Aka Aurora's Tales

It seems embarrassing for me to search and download children songs. Hahahaha ... yeah I am already 20 years old and still interested in children stuff :p But I'm not childish of course ^^. Maybe you have a little brother or sister, even children. I know you always teach them with children song based on which country you are from and   can be western children song. But how about teaching something unique and new ? Let's introduce them to children Korean song. Children Korean Songs have a cute dance and lyrics. Even I'm still practicing ' Three Bears ' dance. hahahahaha ...

Ok let's check what Korean children songs that you can introduce to your little siblings or even your children !

1. Three Bears ( Gom Se Ma Ri Ga )

If you have watched ' Full House ', famous Korean drama, you must know the scene when Han Ji Eun ( Song Hye Kyo ) danced and sang ' Three Bears ' song. This song is telling about a bear family. There are father bear, mother bear, and kid bear.

Check this video :

And here is the lyric :

Gom se ma ri ga ( There is a three bears )
Han jib e i sso ( Live in one house )
Appa gom ( Father bear )
Eomma gom ( Mother Bear )
Aegi gom ( Kiddy Bear )
Appa gom eun ttung ttung hae ( Father Bear is so fat )
Eomma gom eun nal shin hae ( Mother bear is so slim )
Ae gi gom eun na bul gwi yo wo ( Kiddy bear is so cute until I could die )
Hishuk hishuk chal han da ( We are happy family )


2. I Love You

This song lyric is so difficult. It just say saranghae ( I love you ) and norae ( song ). Of course this song tells us about loving each other. Check this video :



The lyric :

saranghae norae
norae saranghae
saranghae norae
norae saranghae
saranghae saranghae saranghae saranghae
norae norae saranghae


Simple to sing and teach it right ? Hmm ... but there's no exact dance in this video. You can make your own move then ^^

3. Korean Number Song

This song is inviting us to learn Korean number with this cute song. The lyric is interesting, but I think the rhythm is fast. I think before you teach it to your little siblings or children, you can sing it by yourself then after you're expert on practice this song, then you can teach it to them. Hahahaha.

Check this out !



Here is the lyric :


1 and 2 and 3 and 4 ... 2x
il ( 1 ) .. ilchorado anbo imyeon
i (2) .. ireohkae chojphandae
sam (3) .. samchoneun eottohkae gidaryeo 
iya iya iya iya
sa (4) .. saranghae neol saranghae
o (5) .. oneureun malhalgeoya
yuk (6) .. yuk sib eok jigueso
neol mannan geon
chil (7) .. lucky
saranghae .. yogi jogi han neun balji malgo nareulbwa
joahae .. neoreul hyanghae utneun miso
meil meil boyeojwo
bbal (8) .. bbalddak bbalddak dwineun gadeul
gu (9) .. guhejwo oneul maeum
sib (10) .. sib nyeon i gado neoreul saranghae
eonjaena i mam byeonji anheulgae


4. Olchaengi Song 

This song is showing you a cute move. I don't know exactly what they mean in this song. But I love the dance and cute lyric and rhythm !



Here is the lyric :




6. Wantusong 


Hmmm I think the song is like a kid want to make a friend with his/her friend. So they want to know more about their friend. cute one. check it out ^^



This is the lyrics :

chu chu chu chu
wonchu wonchu wonchu wonchu waa ~
balgyeonhaesso ddaengjabasseo
naega jjimhaesseo
wonwonchyu ~ chyu
naega badeun chwigo seonmul
baro neo ~ ya
wonchyu ~ wonchyu
bogoshippo
deudgoshippo
malhagoshippo
wonwonchyu ~chyu
naega gajin chwigo seonmul
baro neo ~ ya
wonchyu ~ wonchyu
na neun kkong a
ni ga cham kkong a
want you I want you
gieokhae no neun
chwigora neun geu sasireul
want want you you
neo neun kkong a
ni ga cham kkong a
want you I want you
gieokhae eonjaena
hamkke handaneun gol
wonchyu wonchyu no maneul
want you want you want you
nananana
want you want you want you want you want you
waaa ~




