I would like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2009! In contrast to my previous two New Years spent in Monterrey, Mexico, this one was a bit different to say the least. This is the first year in three years that my dear friend Jonathan Guerrero Zavala was not in the mix. Replacing our tradition of vodka concoctions, Jonathan's Mexican dancing antics, breaking Rose de Reyes bread and Tacos(!) was soju, crazy Koreans in "2009" glasses and a early morning feast of sweet potato French fries and hot dogs. I certainly prefer the former.
Regardless of the differences between celebrating the New Year in the West versus the East, it has been a time of reflection and re-evaluation. I thought about how I ended up in Asia via an incredibly random chain of events (I mean Hello, I was supposed to move to D.C. to be close to my friends or to Mexico to live the...er My "Mexican Dream"). Although it is rare when I sit and consider all that I am grateful for and what has been accomplished in my life, I had the chance at the beginning of this year. My family is wonderful and pretty hilarious, but I have been so fortunate with all they have provided for me, particularly their support. Half of the opportunities I've had in my life by the age of 22 were never in the reach of my parents when they were young. I would also be at a loss without my sister, Rachel, and brother, Chris. We have an excellent relationship between all of us...as long as Rachel and I are not sharing a bed room over the summer where our "A" and "B" type personalities collide.
Our family holds a video chat at about 9 p.m. EST each Saturday evening. We chat about everything from hot local issues (generally involving tax levies, pipelines and Wooster FINALLY getting something so basic as Panera Bread) to what delicious morsels they grazed on at the Denbow Family Christmas. Rachel and Chris missed me so much this year that they cropped me into a photo from the soiree including them and Cousin Curt. My grandparents are getting older and now rather than hosting our family Christmas at their home, they have it in the basement of their church. That place is as cold as the dickens, referred to as "The Dungeon" by some, but it's always nice to see our family and discuss how we have grown so fast and yes, we (the kids) can drive cars now.
The Christmas party at school was the epitome of chaos. I swear, after each "party," I thank the Lord on High that it is a one year contract. Toward the end of the day, "Santa" came bearing gifts for the students. The documentation of this event is as follows: 
At this point, I about had it and was so close to signing my name on the bottom line for a hysterectomy. Rex landed a bloody nose about five minutes before the photo, hence the tissue stuffed in his left nostril. Denis rocked the Yuletide cheer by throwing up a peace sign, although the classroom had reached the absolute threshold of hell because during our "party," Amy threw a toy car at Sarah's eye. Teddy is in love with Sarah so he voiced his disdain for Amy (similar to the NASA love triangle). I'm happy to say that families with nine children are uncommon in middle-class, Western societies, which gives me hope.The break from teaching Armadillo Class was a godsend. I finally got my hair cut and had to do so because my brother, Chris, repeatedly referred to me as having "Charlie Manson" hair when he saw me on the web cam. Two friends and I spent Christmas Day in watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home Alone and Napoleon Dynamite. It was so nice to catch up on some classic film. Well, as for everyone else, it's not all play. Hopefully, I will feel refreshed as I return to teach more of the alphabet and not wish that I had booked a one-way and fled in the middle of Christmas night. You must understand that Korea is great, however teaching Kindergarten to nine screaming children is not my calling. I am not Mother Theresa.
I send my best wishes to you all and wish you the best in the upcoming year!
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