My Privileges

God give me the privilege to be able to see how He loves you, guides you, and blesses you day to day without fail. Other privileges are to respect, support and be with you in any circumstances.

Let's JUMP!

I had been waiting for a chance to see JUMP performance since 2009! I saw the advertisement on the way to subway station in Busan and since then were curious to see the martial arts performance.

This week I received an offer to see the performance, free ticket from KTO (Korean Tourism Organization), specially given to the members of K-Performance Supporters. JUMP: Comic Martial Arts Performance was held in Busan Citizens Hall on May 19-20, 2012. I chose to see Saturday performance, from 3 to 4.30pm.

JUMP is a combination of various martial arts (Tae kwon do and Tae kyun - which are Korean traditional martial arts), drama and comedy. JUMP mixs the actors' talent in martial arts and acrobatics with the perfect acting. The actors successfully 'wow' the audiences and also make them laugh. This was the reason why I really  want to see JUMP. I was interested to know how the traditional martial arts mixed with interesting scenario and drama can be performed and introduce to audiences. This is obviously a brilliant method to keep the traditional arts alive.

I went there alone since I only request 1 ticket. I came too early, soo when I arrived in Busan Citizens Hall, I saw many people were waiting in front of the building. Some of them exchanging their invitation to tickets, some are waiting in line to purchase tickets. I saw many children -elementary school age- were taking pictures in front of JUMP big poster. Interestingly, when their teacher took the picture, they jumped! Just like the tittle of the performance. :)

I like the performance, especially when seeing them performed their ability in martial arts and acrobatics. Most of all, I love the last scene when all of them together or one-by-one run and jumped with various style across the stage. It was awesome!

Happy day, Opa!

This morning Josh said to Opa: "Happy Day!", helped Opa blowing the candles through webcam and clapped his hand when Opa successfully blew those candles. 


Happy birthday Opa! Wish you have happy day! 
God bless Opa.

Teaching a child

"Teaching a child is more difficult than pursuing a doctoral degree." -Dita Utomo- 

Children's Day in Korea and Indonesia

May 5th, is Children's Day in Korea. It is a national holiday so if it is on weekday, parents don't go to work so they can bring their children to go out and spend time with them. In Korea, many cities will celebrate the event on Children's Day in festivals or performances. Besides that, zoo, museums, amusement parks offers special discounts or free admission for children.

Children's Day Celebration at Seoul Children's Library

Children in all ages in Korea are waiting for this event because the will receive presents or money from their parents on that day. If you go to supermarket, bookshops or toys stores, you will see many toys, clothes or children's book are displayed for parents and children, for them to easily choose the gifts for the children.

Historically, the Children's Day was founded in 1923 by Bang Jung-hwan, a Korean children's writer and storyteller. Originally it was celebrated on May 1st, but then was re-established on May 5, 1946 after the occupation of Japanese. The Children's Day aimed to highlight the importance of children for the nation, their need of love and care, and in the same time also to honor parents and those who contribute in raising and improving the children's lives. Bang Jung-hwan wrote " Children are the heroes of tomorrow. May they grow to be gentle, vigorous, and wise."

Bang Jung-hwan

In Indonesia, Children's Day is celebrated every July 23rd. It is not a national holiday but usually it is marked  in the calendar to note that it is a special day. Also, there is no celebration such as parents give present to their children like in Korea, but children has many activities such as traditional games, drawing competition  or ceremony at school like what I used to have in my childhood.

Balap Karung, a traditional game played on Children's Day in Indonesia

Drawing competition held on Children's Day in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Back in my childhood, the ceremony on Children's Day in my hometown was held not at school but in the city's square participated by all of kindergarten and elementary school students. We wore school uniforms and cone hat decorated with colorful papers which was made specially for the day. My mom and her staffs would be busy prior to the celebration of the day because she received many orders of the cone hats for the ceremony. I were busy helping her, too. What a unforgettable memory! How about Children's Day celebration in your country?

My mother, brother and I were getting ready to go to Children's Day ceremony.

Happy Children's Day to all children in Korea! ^^

Picture sources:
Children's Day Celebration 
Bang Jung-hwan 
Balap Karung 
Drawing Competition 


References:
http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=003&aid=0004481323
http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=115641&code=Ne2&category=2