How are them ? are those a great children song ? Hahahaha I'm laughing when writing the lyric. So, it can refresh your little siblings or children's brain with a new song for them. Hope they like it ^^

Love,

Aka

It was a big chance for me to attend a discussion about Indonesian youth with Monique Coleman. Do you know Monique Coleman ? Hmm if you don't know, how about Taylor McKessie in High School Musical, a Disney drama ?

of course you know her ! ^^ On Monday, February, 21st 2011, I got a special invitation from At America, America's culture center to attend Coleman's talkshow. Monique Coleman came to discuss about Indonesian youth. She is United Nation Youth Ambassador . Coleman has joined forces with United Nation officials to promote The International Year of Youth and she will dedicate her time to raise awareness of children and teenagers who make positive contribution to society.




Me and another 250+ people joined this discussion with Coleman, Sahid and Ishaq ( UN Champion from Indonesia ), and our moderator, Alanda Kariza, a girl who have made Indonesian Youth Conference. This event opened by Monique Coleman who gave her opening speech.


This event was overall talked about Education. There are many question from the audiences about Education in America, even is there bullying which is involving US Youth. I was impressed when I listened to Monique, Sahid, Ishaq, and Alanda talk. In fact, US Youth is fortunate than Indonesia youth to get a better education. They are free to choose what they want to study and government will help if there are children who can't pay for their school. Until now in Indonesia, even there are so many children who don't get their rights to have a better education. They don't go to school and play around in the street while searching for money. How poor.


They can have their right to go to school by scholarship, but the scholarship which is provided is on small number. Not all can get that. No enough socialization to Indonesian youth how to fight for getting the scholarship. Sahid said, " I was from a small village in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. My family isn't a rich people. But I have a big willingness to school. Finally I got a scholarship. But without this scholarship, maybe I won't attend to school and can't stand here in front of you ". We  just can find a small number of Indonesian youth who has a big willingness to study like Sahid. So we must socialize to them about their right to get a better education. So do the government.


After that, we moved to bullying topic. There was one audiences who share with us about bullying. He always had bullied because of his sexual orientation. He's a gay and his environment doesn't like what happen to him. Why he had to be bullied, in fact he never do something wrong to his environment. Ah, Indonesian still don't understand about differential and our ideology. Our ideology, Pancasila, said PERSATUAN INDONESIA. It means Indonesia United. So although we are different each other, we have to be unite. Bully means you don't appreciate with another people's difference. Hate that.
But I'm so appreciate to Fandy who want to admit about his gay stuff and gave another audiences a new knowledge from his story. Unfortunately I can't take his photo :(

I want to ask something to Monique, but I don't get that chance. Hmm maybe next time :)

But the important for us is keep confidence with whatever we have in ourselves, Use your weakness as your strength. Don't be shy if you have different side from your environment during you do the right one. Keep spirit, Indonesia youth ! Go go go !

left to right : Sahid, Alanda Kariza, Monique Coleman, Ishaq

Me and Alanda Kariza, the moderator

Me and Monique Coleman, such a big honor to get a photo with her ^^

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I never feel this happy when Valentine's day come. I never celebrate it and I don't know what I have to do in Valentine's day since I have no boyfriend. Hahhahaha. But Valentine's day this year s becoming gorgeous because all of my Korean friends come to Indonesia. I had already come to this program last year at my campus, University of Indonesia. At that time, I just went out from the class and met 2 Korean, named David oppa ( oppa means brother ) and Mira onnie ( onnie means sister ). They invited me to go to Korean Day. Then on that day, I came. Wow, it's gorgeous ! I met a lot of Korean. Then we danced and sang together. Moreover, they acted for Boys Over Flowers parody. Cute ! hahaha

God created us with many differences. We have different skin colours, hair colours, eye colours, habits, languages, religions. But God never differ us. We are now in the same world, but why do we differ ourselves each other ?

Look at some multi ethnic country like Indonesia and America. By the latest citizen statistic data, Indonesia has 237.556.363 people. They are divided to be a lot of races and ethnic. There are Javanese, Sumatran, Sundanese, Sulawesi people, Papua people, even Chinese. In America too. A lot of races and ethnics should make the country being colorful.



