Merry Christmas from SUPPLIteam

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The day of winter solstice （Korean and Chinese）

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and has the most hours of darkness. It usually falls around December 22 on the solar calendar. 

A traditional Korean winter solstice event is making and eating red bean paste porridge called “patjuk” (팥죽). Red beans are boiled and small balls of glutinous rice are added, making a thick and sweet porridge. 

Red beans symbolize the chasing away of evil spirits, and the rice balls symbolize new life. Therefore, eating a delicious bowl of patjuk on winter solstice was believed to chase away all illnesses. Also, eating the same number of rice balls as one’s age symbolizes the successful passing of the year. 

In the past, Koreans would sprinkle red bean paste porridge around the yard and share the dish with neighbors to chase away evil spirits. At the time, many also believed that a warm winter solstice meant the coming of disease and death, while a cold, snowy winter solstice meant a prosperous New Year. 

Although the winter solstice is not a major Korean holiday like Chuseok or Lunar New Year’s Day, Korean families do get together to enjoy a sweet bowl of red bean paste porridge and wish each other a healthy and prosperous New Year. These days, numerous porridge restaurants offer patjuk all year round. A bowl usually costs 5,000 to 9,000 won. （SOURCE:VISITKOREA.com)

The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; pinyin: Dōngzhì; literally "the Arrival of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the Dongzhi solar term (winter solstice) on or around December 22 (according to East Asia time). In 2013, the festival falls on Sunday, December 22.

The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning").

Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of tangyuan (湯圓) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often alsoSweet Osmanthus flowers), called jiuniang.

In northern China, people typically eat dumplings on Dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty. On one cold winter day, he saw the poor suffering from chilblains on their ears. Feeling sympathetic, he ordered his apprentices to make dumplings with lamb and other ingredients, and distribute them among the poor to keep them warm, to keep their ears from getting chilblains. Since the dumplings were shaped like ears, Zhang named the dish "qùhán jiāoěr tāng" (祛寒嬌耳湯) or dumpling soup that expels the cold. From that time on, it has been a tradition to eat dumplings on the day of Dongzhi.

Old traditions also require people with the same surname or from the same clan to gather at their ancestral temples to worship on this day. There is always a grand reunion dinner following the sacrificial ceremony.

The festive food is also a reminder that we are now a year older and should behave better in the coming year. Even today, many Chinese around the world, especially the elderly, still insist that one is "a year older" right after the Dongzhi celebration instead of waiting for the Chinese New Year.

In Taiwan

To Taiwanese people, the festival in winter also plays a very important role. It is also a tradition for Taiwanese to eat tangyuan on this day. They also use the festive food as an offering dish to worship the ancestors.

In an interesting twist, in accordance with ancient Taiwanese history, many people take some of the tangyuan that have been used as offerings and stick them on the back of the door or on windows and tables and chairs. These "empowered" tangyuan supposedly serve as protective talismans to keep evil spirits from coming close to children.

In addition to following some of the customs practiced in China, the people of Taiwan have their own unique custom of offering nine-layer cakes as a ceremonial sacrifice to worship their ancestors. These cakes are made using glutinous rice flour in the shape of a chicken, duck, tortoise, pig, cow or sheep, and then steamed in different layers of a pot. These animals all signify auspiciousness in Chinese tradition.

Another interesting custom in Taiwan is that many people take invigorating tonic foods during this particular winter festival. To the Taiwanese, winter is a time when most physical activities should be limited and you should eat well to nourish your body. This practice follows the habits shown by many animals which follow the law of nature and hibernate throughout winter months to rejuvenate and to preserve life. In order to fight cold temperatures, it is necessary to eat more fatty and meaty foods during winter when your body can better absorb the rich and nutritional foods at this time due to a slower metabolic rate.

Since Dongzhi is the "Extreme of Winter", Taiwanese regard it as the best time of the year to take tonic foods. Some of the most widely popular winter tonic foods enjoyed by Taiwanese to fight cold and strengthen the body's resistance are mutton hot pot and ginger duck hot pot. Other foods like chicken, pork and abalone are also common materials used in making tonic foods with nurturing herbs such as ginseng, deer horn and the fungus cordyceps.（SOURCE:WIKIPEDIA)

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Conflict

The largest crisis between our team members happened yesterday and I really upset with no matter how hard we tried,the stupid mistakes repeat and repeat again...speechless.Seems learning process is kinda not easy the whole team.The largest communication problem seems not related with language or what words you use but how you makes people to understand.

I prefer to voice out whatever I think,man on man basis instead of girlish ways to think that we should settle everything behind or never mind,I just endure...but ended up grumpy and distorted.We have no time to waste and hesitate,everything will only lead to an outcome,which just a small and tiny experience of your life.

There wouldn't be any outcome that you can‘t afford because journey is long and endless(if you choose to standstill)

Never ever think that endurance will solve every problem you face now in near future,instead...it will becomes larger problem or crisis ever.There is nothing called tomorrow never die or whatsover tomorrow will be a new and better with the unsolved problem you face today.

History will just keep repeating and become your life long problem for today and tomorrow.

