Celebrating a new year, in a new country.

Happy New Year!!!! I want to thank you all for your thoughts, words, and gifts this Christmas. You have no idea how happy I was to receive all of them. I even got a Christmas card from my friend in California. So although it didn’t feel like Christmas here, the spirit was in me, thanks to you. I spent Christmas Day evening and night at 2 of my friends’ place. They’re married so they have the most “homey” feeling flat out of everyone. They were nice enough to open their home to us for the day. It was basically a potluck, and there were about 20 of us there. The food was endless, but delicious, and it was a great time. And then the next day was nearly 60 degrees. I thought that was the strangest thing ever. I just never know what to expect here. It’s good to be surprised everyday I walk out the door. Last night, it started snowing for the first time this winter. You have no idea (and I have no idea WHY) how excited I was. My friend Leah grabbed my arm and ran outside and started dancing in it. She appreciates snow because she’s from Canada, and I guess that means I should appreciate snow being that I’m from MinneSNOWta. Yes, it was great. But now it’s been snowing ever since and everything is wet. It’s not amounting to anything, just wetness.
Last night was a really fun celebration of the New Year. Once again, I got together with all of my friends and we went to a club. There’s only one club in Mokpo and we all rented a room there. Karaoke is a really big deal here and also to the rest of Asia, and so that’s what we did. The Korean word for it is ‘norae-bang’, and they are everywhere. I sang my heart out, hahaha. It was a good time. The dance floor at this club has a stage and a long cat-walk (it has lights built in the floor too) and it rises up and people can dance on it. There are also people performing songs and dance routines on the stage. It’s like being at a concert, and everything is way over-the-top glamorous and sparkly. There were also flames and fireworks on the stage when the clock struck 12. AND, at some points they opened the roof (I have no idea how?) and it was snowing inside. It was a really crazy experience and loads of fun.
My vacation officially started on Friday, and most of you probably know that I leave soon for my trip to Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. Actually, I leave in about 4 hours. My friend Leah, her boyfriend Jamie, our friend Judy and I are taking the 2:30 a.m. bus directly to the airport in Seoul. Our flight leaves at about 10 tomorrow morning. I really can’t wait for this trip. We are all so excited. Our first 11 days will be spent in Vietnam, traveling around the southern part of the country. Then, we will be in Thailand for 13 days seeing as many of the islands as possible in our short time. We only have 4 days to spend in Cambodia, which is kind of a bummer. The huge religious temple there, called Angkor Wat, is one of the world’s largest. It takes more than a day to see all of it. So that’s basically what we’ll be doing there. I probably won’t be having a lot of internet time when I’m gone, so I will make sure to report back with all of the highlights. I know there are many more things I want to share with you right now, but I must wrap this up. Take care everyone, and thanks again for your thoughtfulness at Christmas.
I'll leave you with the words from Martha's Christmas card. I thought they were really powerful.

Love is listening with your heart. Love is remembering. Love is being there. Love is believing in the good, the true, and the beautiful. Love is the light of the world. Love is taking the time, even when you don’t have the time. Love is giving what you’d like to receive. Love is God shining through you.

Ciao for now.