But what we face today ? Discrimination is still becoming a big problem in the multi ethnic country. In Indonesia, Not all of Indonesian can receive Chinese, who are minority, to live in around them. Maybe it's Chinese - Indonesia people or Originally Chinese. So, sometimes many people make a difficulty to them if they want to make any important documents, buying or selling a properties, etc.  So do in America, we know that 'non-white' people, let's say " Negroid " or Afro-American, is always getting a discrimination. Although the current President of America is Afro-American, but still the discrimination can't lost yet.



Like what Chris Gardner, which is rolled by Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness, did. He is including of ' non-white ' people. He works as a ' bone density scanner ' seller. It's an expensive stuff and not all of the hospital need it now. In that difficult condition, Chris' wife, Linda, leave him and his son to search a better job in New York. Then Chris lost everything, start from house, car, everything. He and his son live nomadic and have a scramble work. Even Chris and his son live in the bathroom of a train station ! One day, Chris is called to an office and the boss said that he become an excellent trainee and he will work permanently there soon. It's like everything paid with Chris' happiness. Difficulties, sadness, sufferance are already done for them.

A discrimination to a ' non-white ' one seems so clear in this film. When Gardner sells his 'bone density scanner', he gets many difficulty. It's not just because the price of the stuff is expensive, but the seller is Afro-American, means MINORITY. Everybody makes Gardner difficult to search any job. Nobody wants to accept him, because he's Afro-American. Again, They are MINORITY.

So what happen with minority in our life ? Hey, We are all same. God created us differently for making this world colorful. God is fair when giving us sustenance based on what we have done in this life. So, what's the function of discrimination ? It just make us suffered and broken. Nelson Mandela had fighted for a discrimination by breaking apartheid politic in Africa. Mandela wants that Africans, who are 'non-white', and British, who are ' white people ' are living peace and no war.

Actually, living in multi-ethnic country is a luck. Why ? because we live in a 'reach' country. We have a lot of cultures, races, ethnics, etc. Not all of countries in this world have a huge number of cultures like multi-ethnic country. Exactly living in multi-ethnic is a pride. We can learn and share with the other people who are different with us. No need to be regret. If we can keep our relationship each other, we will live happily, No one fighting and NO DISCRIMINATION. Whether we are including to minority or not, but we are one and we are proud to live in Multi-Ethnic Country with all of the differences.

Hello guys, I really need your help. I will do my final project at my university, University of Indonesia. I am semester 6 student of Broadcasting major. If you are 20 - 35 years old, dynamic, hard-working, love to socialize, up to date, and live in JAKARTA, Indonesia, please do fill this questionnaire. I really need it for my data. I have to reach 100 data to make it qualified.

Download the document here : http://ow.ly/3Vbo4 and after you fill it, please send it back to akakobochan@gmail.com . I will wait for your participation until Monday, February, 21st 2011. Make sure that you fill your data too. Don't worry, I won't publish your data. It's just for my database. Pleaseee help me. Thanks a million for your participation and your time to fill it.

Love you guys ^^

Hello. Anyone celebrate Valentine's day ? Yeah. Valentine's day is on February 14th. Honestly, I'm not celebrating it. First, it because not my culture and I don't have a boyfriend yet. Hahahaha. Yeah I know, Valentine's day is not always celebrated with our boyfriend or girlfriend. But still identically with it.

The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.



One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.


Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.


According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.


While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.


To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman "lottery" system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.


In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.


According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)


Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap."

So, do you want to know, how is the Valentine's day celebration in many country ? I will post some of their celebration :

1. Valentines Day Traditions In Britain


Of the various customs popular in England, penning of verses of love affairs and matters of heart is the most fascinating way to honor the Saint patron of love, the immortal St. Valentine. In various parts of the United Kingdom, celebrations take place according to the customs and traditions and as the day approaches, all magazines and tabloids are readying for the day and they publish sonnets and verses to commemorate St Valentine's Day.

2. Valentines Day traditions In Australia

The gold miners in Australia who were blushing with new found wealth from the Ballarat mines were willing to pay a princely sum for making elaborate valentines. The merchants in Australia would generally send orders of a thousand pounds at a time to make the Valentines Day grander. The most profligate of valentines were made of a satin cushion and ornately designed with flowers, colored shells, ribbons etc. All this work was kept in a neatly adorned box.

