christmas swag

I love Christmas and not just because of the gifts. Being with family is great, and we always eat sushi for Christmas lunch. (These are the perks of being in a Korean family.) But gifts are still pretty sweet, and I definitely cleaned up this year. My family has been asking me incessantly about my semester abroad, and their gifts show how interested they are in my future as I am. They got me guidebooks to India and to Israel, as well as a boatload of foreign currency. I have to admit, it was really fun opening up a bag full of what looked like Monopoly money. It looks like a lot of dough, but the exchange rates mean that it's not actually that much cash. But any cash is useful, and it will all go a long way.

We can't forget the most useful gift of them all, though --

A camouflage Snuggie! Practical, comfortable and stylish. So I'm going to sit right here, cozy in my Snuggie, and nom on all of the leftover sushi and Christmas cookies while watching even more "How I Met Your Mother" on Netflix.

And thank you to my loving family, who has always supported my desire to travel - both now and in the past - and makes sure that I do it in style. Merry Christmas, everyone!