Day 360: Rapidly Aging

Today was Monday, but it was no ordinary Monday. Wednesday is Lunar New Year, so only have a two-day work week this week. Unfortunately our work week is split up between today and Friday which is a rather odd schedule, but coming in today knowing that I was off again tomorrow - for three days - was pretty awesome. Half my kids weren't even here today cause they were away on holidays, so that made it even easier.

This means though that in Korean age I will be turning 28 on Wednesday! Dear God where did the years go by?? ;-) In Western age I'm only 26 so that may seem confusing. Let me explain. In Korea all babies come out as one year old, even though we would only view them as one day old. You're born with one year of age already, so that puts you ahead.

And then, actual birthdays, in the literal sense of the day you were born, are not celebrated as much as they are back home. They're a day for celebration, but your age does not change on that day. Instead, when the Lunar Calendar switches over on Lunar New Year, (a day that floats around in February for reasons I know not), *everyone* turns one year older. Together. So as of Wednesday everyone here in Korea is suddenly one year older. It's a strange concept at first, but easy once you get used to it.

And that's where those two 'extra' years come from.

The funny thing about this is that a baby could be born here in Korea today and be one year old. But in two days on Lunar New Year that same baby will be two years old. So in other words a baby that we would view as being only two days old, in the eyes of the Koreans would be two *years* old. Wow, talk about some rapid aging!

It's also fun cause it means that on Wednesday Pauline will be 30! Haha! Take that, Pauline! :-)