Last Updated on February 14, 2011 by Christine Kaaloa
“Love Letter #3: Daegu, Korea“
This blog is reposted from My Crazy Kimchi
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They say it seldom snows in Daegu, but it’s been snowing all day.
Only a few cars were out on the road this morning, driving real slow. Many teachers reverted to the subway to get to work, parents accompanied their children to school on foot and it’s surmounted in a bit of displacement in the monotonous routine of drivers. School started merrily late today.
After lunch recess, the kids got into the spirit of the first major snowfall by getting into snow play. Did they build snowmen or make angels in the snow?
No.
The best Korean Valentine is to see:
Snow, from snowball fights… flying everywhere!
I’m not a virgin to snowfall. I’ve lived it many times in New York City and Missouri. But I don’t recall ever seeing children have snowball fights and better yet, on Valentine’s day!
It was my first time seeing a snowball fight live and up close and it felt like the first time I’ve ever seen snow as a child! Pristine, white and full of devilish trickery!
Some of my kids were soaked. Some carried huge mounds of snowballs. Some grabbed ahold of boards as shovels to dump on others. My little ones were all having fun, “being kids”.
Being Korea, where the study schedule doesn’t allow much time for “being kids”, this break is good. It was the best Valentine’s Day card I could have gotten in years.
On another note:
Happy Valentine’s Day! But only for boys…
Apparently, Valentine’s Day in Korea is when girls give boys chocolate and candies and not the opposite way around.
However, fear not. Girls and single folk have their days of sweet tooth loving too and they all land on the 14th!
March 14th : White Day
Boys get to repay the chocolates given to them and give them to girls they like.
April 14th : Jjajangmyeon Day (or Black Day),
Single folk and lonely hearts can stuff their face with jjajangmyeon (the favorite Korean black noodle dish… )
Photo from An American Seoul…it’s compensation for being solo, I guess.
May 14th is Ring Day:
You can give your sweetheart rings to show you love them!
How did you spend your Valentine’s Day?
4 Comments.
I met up with girls from the nearby city and enjoyed an alfredo-pie (AKA Course-A) at Uncle Tomato and later a glass of gin and tonic at a nearby cafe, but I missed the last bus to my little village, so I caught a taxi. I ended Valentine’s Day with a BANG!
In reference to the snowball fights, being from Minnesota, I thought I could take on a “little” snowball fight with my male students (the girls were too busy screaming in fear). I was completely out of breath for a good hour, not to mention soaked. My fourth grade boys didn’t want to learn anymore after that fight, because all they wanted to do was kick (snow) my ass some more outside. Note to English teachers, especially the females, do not engage in any physical activities with your students, even if you’re a professional, you will be creamed. Kids do not give up.
I don’t feel like jjajangmyeon is a very good substitute for singles… but I haven’t tried it yet so I shouldn’t judge. 😉
I love how they have so many days for love!! Very cool
Snowball fights are the best!
i gave the chocolate to 사장님 and i bet he was in teary eyes when he called me saying his thanks *lol*
Happy Valentine’s Day! ^^
@Laura: Well, yeah, I quite agree. Just give me chocolates– if I wanna get fat, i’d rather do it with sweets rather than pasta! ha ha..
@Anna: Awww, that was a sweet gesture! Happy Valentine’s Day!
@Barbara: HYSTERICAL. And good tip– I was tempted to snowball fight too, but with the boys, I don’t dare. You are BRAVE!