Decembering

Today I finally bought Christmas lights for my room. They're up now, duct-taped haphazardly between walls and ceiling...only spanning about 3 quarters of the space. I now have one dark corner and 3 sparkly, festive ones.

Spent the evening at E-mart with my favorite roommates, whom I will be affectionately calling Beather from now on. That's Beka and Heather for all of you out there who haven't been keeping up. I decided they needed a Hollywood-couple-nickname, since they are attached at the hip and act like an old married couple. This was also their least favorite of the melt-together names I offered them. So Beather it is. I'm hoping it'll spread like wildfire. My diabolical plan will come into fruition at the Christmas party we're throwing this Saturday. After the success of the Thanksgiving party, another one was inevitable (and in high demand, if I do say so myself). Though it was not without its fair share of roommate-related drama.

The clouds have parted and the sky is ice-blue over here in Korea. I feel miles better than I did two weeks ago, nevermind that the wind has been trying to bite off my ears and cut through my Michigan-winter puff of a coat. Korean weather is as bipolar as my moods over the past 5 months, only a touch more predictable. One week dips just below freezing, the next hovers inches above it, like clockwork. The winter puff and the Fall trench are both within arm's reach, ready to be switched out at the first sign of a quiver in the atmosphere.

I've been spending my time becoming slowly addicted to the Dongdaemun shopping district, specifically the Migliore mall. Ah, Korean shopping, Takes a lot of getting used to, but once it gets its claws in you - and you realize that you don't really need to try things on because you're new wardrobe will be made up exclusively of baggy sweaters, short skirts and leggings - it's hard to stay away. Yes, I'll take that one and...oh, 40,000 won is a bit steep, watch the saleslady demolish it by 15,000 won and suddenly I've got another sweater.

Ah Korea. The love and hate continue to wrestle. Lucky for you I happen to be in a loving mood on this cold winter night.