CHRISTMAS PICTURES ~ ~

Dear Cedrick,

I was overjoyed to receive the wonderful pictures of you and your family hiking to and from the school where Daniel (may I be so bold as to call him by his name?) will be teaching. I very much enjoyed seeing the scenic areas you visited in my homeland ~ ~ and to see the mountains once again was very enjoyable for me.

Seeing you with the wonderful snowman you made caused me to laugh right out loud! You look so proud of your creation!

The pictures I would like to share with you are from Christmas Eve with my family. First, I wanted to share with you a picture of the Church, looking very beautful in the silent night with the snow lightly falling. My family all sang in the choir during the wonderful services. It was truly uplifting.

Then we visited the city of Bethlehem, which you see in the background. But, the more special visit of the night was on the outskirts of the village ~ ~ the stable in which the Christ-child was born. We felt truly blessed to, once again, absorb the true meaning of our Christmas celebration. We all had a wonderful Christmas Eve, as I trust you and your family did also.

I have been invited to a New Year's Party and am very much looking forward to going. I will be seeing some of my old friends, so I am sure it will be great fun! I will, of course, send pictures when they are available!

So, until next time and unknown place ~ ~ SAFE TRAVELS !

Most fondly,

Jageun Kkot

Dear Cedrick, my Minam (Handsome) Friend,


I was pleasantly surprised to hear from you, at long last. I just know you will have mani (many) wonderful adventures and experiences while in my homeland to share with me; I will do the same for you. I will look forward to each new message aeseo (from) you - ae (to) me.


Your sajok (family) shared many sajins (photographs) with my sajok ~ ~ which I enjoyed seeing very much. It was pleasureable to see scenes of Sokcho, and to see the deep nun (snow) looking out your apartment jangmun (window). Shibiwol (December) can be so beautiful in Sokcho. I enjoyed the gyeouls (winters) as a eorini (child).


I want to hear all about your deung (hiking) adventure. Are you going to the san (mountain)? You will be able to see the bada (sea) from there. But do not ppalli (hurry) wi (up) or mit (down). There is wiheom (danger) if you do that!


I hope to have sajins shortly of my mani (many) excursions! Some may be surprising!


Uri (we) all here in the States trust you had a wonderful gonghyuil (holiday) and we wish you a very Happy Saeroun Nyeon (New Year), beginning in Ilwal (January) !

So, until next time and unknown place ~ ~ SAFE TRAVELS!


Warmest regards,


Jageun kkot


P. S. Shipshiyo (please) share with me your saeroun (new) juso (address) so I may send you pyeonjis (letters).

CHRISTMAS EVE

To Cedrick, your Host Family, and Friends following my travel adventures,

Please, followers of my "Travels" site, bear with me and allow me the personal priviledge of speaking to one special individual who I hope is following my travels.

Cedrick, though it is not yet the 24th of December here in the U. S., it is already Christmas Eve for you in Sokcho, South Korea. I would like to wish you and your Host Family a wonderful Christmas Eve and a blessed Christmas Day.

Cecil and wife, Cybil wanted me to pass along their best wishes to you, and they were sorry you were out of the country during their visit to the States. They are returning to the U. K. the day after Christmas, weather permitting. We are, unfortunately, having some travel problems by air and overland, due to unusual snow and ice conditions. Who knows, perhaps I will be having an adventure with Cecil and his family if they are unable to leave the U. S. as scheduled ! That would be exciting, wouldn't it? I will keep you informed.

For my faithful followers of the travel column, I am sorry I have no pictures to post at this time. The same weather problems which have kept Cecil and his Family from traveling has kept most of us from even leaving our homes. Be assured ~ ~ when it is safe to do so, you will share in my next adventure in travel.

So, until next time and unknown place ~ ~ SAFE TRAVELS !

Jaguen kkot

Cedrick, you'll never believe who I ran into during my latest travels. Was doing Christmas shopping and needed sustinance. Obviously, I stopped at both of our favorite spots. LOOK who I ran into!

