and opportunities have been both missed and grabbed onto with two hands.

I have been fortunate enough to meet amazing individuals whom have been sources of awe, admiration, change, and hilarity. These individuals have greatly contributed to my growth, and if I’m lucky enough, will continue to do so for years to come. I have seen, hiked, and climbed the most stunning mountain landscapes I have ever seen. I have swam beautiful oceans, and mountain waterfalls. I have ran my first half marathon on the coastline of a gorgeous Korean island. I had my life touched by the most adorable, sweet, and cuddly young minds in South Korea. I have re-discovered a love for reading, and writing, something that was lost somewhere between high school and university.

I have experienced some disappointment in 2009, most notably as of late, in the way of hopes dashed, desires squashed, and pleasures dispelled. But alas, due to my courage and strength I have gotten through it and come out the other side a more wise person, a stronger person, and very possibly a more humoured individual. When life slaps you in the face, return the slap with a laugh!

I have learned a tremendous amount about myself, both good and bad. I have grown and am still growing, I have found strength where I didn’t think I had it, and I have experienced both support and lack of support from people that I never imagined I would. All of these events have molded, motivated, and cultivated hopes and desires for myself that are both frightening and stimulating. I am constantly challenging my thoughts, and actions, searching for more strength, growth, and creativity.

Before entering a new year I will forgive myself for letting my guard down and falling for someone when I should have known better. Although it may have lead to hurt, I don’t regret it for the lessons learned, and experiences had. I will forgive myself for shedding tears for people, things, and situations that in hindsight were not important enough to deserve my tears. I will forgive myself for any time wasted, when it could have been used more productively. Lastly I will forgive myself for not being the very best daughter, sister, granddaughter, and friend that I can be. I am certainly a work in progress, and acknowledgment of things I wish to change is definitely a good step in the right direction.

People will continue to pass through my life for the entirety of my existence. Chapters will close and new ones will open. Mistakes will be made and lessons will be learned. Plans will be made and destroyed. Adventures will be had. Paths will alter. Happiness will ensue. If 2010 can promise anything it is a thrilling journey and further evolution, progression, and development of self, and for that I can’t wait!

So welcome 2010. Enjoy your stay.


"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." ~Anais Nin