모임

Good. I want to talk about Seollal. Like I said, Seolla is a Korean new year’s day. It is a very special day. So, we love to do many things.

First, we indulge in a variety of food. We eat traditional rice cake soup called ‘Tteokguk’. Tteokguk is quiet delicious. So, I often find myself going for a second bowl.

Also, we play traditional games called ‘Yutnori’. Umm… It is somewhat difficult to explain in English, but anyway, when you come to Korea, give it a shot! It’s truly fun!

What else…. hmm… oh my….god! When families gather for Seollal, we drink tons of alcohol. We sometimes get a crazy hangover the next day.

It sounds like a fun day. Doesn’t it?

Oh… you know.. It’s been a while. Hmm… Let me see. Oh.. what about a wedding ceremony I went to last weekend?

One of my friends got married. I couldn’t keep in touch with him for a long time after graduation. Anyway, I went to his wedding in Seoul.

Well.. it was not that special. It was just a typical Korean wedding ceremony. We had dinner, drank a little bit, and caught up with friends.

After the wedding ceremony, I and my friends went to a bar together and had more beer. It was nice to see everyone altogether. You know, it was hard to meet friends because of the bad flu going around.

Anyway, I think this is my most recent experience.

Umm… on Korean New Year’s day, I went to Jeju Island with my family. It was a big family gathering. We went there to celebrate my dad’s 60th birthday.

Anyway, this island trip was so memorable because the island was super beautiful. The scenery of the ocean was amazing and also there were so many good restaurants.

The highlight of this trip was the black pork restaurant in Hamdeok beach.

The pork was so good that I ate more than three servings. Thinking about it makes me want to eat it again. Everyone in my family loved it.

Anyway, it was the most memorable experience at a gathering.

People have always gathered to celebrate special occasions, and that hasn’t really changed.

However, the way we celebrate has seen a few noticeable changes over the years.

In Korea, for instance, there is a traditional celebration called Doljanchi, which marks a child's first birthday.

In the past, this event was considered one of the most important celebrations in a person’s life.

In some cases, it was treated with the same level of importance as a wedding.

Relatives, neighbors, friends, and even colleagues would all come together to celebrate.

It wasn’t unusual to see a hundred or more guests in a large banquet hall.

For example, I once attended a baby’s first birthday party where nearly 200 people were invited.

Everyone was there to wish for the child’s health and happiness, which was quite impressive.

But these days, things are different.

Large gatherings like that have become much less common, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19.

Celebrations have become smaller and more private, usually limited to close family members and a few friends.

People simply share a meal together and offer their well-wishes for the child.

I remember being invited to a Doljanchi not long ago, and I was surprised by how small it was.

Only immediate family members were there, and the total number of guests was nowhere near 200.

So as you can see, there has been a significant shift in the way we celebrate special occasions now compared to the past.

That’s what I’ve observed based on my own experiences.

Preparing for an event is definitely not easy, because there are so many things to consider.

First and foremost, food is always the top priority.

We usually spend quite a bit of time searching for the right place to hold a meeting or gathering.

Sometimes, we rely on online reviews or personal recommendations to make the decision.

Food matters a lot, and I can even remember one time when a meeting was completely ruined just because we picked the wrong restaurant.

The next thing we always have to think about is the budget.

Of course, everyone would love to enjoy a fancy meal with great service, but not everyone has an unlimited budget.

That’s why people, including myself and my wife, often try to find a restaurant that offers good value without going over budget.

It’s kind of ironic how we want something elegant and affordable at the same time, but that’s the reality for most of us.

Lastly, hygiene is another critical factor that cannot be ignored.

No matter how delicious the food is, if the restaurant isn’t clean, it ruins the entire atmosphere of the event.

A dirty environment makes people uncomfortable and leaves a bad impression.

There are plenty of other things that go into planning a successful event, but those are the key points that come to mind right now.

People gather to celebrate special occasions, whether they live in small towns or large cities.

This part hasn’t really changed.

However, the way people celebrate can differ depending on where they live.

In Korea, for example, there’s a traditional event called Doljanchi, which is held to celebrate a baby's first birthday.

In small towns, this celebration is considered one of the most important events in a person's life, almost on the same level as a wedding.

Relatives, neighbors, friends, and even colleagues gather together, and it often becomes a large party with nearly 100 guests in the town’s biggest banquet hall.

On the other hand, in big cities, the same event looks quite different.

It is usually a much simpler gathering with only close family members in attendance.

Instead of a big crowd, people share a quiet meal and offer their blessings for the baby’s health and happiness.

There might be other differences as well, but in my opinion, this is the most noticeable one that comes to mind right now.

In the past, people were extremely cautious about attending large events because of the coronavirus.

Now that COVID-19 has officially come to an end, we tend to forget how serious the situation actually was.

But to be honest, it was far more frightening than we remember it now.

To prevent the spread of the virus, people tried to avoid face-to-face interactions as much as possible.

Crowded places were often avoided, and because of that, it became nearly impossible to host events or large gatherings.

Since I still have some time, let me mention another important point.

Budget is definitely something that cannot be overlooked.

Not everyone can afford a fancy dinner at an expensive hotel, so choosing an appropriate dining venue within a reasonable budget is something many people worry about.

In fact, finding a balance between cost and quality is often a key part of planning any event.