By Steven L. Shields
It's been almost two years. COVID-19 disrupted my travel plans for retirement. The pandemic caused me to break some promises to my grandchildren.
Ever since my grandchildren were born, not only have I been at their births, but I have been at every birthday, every year. Until last year. We've celebrated with the "cake of the year" for each of the kids. Of course, birthday cakes and party themes have always been the kids' choice, at least since they were old enough to start making such choices.
Christmas also has been an important family gathering. Like their birthdays, I've not missed one single Christmas with my son and his family. Until last year. I've always traveled to them, since one person traveling makes more sense than three or four. Before retirement, too, my employment allowed me great flexibility for family events and holidays. I've been blessed to watch my grandchildren grow from infancy to their teen years.
Christmas, in the American tradition, typically means gifts and unique food. When my son was a small child, he and I began baking cookies. I carried that tradition on with my granddaughter at her first Christmas when she was barely a few months old.
My son and I made thumbprint cookies. Simple sugar cookies, rolled into a small ball, with the child's thumbprint in the center. The slight depression is filled with a dab of favorite jam or jelly after the cookies are baked. With the cookies prepared, I cradled my baby granddaughter and pressed her thumb into each one. She and I continue to bake at Christmas, and we've added her younger brother into the mix. Each of the kids has their unique or favorite cookie (actually, they have two or three each).
My grandkids and I also made gingerbread houses each year, to varying degrees of success or failure, until several years ago when I found a baking pan that makes a beautiful Christmas house-shaped cake. That is now my granddaughter's project. She and I find all sorts of decorative pieces, but she crafts the final product and sets the theme.
I have always tried to arrive at their home a few days before Christmas. On my first day there we hit the supermarket. We scatter around the supermarket, picking up all the ingredients. Then we head home to turn the family kitchen into a bakery. We bake several loaves of banana bread and dozens of cookies.
Not too many years ago, I asked my grandchildren what their favorite part of Christmas was. Not the gifts, not the special food for the meals. They answered, "Papa (their endearing term for me), the best part of Christmas is when you are here with us."
In 2020, that all came to a crashing halt. I was forced to cancel a trip in the spring of the year. I rescheduled for late August, only to have to cancel the trip again. COVID-19 was roaring through the United States by the time Christmas came, and vaccines were not yet rolled out. So Christmas 2020 came and went. In the spring of 2021, I finally got my first vaccine shot but had to wait several weeks for the second. My physician advised me not to travel until I was fully vaccinated.
Finally, in August 2021, I was ready to travel with my vaccinated certificate in hand. A few pieces of red tape had to be dealt with, though. Legal residents of Korea have to get a re-entry permit; the fee is nominal, but the permit is good for one trip only. Then a negative COVID-19 test, with a certificate, had to be provided at the airport to board the plane.
To return to Korea, I needed another negative COVID-19 test to board the plane. And after arrival, I had to get three more COVID tests at my local health department. Still, since I was fully vaccinated, my quarantine was limited to an app on my smartphone and checking in daily with temperature and symptoms. On completing my third negative COVID test, two weeks after my arrival in Korea, the app self-destructed, and I was good to go.
My trip in August/September allowed me to celebrate my son's birthday and both my grandchildren's birthdays since they all take place in two weeks. What a happy reunion it was. My grandkids are growing up fast, but we had such good times together. The red tape was worth every bit of hassle, fees and discomfort.
And yes, I will be going over Christmas!
Rev. Steven L. Shields (slshields@gmail.com) has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s, and served as copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977. He is currently president of Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea.
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Ever since my grandchildren were born, not only have I been at their births, but I have been at every birthday, every year. Until last year. We've celebrated with the "cake of the year" for each of the kids. Of course, birthday cakes and party themes have always been the kids' choice, at least since they were old enough to start making such choices.
Christmas also has been an important family gathering. Like their birthdays, I've not missed one single Christmas with my son and his family. Until last year. I've always traveled to them, since one person traveling makes more sense than three or four. Before retirement, too, my employment allowed me great flexibility for family events and holidays. I've been blessed to watch my grandchildren grow from infancy to their teen years.
Christmas, in the American tradition, typically means gifts and unique food. When my son was a small child, he and I began baking cookies. I carried that tradition on with my granddaughter at her first Christmas when she was barely a few months old.
My son and I made thumbprint cookies. Simple sugar cookies, rolled into a small ball, with the child's thumbprint in the center. The slight depression is filled with a dab of favorite jam or jelly after the cookies are baked. With the cookies prepared, I cradled my baby granddaughter and pressed her thumb into each one. She and I continue to bake at Christmas, and we've added her younger brother into the mix. Each of the kids has their unique or favorite cookie (actually, they have two or three each).
My grandkids and I also made gingerbread houses each year, to varying degrees of success or failure, until several years ago when I found a baking pan that makes a beautiful Christmas house-shaped cake. That is now my granddaughter's project. She and I find all sorts of decorative pieces, but she crafts the final product and sets the theme.
I have always tried to arrive at their home a few days before Christmas. On my first day there we hit the supermarket. We scatter around the supermarket, picking up all the ingredients. Then we head home to turn the family kitchen into a bakery. We bake several loaves of banana bread and dozens of cookies.
Not too many years ago, I asked my grandchildren what their favorite part of Christmas was. Not the gifts, not the special food for the meals. They answered, "Papa (their endearing term for me), the best part of Christmas is when you are here with us."
In 2020, that all came to a crashing halt. I was forced to cancel a trip in the spring of the year. I rescheduled for late August, only to have to cancel the trip again. COVID-19 was roaring through the United States by the time Christmas came, and vaccines were not yet rolled out. So Christmas 2020 came and went. In the spring of 2021, I finally got my first vaccine shot but had to wait several weeks for the second. My physician advised me not to travel until I was fully vaccinated.
Finally, in August 2021, I was ready to travel with my vaccinated certificate in hand. A few pieces of red tape had to be dealt with, though. Legal residents of Korea have to get a re-entry permit; the fee is nominal, but the permit is good for one trip only. Then a negative COVID-19 test, with a certificate, had to be provided at the airport to board the plane.
To return to Korea, I needed another negative COVID-19 test to board the plane. And after arrival, I had to get three more COVID tests at my local health department. Still, since I was fully vaccinated, my quarantine was limited to an app on my smartphone and checking in daily with temperature and symptoms. On completing my third negative COVID test, two weeks after my arrival in Korea, the app self-destructed, and I was good to go.
My trip in August/September allowed me to celebrate my son's birthday and both my grandchildren's birthdays since they all take place in two weeks. What a happy reunion it was. My grandkids are growing up fast, but we had such good times together. The red tape was worth every bit of hassle, fees and discomfort.
And yes, I will be going over Christmas!
Rev. Steven L. Shields (slshields@gmail.com) has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s, and served as copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977. He is currently president of Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea.
