Valentine’s Day (February 14) in Korea is the day that women buy chocolates for the men. This was unfortunate for me because I teach more boys than girls. In majority of my classes, there are only one or two girls. Fortunately, it snowed on Valentine’s Day this year and I didn’t have to teach any afternoon classes. The next day when the boys asked where their chocolates were (those spoiled brats), I just shrugged and said, “I ate it. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. Sorry!”

Well, White Day is what I playfully refer to “payback day.” White Day is exactly one month after Valentine’s Day, on March 14th, and the opposite occurs: Boys buy candy for girls. I reaped the rewards of teaching mostly boys by being showered with hard candy. Almost as delicious as Pepero Day –and less bellyaches!

I’ve decided that these Korean holidays aren’t really so bad; the concept just needs a little work. More costumes, for example. And more free candy. In short, these holidays need to be Halloween. More Halloweens! How crazily great would that be?