Cecil, his wife Cybil, and children, are having a holiday in the states! I understand he is your third cousin twice removed on your mother's side, but looks identical to you. I loved Cecil's British accent ~~ one of the things that I have admired in your travelogs to date is your voice.

Cecil and I had great fun with our photographer setting up this picture so that we were in the same positions as the two earlier pictures.

Hoping our friendship continues,

Jageun kkot

Sunday with my host family

Even though upon awaking this morning the temperature was well below zero, the family and I had plans to attend Bible Class and Worship Service together. My host family assured me that they would pre-warm the van before our travels, so we braved the cold! Obviously, we made it!

In bible study we are covering the book of Romans, having taken about 2 months to get to the end of chapter 3! Though from birth I was taught to be demure, there is a time for boastfulness (3:27), but if it comes from our pride thinking that we are self important, we are told that it is worthless.

As you can see, they do not serve my favorite brand of coffee, so I had to suffer in silence. Given the weather, the heat was welcome. (tee hee)

One of the grandsons and his friend joined us for church today! It was most pleasant to worship with extended family. After church, we enjoyed a most refreshing meal with the family and braved the cold once more to come home, where we now prepare for our siestas.

Hope all is well in your world,

Jageun kkot

My latest travels ! !

For those of you who, over these many years, have been following my travels around our known world, HELLO ~ and welcome ~ once again, to my travelogue site. It is always a great pleasure to meet you again.

However, today I have a very special person whom I hope you will welcome into our travelogue group. I have invited Cedrick, the "Spokesgnome" to join us. Some of you may know his story ~ ~ having been kidnapped from his owner, Bill's lawn in the United Kingdom, many years ago, but, he is making the most of it and reporting his travels to all who are following his life story. I am admitting openly and unashamedly that I have been following his travels as long as he has been reporting them.

So, as to my latest travels, back to my interesting experiences today.

You who follow my travel blog already know about my chance meeting with Cecil, a U. K. resident who, with his wife and family, are visiting in the U. S. on holiday. Cecil had such a striking resemblance to Cedrick, whom I have admired deeply from a distance for many years. Turns out they are closely related. We had a wonderful time chatting and had great photographs taken together.

Later in the day, having continued running diverse errands, our group felt the need to have a bite to eat. We "went" to Mexico ~ ~ and the wonderful smells of the food greeted us in the cold afternoon air even before we opened the entry doors! We were greeted by members of the Fuentes family who always make us feel welcome when we cross over the border into Mexico. Beautiful people, serapes, sombreros, music and best of all, wonderful food! And all of it is within a few short miles from our home. I must apologize for not having pictures to send you from this happening. I promise I will have a camera to get pictures next time we visit this wonderful place!

So, until next time and unknown place ~ ~ SAFE TRAVELS!

Jageun kkot

SO MANY APOLOGIES ~ ~

Cedrick,

Was so very nervous at my first writing to you, I made not only a typing error, but in my haste to contact you, I find I misspelled your name, for which I am deeply sorry.

My family has assured me that it is understandable to be anxious, and that you will not think badly of me.

I am looking forward to hearing from you and your adventures in Korea.

Jageun kkot

Annyeong hashimnikka ~~

Let me speak english for you non-koreans out there:

Hello, Cedrick. May I introduce myself to you.

My ireum (name) is Jageun kkot.

As you can see from the picture, we appear to appreciate the same establishments. Sorry, I finished my parfait before I was able to take the photograph.

I am of course a yeoja. I prefer wearing hanbok as is pictured. I emigrated to the United States in 1953 and have resided with my host family for 55 nyeons. I have travelled a great deal with my host family over the years and appreciate someone who likes to travel as much as I do.

Cedrick, when I saw your picture I realized what a minam najma you are! I'm sure your picture does not do you justice! I'm sorry you were kidnapped from Bill's lawn those many years ago.

May I be your friend and perhaps more. As I travel around, I will send you pictures of my locations. I pray you will do the same for me.

Am hoping this message is received warmly and that we can continue to enlarge our new friendship, perhaps even over the years leading to a much warmer relationship. This would be my wish.

Your new friend,

Jageun kkot