I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas this year! Mine was simple and lovely. One of my friends from church opened her home to me and the sister missionaries. So after making myself some biscuits and gravy for breakfast and opening my presents from home, I headed to her apartment for a delicious homemade lunch. When I got home that evening, I indulged in my Christmas spoils.
Biscuits and gravy for breakfast--a Fuller family tradition!
Opening my Christmas presents from home. Thank you mom, dad, and Oliver for the thoughtful gifts!
I completed the puzzle shortly after talking to my family on Skype around 2:00am
See my previous post for a few more pictures from Christmas day.
I have a lot of exciting plans coming up so look forward to more blog posts and pictures soon!
Merry Christmas, everyone! Here is my gift to you: a new video where I answer questions about my Korea experience. This weekend, I will make another post to clarify and further explain my answers but right now I'm busy Christmas-ing. Christmas day video to come soon as well!
In the meantime, here are some other fun things to check out!
My YSA friends at church made this cute video for our Christmas party. I'm in 3 spots, I think.
Christmas spoils!
Christmas spoils! (Now at a slightly different angle)
My sad attempt at the Fuller family traditional Christmas day breakfast, biscuits and gravy
Lunch was a lot better because it was made by a Korean and was absolutely divine
My mom sent me a Jamberry nail wrap kit
More Christmas spoils, courtesy of a sister missionary's generous family
Enjoy your Christmas day! I'm off to put together my new Colorado Rockies puzzle I got for Christmas and watch A Christmas Story!
This morning, I was chatting with my parents on Skype when my mom asked if I had yet received the Christmas package they sent me. I had not, and my mom's carefully calculated estimated delivery date was the day after Christmas. Of course having presents to open Christmas morning is not the most important thing about the holiday, but my little tree has been looking a little sad without presents underneath it! But today, something wonderful happened. My package arrived well before Christmas day! Now I have my presents from home, and my family has my presents from me. Whew. I had confirmed with my mom that the gifts inside my box were wrapped so I opened that sucker right up when I got home and placed the lovingly wrapped gifts under my bright little Christmas tree.
I also received a Christmas card from my dad last week, but I forgot to take a picture and it is on my desk at work (my students like to look at the cards I get from home). It has a beautiful picture of the Savior on it and a sweet note inside to remind me of Christ's sacrifice for me. Thank you, dad :).
Thank you so, so much, dear family <3!
Music I listened to while writing this post: Julia Nunes! I'm a long-time fan. Her voice is so rich and beautiful and I love this rendition of I'll Be Home for Christmas.
Last week, I had a lot of happenings to share on my blog. Well, this week it's kind of the opposite. This is a vlog I did for my friend, Carol. I mention some things that happened this week, although none are particularly thrilling, to be honest. I also discover a new use for my chopsticks!
Here, have some pictures!
I discover a new use for my chopsticks
OLD PHOTO! I can't remember if I posted this but it's from a dinner I went to a couple months ago with a group of foreigners
We had shabu shabu, which was fabulous
Remember my blog post from a while ago about the movie flyers? Well, I sent some home and my dad put them in a poster frame. Awesome!
Artbox is a chain stationary stores in Korea. And when I say "stationary" I really mean it has just about everything. Think of stores like JoAnne's, Michael's, or Hobby Lobby except everything is cutesy. You can also buy some sporting goods, cleaning supplies, toiletries, clothes...like I said, everything! The one downtown was recently remodeled and went from a one story shop to a huge four level land of wonder and magic and perfection.
And that's it, I guess.
Merry Christmas, everyone. Remember that Winter Solstice has just passed, meaning we will have progressively more daylight each day now! Sunshine!!
I recently made the decision to update my blog at least once a week...aaaand then I go and miss last week. Oops. Consequently, I have a lot to talk about in this week's blog post!
First of all, I just want to mention that it has been one year since I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and I received my Interdisciplinary Studies with an Emphasis in Earth Science degree. Thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged me throughout my 4 1/2 years as a university student. Having the opportunity to attend a university and study things that are important to me has been such a great blessing.
Thanks to my degree, I am experiencing another incredible opportunity--teaching abroad. Here are some things that have happened over the past few weeks:
I got a haircut! I've never been nervous about haircuts before...until I moved to a foreign country where natives have hair that is quite different from mine. Luckily, there is a hair stylist in my city who cuts a lot of foreigner hair. I took this picture right after it was cut and it hasn't been styled this beautifully since then haha.
My lovely coworker and I went out to eat together a couple times, where she introduced me to more delicious Korean food.
쭈꾸미 (jjukkumi), small octopus
Close up!
The menu is handwritten on cardboard--which I thought was cool. Also, instructions for how to eat the 쭈꾸미 are underneath
Not my best picture... but this is how you eat it! You wrap it up in the sesame leaf and stuff your face!
볶음밥 (bokkumbap), fried rice
Looking for a place to keep your coat and bag? Just open the lid of your chair.
Boom.
We also had 해정국 (haejangguk), "hangover soup"
Of course I am not hungover haha. I loved this soup!
That's a chunk of a pig's back in there.
My students are often fairly camera-shy but my second graders let me take a video of them enjoying a math game. This math concept of this game is "less than" and "greater than." Listen closely, they use those two expressions many times in the video.
These two girls preferred a quieter version of the game
I found this "Colorado State" hoodie at a clothing shop but I didn't buy it.
The best state!
Christmas lights downtown!
Speaking of Christmas decorations, I set up my little tree back in November.
I sent a Christmas package home! Hopefully my family gets it before Christmas.
My third grade students write journal entries once a week and I correct them. This one, man. "HW" is a girl in this boy's class.
Apparently the writer is not wishing HW to "go to hell" but equating his pain with going to hell. I was confused at first haha
I made Christmas treats for friends! I'm so happy I bought a convection oven recently. I am putting it to good use.
Peppermint chocolate chip cookies!
I tried to make peanut brittle but totally failed...so instead I made these cute star-shaped peanut butter cookies!
Fudge!
Church is still awesome. I've made a lot of friends and everyone is so kind and welcoming.
Sanghyeok (Spencer), Elder Woods, Elder Ha, and I
Today we met together to teach each other English and Korean
I've been making progress with the Korean language! I've been attending a weekly class at the Gwangju International Center and studying with a new Korean friend.
At a cafe, getting ready to study Korean!
Mmm hot chocolate
I found these old pictures from a holiday in October (Hangul day, I think). We had a ward picnic. Ahh these picture make me miss warm weather!
My Frisbee got played with! Sadly, Koreans are not familiar with Ultimate Frisbee
Sister 이예지 (Yea Ji Lee)! She goes home tomorrow. I met her one of my first few weeks here in Korea. I'm sad to see her go!
Just me derping
Mushroom home!
On our way to the picnic! On the far right is 박유진 (Yu Jin Park). She recently left for a mission on Temple Square in Utah
No pictures to prove it, but I booked the tickets for my Thailand trip in February! I am absolutely ecstatic. I cannot wait!
Whew. Okay that's about it for today. Work is good, church is good, life overall is splendid. Christmas is such a special time of the year. I love, love summer but I also love, love Christmas. I can't help but feel happy when I think about Christmas--the meaning behind it as well as all the beloved traditions. Enjoy the holiday season, wherever you are!
Music I listened to while writing this post: the Pentatonix Christmas album. Click here to listen to the most powerful version of "Mary Did you Know" that I have ever heard.
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