More appropriately, Happy New Year. However, in Korea at least and probably in other parts of the far east too, one's age is counted by the lunar calendar. Sort of. You see, although there will be no present giving or candle blowing until the actual date you traversed the birth canal, everyone in country is officially one year older on January first. So, since my 24th birthday is this year, you could safely assume that I am now 24.
But you'd be wrong. There's also this weird thing where you add one year. I'm not sure whether it's some hyperconservative life-begins-at-conception thing (wherein the math still doesn't make much sense for normal 9 month gestaters not to mention the premature) or if it's a way of counting the year you're about to live or what, but I was born in 1986, my birthday is the end of January, yet somehow I am "25" according to Korea. I guess in a culture where socially everything hinges on age, it sure is easier that we all make gains in that department at the exact same time. I also think this has suspiciously something to do with the fact the first semester of the school year starts now and not in the fall.
So, thanks Korea for adding 2 numbers to my mathematical age. Misery liking company, I implore you all to add 2 years to your age (1 if you're birthday was in the past 4 days) and contemplate how much you feel like you've just withered away.
새해 복 많이 받으세요.
(New Year's blessings many please receive.)
Hah, your a super old fart now, and we always used to be the same age too, with me being the elder. Odd how the world works, isn't it! : P
ReplyDeleteAnd since you are an English teacher I expect you to correct my usage of "your". If you don't I'm going to fail you out of English teachingness!
ReplyDelete'your' is possessive;
ReplyDelete'you're' is a verb.
Get it straight nugget.
In addition, you and I are the same age according to Korea. Our birthdays were both last week. Along with everyone else in the world.
HAPPY 47th BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYY!
ReplyDelete