2013 is going to be great, I can feel it in my freezing bones. This email may seem a little late, but in all honesty my year just started. I had the misfortune of having to work right through the festive season. I was making crafts and teaching new vocab on boxing day, while in my heart I longed for warm beaches and picnics and Jan 2nd (twede nuwe jaar) was even worse since i was both physically and mentally exhausted. But hopefully it's the last time in a long time that I will have to work on Jan 2nd.
Korea is about 25% Christian, 25% Buddhist and 50% non-religious. Most of the non-religious people subscribe to Confusionist principles, but then again so do some of the religious people. What this mostly means is that because Korea is not a majority Christian country they treat Christmas a little differently.It's not really a meaningful national holiday, so while it's a public holiday I still had to work the day before and the day after. It's recognised everywhere, like in shops and stuff but it's really romanticised. Christmas is very much considered on the same wavelength as Valentines Day to most Koreans and people go on dates and stare into their partners eyes under Christmas trees.
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| This is the image Christmas evokes in most Koreans |
In the same breath New Years day as we see it is not the most important new years day in Korea. They celebrate the Lunar New Year so while I had to work on December 31st and Jan 2nd, I will get 4 days vacation in February for Lunar New Year.
Today how ever I am on holiday. It's the official day 1 (since weekends technically don't count) and I've got you on my mind.
Happy New Year
My wish for you is that you do something this year that you enjoy and that has a product.
Record yourself singing your favourite song, paint for the first time ever, write a book or a screenplay or poem to someone you love, no matter how bad it is. Buy a colouring in book and colour in all the pictures. Teach your child to knit, knit dolls for kids less fortunate. Dance and post it to Youtube. Do not, I repeat, do not die your hair green. Cook a delicious meal, your favourite thing, invite me over and I'll grade it! imagine and design a family friendly alternative to Monopoly (that game disgusts me). Make something damnit! And enjoy making it! This is the year, after all, that you and I will be reunited and we might as well have something to show for it.
Ice cold love in buckets!
Yours
Vasti
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