Its been a fairly great week in Hwaseong. I have made good friends through the Thursday English class gathering and each class is a new story in its self. This past week, the sole male student, Brian, his English name, brought oyster fritters with ponzi sauce. They were soooo delicious! Lee, a female student who owns a chicken farm brought me a dozen freshly laid eggs. She runs a purely free range, organic chicken farm and is very proud of it. I have yet to visit but plan to before long. Lee presented the eggs explaining that that was all she could afford to give for Christmas. I think food is a perfect gift for every ocassion, particularly in these times. I was gratefuly to Lee and I plan to make Deviled Eggs for next weeks New Years Eve class with them.
We decided to have the last class this year as a New Years party and everyone will bring a food item. In addition to the Deviled Eggs, I will also take a bottle of pink, sparkling wine from California. I look forward to my students New Years Eve party.
This past week was my last Chinese painting class and I am sad about that. I loved going to that class every Monday night with my best Korean friend, Michelle (English name), who is also a student at my Thursday night class. Michelle is by far one of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Her English is limited but she is not afraid to speak English. She is about 5 foot tall and absolutely beautiful. I call her Jackie O. because she's just gorgeous and dresses so beautifully. She is also quite talented in Chinese painting and passionate about it. It was she who realized I had an interest in it also and helped me sign up for the class at Hongik University. Michelle also presented me with a Christmas present.
My only wrapped Christmas present was given to me by a Buddhist. A beautiful, Jackie O. Buddhist. On Friday, Michelle visited my classroom and brought me a bag filled with gifts and a huge, cylindrical sack as she wished me a Merry Christmas. I brought them home and put them under the tree. Today it is revealed that she bought me two new paint brushes, paint, a blanket to lay my pictures on while painting and a huge supply of special cotton paper. She told me she had visited Insadong the previous night which is where one must go for the proper Chinese painting supplies. She went for me and I am so touched. Michelle is the most wonderful person I've met here in Korea.
Yesterday, I had a facial in Apgujeong then shopped for food items at the Hyundai Department store. It is this store that I can find high quality fresh fish, and western provisions not found elsewhere in Korea. I bought a bottle of Kenwood Zinfandel, ricotta cheese, Italian bottled tomatoes and a tiramisu cake. My Christmas will be spent eating spaghetti bolognese with ricotta, drinking Zinfandel, listening to Christmas music and painting.
I have great plans for New Years Eve with a good friend. I'm sure it will be filled with good food, GREAT wine, and fabulous company. Life is good.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY SOLSTICE AND HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD! I HOPE 2012 IS BETTER THAN 2011.
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