Every single human is irreplaceable and unique by themselves.We couldn't afford to lose anyone but it is hard to put every single pieces of uniqueness and peculiarity of every team mate into one.

I really understand that Peggy,Sasa and Jammy do love our team wholeheartedly,but the problem is could we really know what we gonna do and what we are doing?I wonder why my voice is not really being heard even how straight to the point I've mentioned.

Today is the last day of SUPPLI team for 2013.It is a time for me to keep calm and get a clear vision on how to optimize my team to attain goal.

By Ellie

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My blur busy day

In the early Saturday morning, hmm...i think its almost 9.50 am? Haha, i know that's not early at all for those working adults even students, but I was just awake! ねぼうしました！(Over Slept!) Oh my god! I was just realize that I was late when Peggy call me for......help? She said that there were walk in inquiries, but she has class at the same time. So, I clean up myself quickly and rush to Suppli.

For me, this was the very first day I try to learn Korean. The class was start from 1030am to 1230pm. My new classmates were so shy, you know? And I was a newbie in the class, they seldom talk to each other. Haha! Luckily teacher and other active classmate broke the atmosphere all the time, appreciated. =D
At the same time, as a admin of Suppli as well as a student in class, I felt so sorry that I go in and go out all the time, that's so annoying to my fellow classmates.

After the class, there were both Korean and Mandarin next classes going to start, so Suppli was full of students at that time. A blur blur person, who called Jammy just come out from classroom, looking around and still don't realize that the most busy time, "goyang" here and "goyang" there to tick attendance.

Okay~ actually I have a lot of stuffs have not been done yet. I found out that when Peggy pass Adam to me. Oh no~ I forgot that I have some important staff have to settle on time ! >w< Erhem..I knew that I'm so unsteady, did everything became messy and messy and messy.

But finaly, phew...Sasa~~~I'm so happy when I saw sasa take care on receptionist. And I have to thanks Peggy help me to fix everything even thought she was busy than me. Xiexie~ ToT

By Jammy

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Adam said I'm pretty~

SATURDAY !! You know what does it means?
well~ based on my past experience,Saturday consider as 'kelam kabut day',
Meaning, lots of unpredictable thing will gonna happen on that day.
I'm having saturday trauma soon, haha~

10:30am , I've supposedly start the korean class on time, but something happened thus we can't start on time. After korean class, it's Adam's class. Adam, a very special people for me. Haha, the first time we met, is in a very complicated situation. well~ when something happened, I used to talk to myself, actually self-talk can reduce stress and boost confidence as well. Out of topic @@

Thus, I decided to teach Adam vocabulary, 10 mandarin vocabulary. I have no idea what to do with him since that he is not willing to talk nor cooperate with us. But it's okayy~  I have lots of patience. In that 1 hour plus, I work so hard to gain his attention perhaps passion to learn mandarin ( no easy lar to gain his attention.) Teaching really required great patience. I don't scold or give up anybody, I'll keep on do what should I do, hoping he will cooperate with me as well.

time flies~~ class dismiss \(^o^)/~ both of us also very hungry and exhausted. After school, Adam's father and me having a discussion, seeking a way to help him learn in a more effective way.
After the discussion, they're leaving. At that moment, Adam turns to me, and whisper ' laoshi (teacher), piao liang (pretty)'.  /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~ my heart melts~ ❤

Awww~ so sweet ❤okayyy, that's the main point, haha. Adam say I'm pretty~ hehe .. happy~
Even though it's tiring, but still so sweet . A sweet saturday \(^o^)/~

Sasa saranghaeyo

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Everyday is a happy day(+love)

这个是我见过最赏心悦目的工作照，好像看着自己的爱人or小宝贝工作的样子。（陶醉ing）

我也不知道为什么最近特有一种爱上suppli team的感觉。没办法，大家真的太太太可爱了。好不想放弃大家的点点滴滴。

（对不起，陶醉文x10000字，容纳不到）

能看见自己要好的人是幸福，

能看见peggy的睡相是幸福，

能看见sasa，jammy的互动是幸福，

能跟学生上那么开心，充满欢笑跟配合的日文课是幸福，

能跟自己的团队有说有笑是幸福，

能组成一个这样的团队是幸福，

能被关心是幸福，

能在文具店跟亲切的叔叔婶婶哈拉是幸福，

有时候觉得自己没有很幸福的我，其实却被那么大的幸福包围，

这就是幸福

The best part of my life is having you all in my life...I just can't help falling in love with SUPPLI team...Owhh

By Ellie

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We are SUPPLI team

I really love the words KIZUNA,which means bond in Japanese.I strongly feel bond between SUPPLI team whereas we will stay together and fight for same dream and same goal forever no matter what happened.

As all of you see,SUPPLI team consisted of Ellie(me),Peggy and Sasa as well as our new rookies,Jammy.

Well,as the words of SUPPLI.We are not here only for to be your SUPPLI-ment of you language,communication but also for your happiness with our passion and energy.

Lately,some discouraging happening occurred which I think it really a test on our bond.Anyhow,the word called KIZUNA is not something can be trash.We works as one because we are partner in various side of life.No one is perfect because we are perfect when we are together. <3

by Ellie

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