a tiny glimpse...

so... obviously last week was the week before Christmas. sadly, as i've said before, korea does not know how to do Christmas, which meant that i worked all the way up through Christmas Eve. luckily it was an easy day at the middle school, and i just showed movies to the few classes i had. it was also my last day with my third graders (sad), and i got to hang out with them while they learned how to make different kinds of food. *the third graders finished their finals the week before, so i'm pretty sure they didn't have any real class for the last week and a half of the year.* anyway... i happened to have my camera that day, so i got to take pictures!

this was my favorite group to watch, because they made the most difficult food. also the kid on the left is my favorite middle school boy. i'm sad he's leaving... also that i don't know his name (i'm a terrible teacher!)

ignore the fact that i look like a sick bum in this picture... but this is so i (so ee), the most precious 3rd grade girl. she's the one who would hang out with me during every break and gave me a huge list of music to download. i'll miss her...

i took a lot more pictures, which i'll put on facebook because it takes a long time to upload them on here... but these are my 2 favorite 3rd grade students, so i figured they should get a place on the blog :)

so on Christmas Eve i called home and got to talk to my mom while i opened my presents. it was wonderful! this is an attempt to get a picture of us together haha. notice the presents under the tree...

madeline was fascinated by the candle

on Christmas morning i woke up to snow for a white Christmas! that hasn't happened on jeju in over 30 years!

madeline loved the snow.

so... i accidentally invited one of my students to come over on Christmas morning. she tapped me on the shoulder on the bus monday afternoon and talked to me, which shocked me because she never talks in class. here's how part of the conversation went:

so yeon: what will you do for Christmas?

me: i'm just having some friends over at my apartment.

so yeon: oh! i wish i could go!

me: haha oh ok...

so yeon: really??

me: what?

so yeon: oh thank you!

me: um...

then the next day she gave me a card that said how excited she was, so i really couldn't say no. she ended up bringing a friend, un he, who i already loved.

so yeon (right) and un he at their first "real" Christmas morning celebration

they randomly left in the middle of the morning saying they wanted to get a cake... this was the cake they brought back. all the cakes here are stinkin adorable... and it was funny because they gave candles with it. it was also a delicious cheesecake.

me with the girls...

all day people were coming in and out and it was really chill... then the puzzle came out and it was amazing. we got a good chunk of it done... now it's just sitting on my floor waiting to be finished!

i kinda failed at taking a lot of pictures on Christmas, but it was a really good day. i missed being home and with family, but i felt blessed beyond words with how Christmas (and the days surrounding it) ended up.

praise God for friends and family, new and old :)