In some countries like Austria and Germany there has long been a tradition for men to buy their sweethearts flowers on Valentine's Day. An interesting facet of this tradition is that men have to pay attention to the type of flowers their sweet hearts like- both in terms of color and fragrance. In Germany it has become a kind of must for the lovers, husbands or people who are courting, to give gifts and flowers to their loved ones on Valentines Day.

It adds romance and excitement to the occasion. Here various gifts in the shape of love symbols would be given with romantic love messages written all over. On the occasion of the Valentines Day the husbands give presents of chocolates and roses to their wives. Even the certificates of baptism and marriage were thought to be given as Valentines Day gifts but these were more likely to be decorative and pictorial. These would be accompanied by love messages and romantic verses.



3. Valentine’s Day Traditions in India


In India, Valentine’s Day is most popular among the youngsters. They celebrate it with much excitement than anybody else. You can see umpteen numbers of boys and girls doing a parade on the sleek city streets of India with romance on their face on the Valentine’s Day. Adrenaline rush of Valentine’s Day festival can be experienced weeks before the festival. All of the gift shops will be ready for the fest, much before the day. The media also make more people to be aware about the day of love celebration. Greeting cards plays a very important role on Valentine’s Day in India.

Famous greeting card companies in India make almost 80 crores turn over on every Valentine’s Day. In street side shops, people come to sell red roses and red tulips to lovers. They also make a fortune out of the Valentine’s Day. Chocolate candies and ice creams sell like wild fire in India on Valentine’s Day. Teenage girls and boys usually hangout at the lounges, coffee shops and other good restaurant on these days. Pubs and disco bars are also getting booked before the day. India in a way follows the American style of commercialization of Valentine’s Day.

Teddy bears are also considered as very good gifts for girls on valentine days. Boys are hot consumers for teddy bears because they know it will make their girl friends happy. Personalized gifts like Love maps, photo collages, gift baskets containing many rare things which is favored by the lover are also hot gifts in India on the valentine’ day. Jewelry is one of the main gifts exchanged between husband and wife on Valentine’s Day in India. India is famous for its bah zillions designs of gold ornaments. Indian women consider gold ornaments as a symbol of love. Many different shows are organized in cities for the people wanting to have a good time with their near and dear ones. Games and competitions are arranged for kids in shopping malls.



4. Valentine's Day Tradition in South Africa

In South Africa, Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. In some places, the girls pin the name of the boy they love on their sleeve. These traditions follow the old festival of "Lupercalia," the Roman festival celebrated on February 15.


*Historical Notes: Lupercalia was celebrated by the Romans on February 15. The festival took place on Palatine Hill, in a cave called Lupercal. This is the supposed place where Romulus and Remus (founders of Rome) were nursed by a wolf.




5. Valentine's Day in China

The Qi Xi Festival is the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day. It is, however, not celebrated on 14 February like the rest of the world, but is guided by the lunar calendar -- falling on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar each year. In 2009, Qi Xi was observed on 26 August, while in 2010 this date will be 16 August.

Legends surround the genesis of Qi Xi but the common thread of a tragic love story runs through all of them. It is believed that it is on this Chinese Valentine's Day the star-crossed couple -- a cowherd and a weaver -- meets in heaven each year. Having been banished for an eternity of separation by the Goddess of Heaven, it is only once a year that she relents and allows magpies to build a bridge for them to meet.

On this day, young, unmarried girls engage in melon carving and demonstrate their other domestic skills as they wish for a good husband.



6. Valentine's day in South Korea

Valentine's Day is on February 14 in Korea. On that day, many girls and young women give candies to their boyfriends.


There is another special day like Valentine's Day in Korea. We call that day 'White Day." White Day is on March 14. It is just the contrary of Valentine's Day. Many boys and young men give chocolates to their girl friends. Some confess their love to their girlfriends on that day, so many young women look forward to it.

Lots of shops display a variety of chocolates and candies before both Valentine's Day and White Day. Downtown is crowded with many young people who want to enjoy those days.

