25^th and 31^st of December
And so here we are again, celebrating the birth of a great man.  Even today, when we flick on a light switch, gaze through a telescope or scratch our heads at calculus problems, we feel his influence.  And of course, there is his great book: Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica.

So, let me wish everybody a Happy Newton's Day!  (It is his birth we are celebrating, right?)

Jewish Christmas
My last two Christmases have been quite cool.  There was the over-the-top extravagance of the Filipino one, and the laid back Ugandan one.

And now here I am, in the mostly-Buddhist country of South Korea.  Christmas here is not a big deal.  It is a Red Day (a day off) for most people here, but that's about it.  Almost all of the shops are still open.

I spent this Christmas with Liad - fellow teacher, friend and Jew, Seulhwa - girlfriend of Steve (another fellow teacher) and Mijeoung - a good friend of mine.

Liad says that back in the U.S., him and his fellow Jews usually go out for a movie and get some Chinese afterwards.  So that is what we did.

It was nice.  Quite possibly the most laid back Christmas I have ever had!

A Korean New Year
My Korean new year was looking to be very quiet. 

Most English teachers go to places like China, Japan and South East Asia for their Christmas break.  As I am looking to save money, I decided to just stay in Korea and have a very quiet holiday.

For New Years Eve, I was planning to stay at home and watch some movies and then grunt forlornly as the clock ticked over to midnight.

Clare - a Korean co-worker and friend at Benjamin's Hagwon - texted me and invited me out to join her and her friends for a new years dinner.  Bless her heart!

So, instead of being noddy-no-friends at home , I got to have a lovely meal and night out with three beautiful Korean ladies!  Asa!

Wanna help in a real and tangible way?

Then visit GrassRootsUganda.com and purchase some crafts made by Ugandan ladies.  100% of the profits are returned to the ladies