Monthly TOEFL Essay #1 - Long time no see, grandma!

           Koreans are best known as polite and respecting the elders. Hence, when old people pass away, their descendants gather together in order to have ceremony, paying much respect to the dead. This event, Jae-Sa in Korean, has been held nationally or in family unit from the moment Korea was established. Enabling people to interact with relatives and have respect for the ancestors, Jae-Sa is one of the greatest customs that I would like to introduce to other countries.

           To begin with, Jae-Sa makes people to respect the elders. All the countries have funeral, but they don’t have ceremonies like Jae-Sa. Unlike funeral, Jae-Sa is held annually to say hello and pay respect for the dead. This distinct feature lets us have constant respect for the elders. The contrast between other countries makes the difference more conspicuous. For instance, when a Christian dies, the funeral large in size is usually the typical one. However, it ends with just first one, and possibly, the dead can be forgotten if they pass away early, especially for young descendants. Such can discourage young ones from attaining respect for their ancestors. However, in Korea, people present their ancestors food, drink, and cut grass that grew on the tomb every year. Hence, even if old people pass away early, their existence would never be forgotten, and their life would be recalled continuously. As such annual event can grow much respect for the ancestors; it will be advantageous if other countries follow such tradition.

           In addition, Jae-Sa gives opportunities for people to meet their relatives. The term, ‘nuclear family’ is often used to describe how the modern families are comprised of. Most of the families only have parents and siblings, so it is unlikely to see relatives many times. Consequently, citizens of other countries don’t have chances to meet their relatives except traditional days such as New Year’s Eve, which can potentially decrease the bond between them. However, in Korea, Jae-Sa prevents such deterioration of intimacy. As it is best recommended not to be absent for Jae-Sa, it increases the number of meetings with the relatives. Even relatives who went abroad gather together in one place, so it is also a great chance to see each other. Personally, I actually have a close cousin who immigrated to U.S., but I never longed for him as I can meet him every time Jae-Sa is held. Our closeness never decreased, and he remains as my best relative.

           To sum, Jae-Sa is an opportunity for people to communicate with both their elders and relatives. Nowadays, people around the world are so busy that they can’t care about themselves and their family members. If Jae-Sa can be adopted in various countries, I don’t doubt that it would be the best tradition for both the alive and the dead.