Korean Job Discussion Forums

[VanIslander]

Today is the first day of spring, and some of my classes now know about equinoxes and solstices, but I'm surprised that my adult students at the hagwon don't seem to understand why spring begins when it does (but then again: they think dinosaurs roamed the earth three or four thousand years ago).

And none of my students, nor the Korean teachers and director, know when spring begins. I've asked them if spring officially begins at a different time in Korea, according to the lunar calendar perhaps, and all I get are shrugs and blank stares.

Isn't the start of spring important in Korea? And when is it?

Today was a fine 18 C here on the second biggest island and I'm eager to travel the country as well as hike more local hills and visit more small islands. There is an Azalea Festival on Daegum Mountain here on Geoje Island soon.

What springtime blossoms are worth seeing in your part of the country?

[desultude]

The first sign of spring, for me, is the waxy white bloom of the magnolia, against the dark bark of the trunk, without any green yet.

I really love the first day that a lot of trees are showing the first baby green leaves. It seems to happen all at once.

A real sign of spring where I live (on campus) is all of the newly minted couples. The Korean student mating ritual still baffles me.

[Mr. Pink]

[schwa]

1st day of spring (ibchun) by the lunar calendar fell on feb 4 this year. Then you get a cold snap or 2 called got-saem-chui which is said to be winter's jealous response to the coming blossoms.

We get a triad of spring harbingers up here in the northeast, all of them starting to show now: magnolia, forsythia, & wild azalea.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Spring is absolutely glorious here in Korea. It does start on a different day on the lunar calendar. ( I learned to respect the lunar calendar when a student told me the next day was the first day of winter. I said it was weeks away. It snowed on his schedule. )

The first sign is the magnolias blooming. Followed by the forsythia then the cherry blossoms and the azaleas. There is a street in Taejon in front of KAIST that has all of them planted together. It is gorgeous.

I do miss seeing daffodils. I've seen a couple of scraggly daffodils here, but not many. Too bad.

In my opinion, spring lasts from mid/late March to mid June (warm days and cool nights). Where I'm from, it lasts about an hour and a half. It goes from wet and cold to wet to hot and humid in a weekend. Korea has a great spring.

Cherry blossoms are a specialty in this city. A serious lack of other flowers, I'm sorry to report.

I always thought March 21 or 22 was the Spring Equinox. I won't quibble.

Happy Spring, everyone!

[Korea Newfie]

Ah, spring. How wonderful to be in a country with FOUR distinct seasons. Glorious. (In Canada our seasons are: almost winter, winter, still winter, and construction.) The previous posters are right, it's beautiful here. My favourite are the cherry blossoms. Very nice.

[tokki]

Who gives a crap when it officially begins? For me it begins when I can go outside without having to wear a jacket on a regular basis.

[zee]

where i come from in canada there are four distinct seasons
winter, spring, summer and fall

yay spring!!!!

[J.B. Clamence]

[Mr. Pink]

[just because]

Mr. pink,
Was your sarcasm switch on or off on the last call.

I agree with you however. Tokki, you give this sob story in the last month about these guys took away your dignity in school and you come up with quotes such as "who gives a crap" regularly.

You might want to make sure you aren't perpetuating what happened to you.

[tokki]

[Mr. Pink]

[tokki]

Ok, but it does revolve around me...the sooner all the people accept that as Gospel the less stress the world will feel. Stop fighting the truth!

[dogbert]