[Part 3] 146. Christmas Day

While my mum got an iPhone 4 and my brother an iPod Touch and iPad for Christmas, I got the biggest and best present: 159 days in Korea, sponsored by my dad :) I told my parents in the Christmas card I sent back to Singapore that I don't need a Christmas present nor a birthday present anymore because everyday spent in Korea is a present. I treasure every day and I wouldn't ask for more. 2010 is the best year for me. Though the 1st half was wrought with difficulties and it was a miracle that my results weren't that badly scarred by them, how the 2nd half unfolded was beyond my expectations. Maybe all I really want for Christmas is to be forever 21 and to live in the year 2010. Because I don't want 2010 to end.

This is my 2nd time spending Christmas abroad and in Korea :) I spent the first one with my brother 5 years ago while on a WTS tour package. Just the 2 of us! Never did I expect that 4 years later, I would return to Korea for summer and then 1 year later, for one semester. For Christmas, I received 2 cards from Hyunju unni and YW, a TOPIK 150 Grammar book from Jimmy and a Coldstone ice cream cake (wish came true!) from YW. A simple affair and well-spent day with 3 special persons whom I will sorely miss when I'm back in SG.
The morning was spent with Hyunju unni in Cafe IMD in Anam over hot chocolate. It was so cold that we hid in a cafe. It was my last time meeting her as she will be heading back to Seosan tomorrow since she had just completed her last semester in KU. I'll miss her a lot! She's my first Korean friend and when she left Singapore in 2009, I didn't feel that sad because I knew that I could meet her again in Summer in Korea. And when I left Korea in July last year, I didn't feel that sad either because I knew that I was going to come back to Korea again this year. But now, I don't know when we can meet again and I really hope that we can stay in contact with each other! Please invite me to your wedding next time so that I have more reasons to come back to Korea! My Christmas wish for her came true :) 축하해^^

Hot chocolate that was too sweet :(

Initially, I was supposed to meet Jimmy in Sinchon for lunch but because of the weather, we met at Coex Mall instead so that we wouldn't have to be outside at all. Today was the coldest day for December: -16℃. I hate the wind :( I wanted to go to a bookstore after lunch to buy a Korean grammar or vocabulary book to prepare for the Korean Proficiency Test (TOPIK) that I plan to take next year so Jimmy brought me to Kyobo bookstore in Gangnam. He found the perfect book and when I was going to pay for it at the cashier, he said he would buy it for me as a present. So sweet of him :) We headed to Twosome Place for drinks but he left halfway because of a family appointment. I spent the rest of the afternoon there writing more Christmas cards and just chilling out. I reckon it's probably the last time that I have the time to chill out at a cafe like that in Korea. My schedule for next week will be quite packed!

In the evening, I left for the Express Bus Terminal to window shop. Even though there is Shinsegae everywhere, I love going to the one at the Express Bus Terminal. I met up with YW and we had a Korean dinner before heading back.
Christmas cake and wine and the latest episode of Secret Garden :) I've always wanted to have an ice cream cake and my wish came true :) When I saw couples walking around with ice cream cake boxes in their hands in Times Square yesterday, I was so envious. Haha!

고마워!

How clever of them to store the matchsticks here!