Valentine's

Let me share with you about what Japanese people do on Valentine's!!!

First of all, I learned that Valentine's has become a tradition followed after western culture, but it didn't exist before and they celebrate it differently.

The custom is that women give chocolates to men on Valentine's and one month later men give back to women white things. White color gifts, white chocolate, etc. On Valentine's no man is supposed to give anything just receive.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? It is a different way, isn't it?

On the other hand, other cultures do other things. For example, many of my roomates from Hong Kong stayed up all night before Valentine's baking cookies, and next day they give cookies to their friends. I also received chocolate and cookies from other Asian girlfriends from Taiwan and Main Land China. I would imagine that in many parts of the worls giving chocolate and cookies is a common thing among friends and I know that in Latin America people also celebrate friendships, so I received cookies from Sandy too, who is from Colombia.

I celebrated my Valentine's having a long day at school, but when I arrived to my Seminar house, I was surprised by the most beautiful roses my husband Chad had sent. They made my day!!!

I believe Asian people are very very romantic, everyone who saw the roses were super loud and excited; smiling, commenting on them, smelling them and reflecting all these beautiful feelings on their faces.

I believe they are so romantic too and believe in love and sherish it so much. They said to me: "You are so lucky, I'm so jealous". The were screeming and talking about the roses, and how beautiful, and how great my husband must be, and that they want one like that. I bet they must miss that since they can't receive. Even if they had boyfriends thay are the ones supposed to give on Valentine's and not receive.

This was a very great first experience for me, there was a beautifull and real positive energy surrounding the room. Their excitement lasted more than 15 minutes and their conversation in Japanese made the whole room to be loud, but full of energy-even though I could not understand a word of what they were saying- I could see their faces and completely understand their body language. They looked so happy, almost if they were the ones who received the roses.
It is amazing to see how excited they also get when you tell them that you are married. It seems to be a "Super Valuable" tradition or custom for them, both males and females. I have experienced this a few times with different people from Japan and other parts of Asia.
This seems to be the opposite in other parts of the world. What I have experienced in the past is that when you say you are married some people don't react to that and others may see it as not a good thing or may no even make a comment, but the Asian people I have spoken to become very excited, and smile and and say "Wow!! That's so great, I am so happy for you, Wow, you are so lucky." Many of my friends from Asia are single and they say they wish they had a partner. They crave for relationships and you could see their eyes with romantic looks. They mean what they say. Relationships is very important and they like to be in love.

After all these experiences surrounded by very romantic women, I feel pretty good and they made me feel so much more proud than ever about ROMANTIC LOVE and MARRIAGE!!!