christmas in concerts

this christmas season was celebrated in concerts, 3.

december 10: my co-teachers and i went to the nutcracker in cheonan put on by the seoul national ballet. it was delightful. i remember watching the ballet as a child, but it was even better this year. i don't know if it was because i was lonely, or because they were as thrilled as i was, or because it made the season feel merry. but it was perfect. 

december 17: v invited me to a korean traditional fusion concert, also in cheonan, but at city hall. julie was going with another friend. and semi was going with her boyfriend. it was the weirdest, most interesting mix i've heard. the "orchestra" (do you call it an orchestra if they're all korean string instruments? not sure) was composed of 가야금 or kayagum and drums and flutes and a strange vertical guitar violin bubble like contraption (i'll try to find a picture) called 해금. this grouping made up the background of the concert. different acts performed with them: a boys choir, a group of fan women, a soloist, a guitarist, traditional hat duo, and b-boys. somehow, the mix worked. but it was weird, very weird. especially when the soloist started singing in spanish. 

this is called a 가야금

this is called a 해금

december 24: christmas eve, staci and i won free tickets to a carol meets jazz concert in seoul. so t, s, and i picnic'ed on the train with wine and cheese and pesto. there was an american jazz pianist, a german drummer, an irish bassist, and a "something" treble saxophonist (saxophonist?). they played swinging carols. it was a nice way to spend the eve. 

and yesterday, on christmas. i slept in, watched lord of the rings. went over to staci and tyson's and watched "the interview" (the movie was stupid, dumb, and annoying, but we felt like we did our duty). i skyped the family for the rest of the evening and ended christmas with them. they sat me so my view of the living room was from "my seat" and we opened presents around the tree. it almost felt like i was really there. 

for being a christmas spent in solitude, alone for the majority, and in a foreign country. it was the best it could be. i felt relaxed, cherished, and merry. but i can't wait to be home with family. eating food. playing games. laughing. hugging. cheers to next year, when i spend the holiday with those i love. i can't wait, i can't wait. 364 days.