Local's life in SeouL lolseoul (secondary): 9) Spring and 3.1 March 1st Movement

This was posted on 1st, March, 2015 here https://www.facebook.com/notes/locals-life-in-seoul-lol-seoul/spring-and-31-march-1st-movement/387985278039821

(2015/3/1)

In Korea, the school year begins in March, not in September like in America or in Europe.

I like this school system. March begins, spring comes, flowers blossom again, and the school also starts again with welcoming sunshine.

It makes me refresh my mind and helps me get back to study mode. One of the good school policies!

Usually, schools start on 2nd, March, as far as I can remember, from elementary school until now in university.

March 1st is a national holiday, so normally, schools start on 2nd, March, unless 1st March is Friday or Saturday. We don't go to school on weekends.

As always, New year's day came, and so did March. March is the perfect time to start something, with flowers blooming.

March, the first month of spring, sprouting time, begins with a holiday.

However, this holiday is quite different from other holidays prior to March.

Unlike New year's day and Lunar New year (3 days of holiday), it's not that happy time, but it's more than worth remembering this day.It's the day we shouldn't forget.

March 1st 삼일절(Samiljeol) is the day that the biggest independence movement was held across Korea, and it's known as the first public displays of Korean resistance during the occupation of the Korean Empire by Japan. We wanted to achieve Korean independence peacefully.

***Before wondering if I can survive this semester and preparing for the new semester, I should appreciate and thank the people who sacrificed their lives for our country's independence. That's why the beautiful month, March begins with this holiday.

The freedom now I take for granted wasn't available then.

Free right to read Korean, write Korean, speak Korean, listen to Korean... ordinary, daily, indispensable, essential, vital part of life for Koreans.

As the American poet Ron Chapman says: "We should never take for granted our freedoms that we have today. Our freedoms were paid for with the blood of Heros." Well said!

대한 독립 만세! (Daehan Dokrip Mansae!) "For the independence of Korea!" 만세(Mansae) means hooray in Korean.

Hooray Korea. Hooray for the beautiful spring!!

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If you're interested in Korean leading activists' thoughts during Japanese occupation, it would be helpful to read "My desire" by one of the great leading Korean activists, Kim Koo. link: http://goo.gl/272cYe