November 11th

Today's date is a special date all over the globe: in China and Michigan sisters Kim and Kara are celebrating their shared birthday as is Jason, one of my students.

In Canada and the 'States they are remembering, in various ways, the men and women who fought and died in the wars. In Canada 11/11 is called Rememberance Day and everyone wears poppies to remember those who gave their lives. In WWI almost an entire generation of Canadian men died. On this date every year there is a moment of silence on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (when the armstice was signed ending WWI).

In Korea today is Pepero Day. They liken it to Valentines Day but its not. I have been told that the company that makes the Pepero created the "holiday" to generate sales. Pepero is like chocolate-covered animal crackers but is not a animal shape: its a stick. You give pepero to everyone on the 11th so by the end of the day you are rather tired of it. I got about 5 boxes yesterday from students and a teacher. They are pretty good and I plan to eat them with coffee or hot chocolate.