As most of you know, Cohen was here from December 14 to January 4, and what a time we had! Naturally, it was fantastic just to see him and spend time with him again for the first time since I came to Korea in April. But add to that Korean Basketball League games; a Korean pop concert by the country's reigning pop icon and my cultural icon hearthrob, Lee Hyori ("Perry teacher! You love Hyori? You marry her?" my fifth and sixth grade girl students ask me quite often) ; lots of culinary delights such as military stew, king mandu (giant dumplings), and dessert pancakes stuffed with honey and nuts; video game arcades with NBA games featuring a Blazers starting line-up of Briant Grant, Arvydas Sabonis, and Scottie Pippen, along with Asian awesomeness such as a taiko drum equivalent of "Guitar Hero"; the amazing little jazz club La Cle; and lots of other sightseeing and everyday fun, and you can see that we had a blast. Of course, I am most happy that he could meet almost all of my wonderful friends here!
Christmas is much different here than what we Americans are used to. Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and Lunar New Year are the two huge family holidays, and Christmas is one of the many "couples holidays" in Korea. They have the world's cutest ice cream cakes, dating opportunities galore, and kitschy stuff like fuzzy combination headphones and ear muffs that come with a n MP3 player filled with Christmas songs --- and this device was sold at, of all places, Dunkin' Donuts. In one of the photos, you will see Cohen sporting a white Christmas hat sold out at Paris Baguette. You should have seen the winter hats sold at BaskinRobbins --- a plush snowman eating an ice cream cone! At midnight when the 24th becomes the 25th, hundreds of couples gather at Myeongdong, a posh shopping district, to observe "kiss time" --- the lights in the businesses and on the streets are all turned of so that couples can kiss to celelbrate Christmas. This phenomenon occurs for only about 15 seconds or so, I am told, because, after all, this is conservative Korea, and usually kissing for 15 seconds in public would get a girl grounded for quite a spell. By "girl," I mean any female of any age still living at home with her parents, which most Koreans of both sexes do until they get married. See? I told you it was conservative here!
This Monday, January 26, is my birthday, and it is also Lunar New Year's Day. A few Korean folks have told me that this means very good fortune for the new year. I know some of my friends had a bit of a rough 2008, but for other friends, opportunity knocked, and they answered. It was an amazing year for me, and I feel strongly that 2009 will continue that trend. Happy Lunar New Year to all of my friends, family, and loved ones, near and far --- may 2009 be the best year ever for all of you!
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