As Seoul slaloms into winter, we are in the midst of an always enjoyable flurry of Christmas dinners and drinks. When you factor in the excitement of hearing George Michael's Last Christmas fourteen times a day with the small number of sleeps remaining before a few weeks in Canada, we find ourselves merrily infused with the holiday spirit.
Until yesterday, I knew no more of Bulgaria than the average person: Sofia is the capital city, it was the birthplace 1100 years ago of the Cyrillic alphabet, and Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski twice won the Ice-Dance competition at the World Figure Skating Championships. But after eating at a Bulgarian restaurant last night to celebrate a friend's birthday, my eyes are open. Stunning topography, a rich appreciation for its cultural heritage, and the best spinach-stuffed chicken breast in a dill cream sauce this side of the Danube make Bulgaria my new favourite former Eastern Bloc country.
The best-laid lesson plans went awry at Rainbow International School this afternoon, as Seoul experienced its first snow of the season. For the eight students in my class from Saudi Arabia, this was their first snowfall ever, and its arrival was greeted with nothing less than rapture. They frolicked and made merry, trying to catch snowflakes in their mouths, as I chased them around for their first face-wash.
Chuncheon in October, with its lake surrounded by mountains, is a beautiful place for a race. 
Here we are looking happy at the start. We felt just as happy, though more tired, by the end.
Many thanks to Mike and Angie for the photographs and great company, not to mention the pre-race peanut butter snacks and post-race pecan pie.
Speed, precision, and witty banter combine to make this calligrapher a success with tourists and locals alike.
Beloved by traditional ink and wash painters, calligraphers, and generations of Asian poets, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of nobility. This beautiful yellow specimen stands in quiet contrast to the dark reds and browns of Bongeunsa's main prayer hall.
