5-Year Anniversary

EJ and her adorable doll

My friend Sae Min and I

Hyeon Min's performance!

This post marks me pretty close to my 5-year anniversary of starting my blog, "Happening With Hillary". While initially I wasn't entirely attached to the name I created for it, the title "Happening With Hillary" has really grown on me. As you can imagine from the name, and for any reason why most other people write a blog, I started it with the intention of sharing my experiences abroad. Since my study abroad experience in Spain, the blog has become much more than just a way to share my thoughts, memories, and photos with the surrounding community. It has become a habit, a hobby, and something I really look forward to updating twice a month (or so I try!). Since my foot injury last year and the massive amounts of feedback received after those posts, I realized that more people were tuning into these bits and pieces of my life than I initially thought. Because of my blog, I've gotten more into photography, keeping a diary/journal, thinking about how seemingly ordinary days in my life could be something foreign and unimaginable for others, and more. I find myself actively living in a moment and trying so clearly to put it into words so that I can "save it for the blog" later. I hope readers have enjoyed my personal storytelling and recounting of events, although I'm not really an excellent writer. As always, I thank you for taking the time to read my entries.

Myself, Hyang Ran, and Eun Jeong!

Love this group of people!

With that said, it's time for me to catch you up on what's been happening lately! Just like November, December has been an extremely busy but enjoyable month. It started when I visited one of my students who had graduated from Gwangyang but is now studying at an Arts college in Seoul. He studies music and has always been into rapping. Actually, when he was still at Gwangyang, we collaborated together and wrote and recorded two songs together. Anyway, I went to see his end-of-the-year performance at his university, and it was phenomenal! I'm so proud of him and love that I can still connect with students after graduation.

Go Eun and Sae Pi

At school, students were focused on preparing for their final exams, so the atmosphere was pretty serious for the first two weeks. This past week was spent relaxing and playing holiday games with my students after their tests finished. I decided to create "Minute-To-Win-It" games, and the students had a blast with it. The winning teams earned hot chocolate and candy canes to show them a little bit of America's holiday spirit.

China Town

Additionally, the school staff had our end-of-the-year teacher's workshop/retreat. We traveled to Song-do in Incheon, which is a new, urban city with thriving businesses. It was a really cool city to see, and it was fun to hang out with my co-workers and get to know them better outside of school. We stayed for two days, one night. The first day was mostly workshops and professional development, followed by a fancy 5-course meal, lots of drinking, and bingo! I won traditional Chinese alcohol as my prize, haha! The following day was spent as sightseeing, where we traveled to a famous park, cityscape tower, and Incheon's China Town, where we ate a delicious lunch before heading back.

During the final exam period, I didn't have to go to school for 4 days, so I took the opportunity to head back to Gwangyang and visit my friends. I was soooo happy to be in their company and catch up with so many people. This is my small but sweet tribute to my amazing friends who always welcome me, host me, and make me feel right at home every time I visit. Love you all!

Song-do, Incheon

Sora was my coworker at Gwangyang

For the holidays, I will be staying in Seoul and spending Christmas with a few friends. One Fulbrighter from my first year is in town visiting, so we have been enjoying each other's company catching up on life and eating delicious food together when I get off of work. We are planning to head to one of Korea's amusement parks to see the holiday decorations during Christmas Eve, and spend Christmas morning with a short hike up a mountain to enjoy some makgeolli and the landscape around us.

Ro Eun and Go Eun (Sisters)!

Although I often get homesick around this time, I am glad to have good company here in Seoul with me, and I am lucky that all of my family and friends back home also have each other to celebrate and be with this year. I am thankful for good health, a roof over my head, and the multiple opportunities I have to try new things and follow my dreams. Here's to a continuation of that as 2017 approaches, and I wish the same for all of you. Be happy, be merry, and be kind to one another!

Sending lots of love,
Hillary

Happy Holidays!