How April Got Washed Away

April has always been my favorite month. Children love the month they're born, because of all of the parties and presents, so I never like admitting my birthday and my favorite month are the same. I feel childish, and perhaps I am.

April's appeal does have to do with festivities for me, but the ones of spring and not of me. As the sunlight comes back, I begin to have a social life again. People fill my world, and I'm happy (except for the times I'd rather be sleeping). Each year, as if by clockwork, even in Asia, my birthday always marks the leaves on the trees opening. It's the greatest gift I can imagine, and the build up is great too.

Asia is world famous for its cherry trees. In the beginning of April, there is one of the most beautiful cherry blossom festivals at Jinhae. The snow flowers have all of the beauty of snow, and the warmth of spring. It's an awe inspiring site that literally made me teary eyed. The Japanese planted the trees before they left, and it's a bittersweet festival in that such beauty came from such atrocities as the Japanese inflicted on the Korean people and land. The Japanese war crimes were heinous, and the Japanese made certain the Koreans would never forget them. The trees serve as a sickeningly beautiful reminder of the past, but they are also a beacon of hope. Just as the Koreans survived the Japanese rule, so too do the trees survive the winter each year to bloom brilliantly for the world.

The Japanese destroyed a large portion of original Korean artifacts and buildings. They burned, pillaged, and raped. Yet, one thing they did not destroy was ancient history. Not ancient Korean history per se, but prehistory. On the coast of Geosong are the footprints of dinosaurs forever in the rock. Now stands a museum, with a large variety of different dinosaur fossils, amusement park rides, and awesome dinosaur shaped paddle boats. The dinosaur park was definitely one of the joys of this April for me.

In addition to weekend trips to cherry blossoms, and dinosaurs, I made frequent visits to Busan and began walking around Changwon more. I'm really loving the warm weather, and looking forward to these next few months.