But young people who had no girlfriend or boyfriend didn't like those days because they spent them alone. So, they made another special day called 'Black Day' for themselves.

Black Day is on April 14. On this day, they have Jajang noodles with their friends who are in the same situation. Jajang noodles are black, so that is why they call it Black Day. However, it is still not as popular as Valentine's Day and White Day.




7. Valentine's day in America

Valentine's Day has become a largely commericialized phenomenon in the United States. Stores stock Valentine's Day-themed plush animals, snacks, gifts, cards, and many other products to capitalize on the holiday's popularity.

Some people choose not to celebrate the holiday because of the large amount of commercialism that surrounds the day. Others celebrate "Singles Awareness Day" on February 14th to celebrate not having a significant other.

Popular Valentine's Day gifts include cards, chocolate candies, flowers, jewelry, and other tokens of affection. Many make handmade gifts for their friends, families, or significant others to express their affections.

Teenagers and adults often look for dates or go out as a couple to celebrate the February 14th holiday. Outings can range from a dinner and a movie to weekend vacations at resorts or in nearby cities. Adults may also hold private parties or attend public parties to celebrate with large groups of friends.

Elementary schools, preschools, and day cares may also host classroom Valentine's Day parties, where each student brings in enough small Valentine's Day cards for the entire class. Prior to the event, students may decorate bags or boxes to hold Valentine's Day goodies until the day of the classroom party, which often involves snacks, games, or a craft activity.

Valentine's Day is a popular holiday celebrated by many people around the world. In the United States, Valentine's Day celebrations include a mix of commercialism and sentimentality that varies from couple to couple and region to region.



8. Valentine's Day in France

At previous time, a French Valentine's Day custom that is now illegal is the "une loterie d'amour," which was eventually banned by the French government because its practice got too uncontrollable.

During "une loterie d'amour," single men and women would enter houses that faced opposite each other and call to one another until they had paired off. If a man was not particularly happy with his chosen partner, he would simply leave the undesirable match for another woman.

After the pairing off had finished, women who were left single built a large ceremonial bonfire and burned images of men who had hurt them. During this ritual, the women would also yell abusive remarks and swear at the men. This was the aspect of the celebration that got too out of control to allow the custom to continue.

It is also traditional for people to visit the town of Saint Valentin in Indre, which is named after Saint Valentine. The village holds many fesitvals and events related to the February 14th holiday, including marriage vow renewals.

But today, the French celebrate Valentine's Day like people in many other countries by exchanging cards, small gifts, and words of affection. Fresh flowers are also a popular item to send or receive on this holiday.

It is said that the first modern Valentine's Day card was sent by a Frenchmen. Supposedly, Charles the Duke of Orleans sent the first modern Valentine's Day card, along with poems and other love letters, to his wife from his cell in the Tower of London after being captured by the British at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Valentine's Day is a day meant to celebrate the affections among people in various kinds of relationships. Individual cultures have unique ways of commemorating the day and cherishing the relationships that hold them together.


9. Valentine's Day in Mexico

Before, Mexican culture emphasizes the expression of one's feelings as a part of everyday life. Respect and the emotional value of an individual is very influential in Mexican culture and forms the basis of many Mexican traditions, customs, and societal norms.

A person's feelings are often shown on Valentine's Day through simple gifts and gestures, such as flowers, balloons, and small gifts. Children in Mexican schools often have contests to compose small poems to attach to balloons.

Today, Valentine's Day is one of the most popular holidays in Mexico.

The holiday is often celebrated by decorating with balloons, flowers, hearts, and other symbols of affection. Flower arrangements and gifts are often exchanged, with heart-shaped arrangements made with red roses are a popular item to send and receive in honor of the February 14th holiday.

Flowers are a play a large part in the Mexican Valentine's Day celebration. Flowers and floral arrangements are popular gifts to send and receive to friends, family, and lovers to mark the occasion. Many flowers are also bought for decorative purposes.

Elegant dances and balls are also planned in Mexico to celebrate Valentine's Day. Guests dress up and celebrate the holiday together at parties, dances, and balls as a formal way to celebrate and express their emotions for their loved ones.

