I'm letting myself be homesick...

...for a few hours, and that's IT! As much as I'm enjoying Korea, it's hard not to get a little homesick when Christmas is a few days away, especially since it's my second one away from home (sorry family!). No Christmas lights, wreaths, trees, bells, cookies, etc. No neighbors with insanely tacky inflatable Santa displays. NO YULE LOG :(

But, on the bright side of things, I've made some awesome friends who I'll spend the holidays with and make the best of it. The kiddies at school are fun too as they all still believe in Santa and are learning Christmas carols and are very eager to sing them every chance they get. We do phone teaching once a week where we call the little ones and talk for 5 minutes. Last Thursday, when I called sweet little Jeungyeun, I asked what songs she learned in class and she proceeded to sing me an adorable, high-pitched, 5 year old version of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas"...the whole song. It was hilarious and adorable and I love her. I also got to bake some NUTELLA christmas cookies tonight with a friend who is fortunate enough to have an oven. I guess I shouldn't complain too much, but I do miss my family a TON right now. Especially when Mom sends me funny videos of her, Maggie, and Terry's faces in Elf costumes dancing or tells me stories about chasing Maggie when she steals cookies and then tripping and falling on the floor.

Tomorrow is my last day of work before my week-long vacation! It's sucky that I have to work until 7pm on Christmas Eve, but I get to spend my day with cuties like this...

Wonseuk, one of my favorites. Shh don't tell the others!

Selina insisted I wear her sheep hat. How could I say no?

Please excuse the bags under my eyes. I have been wickedly sick for a few days and by 5:30pm on Friday I was ready to crash. Which I did, but not until about 9:00pm. This weekend consisted of a lot of tea drinking, sleeping, a LITTLE exploring/shopping, and seeing The Hobbit for a friend's birthday. I'm feeling better, but having 8 days away from coughing, sneezing kiddos will do me some good.

Happy Holidays to everyone! Love & miss you all so much. Eat a ton of delicious food for me this week :) I'll be chowing down on kimchi, dumpling soup, kimchi, meat, white rice, more kimchi, AND the cookies I baked :)