After spending the past 5 months in South Korea it was time for the Wendling family to return home to Canada. The journey home began at 3:00 PM on Friday, December 19th with a bus from GSIS taking the Wendling family and others to the airport.
Prior to leaving the Wendling's, who are pictured above, put up their Christmas decorations and did some shopping as they prepared to come home to Canada. However, Christmas in Suwon was not the same as in Port Colborne. In Korea, Christmas is not an important day. Both Lunar New Year and Tusok are more important holidays. So prior to Christmas there is little if any Christmas music or decorations in and around the town. Simply stated, it did not feel a lot like Christmas.
As the plane approached Pearson Airport in Toronto all of the Wendling's came to see the Christmas lights from people's homes and snow was everywhere. (In Korea there is not much snow - but cold temperatures - so the sight of snow was a welcome one - even if it caused the family to wait one hour for a gate to become open so that we could disembark.)
The Wendling's were lucky that Me Mere, M'oncle Paul and M'oncle Rich were at the airport to pick up them up. Then through the snow and slush the family made it back to Port Colborne. There the family celebrated Christmas and New Year's with the Lafontaine family. With a two day stop in Waterloo to see Grandma and Grandpa Wendling and to go to Disney on Ice in Toronto.
On New Year's eve the Lafontaine family go together for a family skate at the East Side Arena in Port Colborne, followed by watching the USA vs Canada Junior Hockey game and finally taking in the ringing of the New Year from Victoria Park in Niagara Falls via the TV.
Going home reminded the Wendling family of how important family and friends are. Whether it was lunch with friends, skating with the family, a sleepover or just sitting with Me mere and having chips and watching TV - all of these events reminded us of life in Canada and time with our family. Although we have made friends in Korea and love the students that we work with - we still have many strong connection with Canada.
To the Wendling's the Christmas of 2008 will be special for many different reasons. Seeing family and friends and coming home to Canada will never be forgotten. However, another important reasons is that in Korea there were very few visible signs that Christmas was coming. Other than School and our Church there were few symbols or signs of the Christmas season, this is understandable as the Korea Christian population is 10 per cent and so Christmas does not get the same attention as other holidays. However, these symbols were missed.
On behalf of Rosanne, Justine, Kyara, Matteya, Ariel, Mia and Kevin we would like to wish all of you the best in 2009. May God's blessing be on each of you as you continue on your own personal journey.
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