Couples celebrate Valentine's Day by dining out for a meal. Having dinner reservations has been said to be such a popular way to celebrate Valentine's Day that those without reservations made weeks in advance may not be able to find a table at most restaurants on that night or during the entire weekend.

Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated by many people all over the world as a way to commemorate the affections that people share with friends, family, and loved ones. The Mexican people celebrate Valentine's Day as a special day to honor and commemorate the feelings that they share with one another every day, but with an extra special reason.





10. Valentine's Day in Germany

The celebration of Valentine's Day as we know it today with the cards giving ritual and the little heart shaped gifts or chocolates, spread out from France and England to other countries such as Canada and USA. As mentioned earlier, this celebration is quite recent in Germany. It is thought to have started only after the second world war and it is really aimed towards adults only; no cute little heart shaped cards being given between kids at school. It is a strictly "mature subject".


As in all other countries celebrating it, you will find in German stores a full range of romantic paraphernalia; gifts and cards and chocolates specifically made for Valentine's Day. All in pink and red, of course!

But you will also find an interesting little German twist to these Valentine's objects: the addition of a pig! Thus, you can find little pigs offering flowers, or others laying down on chocolate hearts in rather provocative postures.

These little pigs are the symbol of luck but also of lust. Thus, for extra luck with the love one or the would be Valentine, there are some pigs holding a 4 leaves clover while climbing a little ladder on a heart.

Another important item of Valentine's day in Germany is the big ginger cookies, made in the shape of a heart and decorated with frosting. They usually have a few words written on them such as: meine Shatzi, Ich liebe dich, etc.

As Germany is much more liberal in matters of sex and erotica than North American countries, you will also find that some of these cookies have messages that are rather more "direct" as to the lover's intentions than your usual "I love you!"

You can find these cookies for sale in the Weihnachtsmarkt before Christmas too, but they are really popular at Valentine's day.

And while you are in Germany, why not take the time to go to a romantic diner with your lover in one of its numerous castles?

Many of these beautiful old buildings have been renovated to accommodate guests, either for a night in a royal en-suite bedroom, or for an unforgettable meal in a romantic atmosphere that only soft candlelight can create.




So. for you who celebrate Valentine's day, which one do you like ? Hmmm .. I think whatever the way to celebrate it, but we have a love in our heart to the people who we love. Not just on February, 14th. Love someone is everyday. With our power of love, everyday is Valentine's day.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE !! :D

























 













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Being a citizen in a country that have so many ethnic is not easy. One head is different with another head. In my country, Indonesia, there are a lot of islands. It means we have a huge number of cultures, habits, etc. I was born in Semarang, Central Java, but my parents are from Padang, West Sumatra. My father moved to Central Java for his work. From that example, we can say, how to adapt in the different environment ? So we have to learn about the cultures, language, and habits from that environment. Of course, we got a lot of difficulties on learning them. My parents always speak with me in Indonesian, but my friends speak with me in Javanese. Okay, I admit that I cannot speak Javanese well although I had lived in Central Java for 17 years. I understand it, but I can't reply it too much. It's hard for me to learn Javanese. So do my parents.


Me and my friends adapted ourselves each other. I tried to understand what they said and what they did and they do the same. And until now, we still be a good friend although I have moved to Jakarta since two years ago.



Another example, Nelson Mandela had fighted for anti-apartheid. Apartheid¹ was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government of South Africa between 1948 and 1993, under which rights of the majority ‘ non white’ inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and minority rule by white people was maintained. But finally, Nelson Mandela can unite them to be one and no difference between 'white-skin' person with 'non-white skin' person anymore.

Actually, we are lucky to live in multi-ethnic country. Why ? Because we live in a "reach" country. We have a lot of cultures. Not all of the countries in this world have a huge number of cultures like us. Exactly, we have to be proud. Differences are beautiful. We can learn and share with the other people who has different ethnics. No need to be regret. If we can keep our relationship each other, we will live happily. No one fighting, no one hate one or two ethinics, no one being jealous. WE ARE ONE and WE ARE PROUD TO LIVE IN MULTI - ETHNIC COUNTRY WITH ALL OF DIFFERENCES.

*) ¹ is taken from en.wikipedia.com