X-mas in Korea

Hey everyone! Last week was officially my 10th month in South Korea! The months and seasons have gone by in a blur and it's the final push to the end of my contract. I'm getting very excited to come home. It's crazy to think that in two months I'll be done at my school, moved out of my little apartment, and saying my goodbyes to Korea.

However, I'm still here for a while, so I should tell you about December in Daegu instead of day dreaming about the future :) It's Christmas time, even in Korea. I've been told that during previous years Christmas has not been a big deal for Koreans and there were very few public decorations. Christmas was more of a date night for young couples rather than a family holiday. Each year it seems to be getting more and more popular, particularly among the shops and department stores. The coffee shops around town are especially festive. Koreans seem to love their commercialization of foreign holidays just as much as Americans, so there are a plethora of ugly holiday sweaters for sale and bizarre shop displays.

Please note the sweater the Korean passer by is wearing.

Still less creepy than many other mannequins around town.

I've always been a sucker for pretty Christmas lights, so I quite enjoy all the blinking decorations and fake Christmas trees around downtown. Even the city trees are getting all glitzy for the season. 

Oooooh, shiny!

This will be my first Christmas away from home. I almost missed one a couple years back, but thanks to the persistence of +Connie  I was able to arrive home in time for Christmas dinner. It's a little sad that I won't be spending the holiday with loved ones, but I know I'll soon be home to see everyone. Instead  I'll be spending my Christmas day with my adopted expat family, so it shouldn't be too lonely.

Festive Fall Flora and Fauna

Alright, this post leans heavily on the flora mentioned in the title, but if you look carefully you may be able to spot some bipedal apes here and there. It was undeniably autumn when I started this post, but I fell behind on blogging just as leaves fall from their branches. In a whirlwind of leaves, family visits, a couple of Thanksgivings and just a dash of snow, winter is here. The temperature this week hasn't been too bad but I know it can't last. Fall is gone, but it is not forgotten. Lets take a few moments to remember the good times before we venture further into the cold...

The Daegu arboretum featured a chrysanthemum festival that I went to twice! I went with some friends on a Sunday, and the following Wednesday my school took a teacher's outing there. I won't complain about two trips in one week. It's nice to experience the fresh air and atmosphere of the festival. During the festival they have large living flower sculptures of animals, buildings, and even a dragon. The pathway is lined with potted plants and walls of flower buds. The normally quiet arboretum is crowded with people viewing the flowers and fall foliage. I went at the beginning of the festival, so most of the flower sculptures were packed with buds only just starting to bloom. Later on I'm sure they were bursting with flowers...

My fellow 6th grade teachers strutting through the park.

These were taken more recently downtown when +Connie  and M came for a visit.

I'm in love with the variety of shapes and sizes Chrysanthemums come in.