The weather is cooling significantly, the sun is setting more quickly, Christmas and New Year's are just around the corner, and Gwangju's expats are getting ready for a very busy weekend.
 
Beginning tomorrow at noon, the Sungbin Bake Sale will take place at German Bar; beginning at three and running until six, the Gwangju International Center will host its year-end party; beginning at five p.m., carolers will gather outside the downtown post office to sing to raise funds for the family of the late Frank Orsei; beginning at five p.m. also, Kunsthalle Gwangju will host a night flea market which will likely run quite late; and finally, beginning at seven p.m., four Gwangju artists will host a multimedia art show at cafe/bar Starry Night.
 

The Sungbin Bake Sale will definitely be the first stop of my day, because, just like last year, I will spend the whole afternoon helping the organizers sell used books.
 

Rebekah Hastey, Emily Reesor, and Christina Green are the women in charge of the sale.  Christina and Rebekah are from the U.S., while Emily comes from Canada.  All three are 25 years-old, and Emily has been living in Korea during the past five-and-a-half years while Christina and Rebekah have been living here during the past two-and-a-half.

Either individually or together these three friends help out at and are involved with Gwangju English Worship Service; the Gwangju Book Club; UNESCO's CCAP Program; the Hwasun Gifted Center; and various other organizations around town. Tomorrow's bake sale isn't the first bake sale these ladies have helped organize, and likely it won't be their last.
 

Gearing up and getting ready for tomorrow, I asked Emily, Christina and Rebekah to tell Gwangju Blog's readers why they are going to be at tomorrow's sale and why you should be there too...
 
"The Sungbin Bake Sale happens every year around this time so that expats in the community can enjoy a festive day together.
 
"They and Gwangju's Korean residents can try some of the many goodies -- cookies, pies, cakes, breads and cupcakes -- which are donated every year...
 
"People should have their money ready, because it's easy to spend $50 on sweets and books on the day of the sale...
 
"In addition, people can expect some savory dishes as well.
 
"All three of us got involved with the bake sales because we learned that they benefit Sungbin's orphans.  Each one of us also loves to bake, and we've gotten hooked on this fun, delicious time of year.