May is an interesting month in Korea, filled with a vast array of festivals and intimate family/cultural events. It starts just as the cherry blossoms fall from the April foliage, and by the end the weather is closer to the summers I know back in Boston- temperatures reaching upwards of 80. My teacher at 대리초 (Daeri elementary) tells me the spring time only lasts for about 3 to 4 weeks… and I believe him now. I can’t complain though; as a old soul who once lived in Cambodia, I concur that hot weather suits me better than most others.
Just before the month began, I decided that this would be a month for positive self-improvement. This meant making some changes to my life that would benefit me in the long run and also give me some rest from my life on social media. This meant no facebook, no drinking, no smoking, exercise every day and watch my eating habits more closely…. and fix my posture, and hold things farther away from my face, and try to learn Chinese so I can better speak with my girlfriend who lives in China.
May has filled me with such productive and positive energy! I’ve nearly finished the first section of my Chinese language program… not chapter but section!! This is a bit of a big step for me because all this time I’ve spent off of facebook I’ve been getting surprisingly efficient and engrossed in the Chinese language. Going to Shanghai a few weeks ago also bolstered this love I never knew I had. Perhaps next year I will be finding a new life there. Who knows? Traveler life is far from predictable. I’ve started selling calligraphy or giving it away as gifts too. I figure I can give some good Chinese stuff to westerners, and then give some Korean style calligraphy to Chinese friends I may one day meet. I also have an article getting published in the Dudespaper soon (more on that later, so check back). So many good things in such a short time! Writing this has been the most time I’ve spent at a computer for non-work reasons.
I visited the Jeonju Calligraphy museum the Friday before Children’s Day to get a better idea of the styling of traditional calligraphy. Three great ones are below (left: bronze-age Chinese. Middle: Korean. Right: traditional Chinese).
I digress; for I mentioned before that May is a time of celebration in Korea! Every weekend I am not out traveling, I am missing a festival. The weekend I spent in China made me miss the 다명(Damyeong) bamboo festival, last weekend was Buddha’s birthday; a day bursting with festivals. Because Buddhism is very traditionally celebrated but the country is now predominantly Christian, the temples will offer a free lunch to laymen during the morning, and every other town will initiate its own reason to celebrate something different (like Osu with dogs, Namwon with it’s love story, etc).
I decided to go to the 오수(osu) dog festival with the Chinese family from my Korean language class, although our region is more famous for a festival in 남원(Namwon), which celebrates a story similar to Romeo & Juliet. They even do a traditional Korean wedding that I am sure is unforgettable. Going to Osu had it’s benefits though! I got to see so many cute dogs, spend time with my friend and her family, practice more Chinese speaking, and get to be an impromptu member of a Chinese cultural parade.
Other celebrations in May include Sports Day which is a randomly chosen day for students to play sports all day… I love it because I don’t need to teach those days 😀 There are many field trips, family day, children’s day, teacher’s day, and parent’s day. It’s a great day to give gratitude to the people you love… (below are my Daeri students on sports day)
If you don’t got a loving family living in Korea, this is a perfect time to travel as all these days happen close to one another. This was the time I went to Shanghai to see my girlfriend. My birthday happened to be the following Monday, so it was nice to be cuddled up with someone I love in another country. Probably the first happy holiday I’ve had since I left the States (Family-oriented holidays like Christmas and New Years were incredibly lonely for me, and filled with bad luck aparently).
Did I mention that Shanghai and China in general is very beautiful. The pollution is a bit of a shame, but the streets and everything all over Shanghai were so clean! recycling was very prioritized and rubbish bins everywhere. This was so lovely because in Korea, I get self-conscious about finding someone else’s rubbish pile to toss my own when I am out in the city (people clean these piles every morning though).
The Shanghai tower was so amazing, with it’s glass floor, and the food was so good, tea shops everywhere. I just can’t get China out of my head, even though Korea is so beautiful and peaceful now too. The people seem to have gotten a bit friendlier as well. Must be the ice melting off of everyone!
Anyway, if you had to ask me, the best time of year to come to Korea is the Month of May. There is always something going on, good weather, and fun to be had. Here are some extra photos of my students celebrating a day off hiking with me, a birthday gift, and celebrations being had so far this month:
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