Pepero Day

Pepero Day is a cooperate holiday at its finest. It is a holiday contrived by the company pepero which makes long prezzleish sticks covered in chocolate, there are also a few other flavors. Pepero Day follows a typical marketing scheme of convincing folks that to give and receive pepero is evidence love and friendship. The advertisements feature two cute little cartoons each with one end of the pepero in their mouth. Presumably they would kiss Lady in the Tramp style once they have eaten their half of the pepero. November 11th was cleverly chosen as Pepero Day because the elevens look like pepero sticks. This November 11, was all the more important because it was 11-11-11. Pepero is available all year round, but special wrappings, flavors, teddy bears, etc make an appearance for the holiday. My co-teacher happily told me that her boyfriend gave her a really long pepero with a nice note.

Everyone is well aware of the corporate nature of Pepero Day, but they still participate because it’s fun, and it really does make friends. I brought 20 boxes to my school, and I gave them to everybody from the lunch ladies to the principal. The lunch ladies and the cleaning lady appreciated the pepero the most. Unfortunately, the lunch ladies and the cleaning ladies are the most underappreciated people at school. (rise up working class!)

I had a big win with pepero day, because the school I taught at that day doesn’t love me very much. I’m sure they love me more now. I worried that I ruined the love I earned because I was half a minute late to class after lunch on Pepero Day. One of my third graders met me on the stairs and said, “Oh, Jamie! Jamie Teacher!!!.” Then he turned on his heels and tore up the stairs screaming “Ya! Jamie Teacher! Ya! Ya!”

In Korean “Ya.” Can mean anything from affection to “sit down and shut up!” Tone and timing is critical when determining the meaning of “Ya.” Since my student was screaming, and running, I was certain that it meant “She’s late!!!”

I was much relieved to be completely ambushed by 8 third graders waving pepero in my face. I collected my pepero with smiles and thank yous, but it was really important to them that I eat it. One student showed me the ropes by saying, “teacher!” and then he ate one with wide eyes in a very exaggerated fashion. The students were much impressed when I demonstrated that I understood. Hahaha! Then when my co-teacher showed up (after me) they gave her a similar, but lower key, welcoming.

All in all I received a lot of pepero from the kids, so I felt pretty special.