Almost half of Jeju people have tangerine trees at home. The farmers in Jeju Island are said to live off of selling tangerine. In 1950-60s, tangerine trees were called "college trees" because one tangerine tree was believed to make enough money to pay for their sons or daughters' college tuitions.
Since 1981, Jeju Tangerine Festival has been held every two years with the widespread of tangerine cultivation. I am glad that I could been Jeju during tangerine harvest in my one year exchange program in South Korea. What a great experience : D
As a volunteer helping Jeju farmers to reap the tangerines, at first I was very nervous, because I still couldn't speak Korean fluently, I scared I will trouble them instead of helping them. However, the farmers in Jeju Island were really kind and hospitality.
My tangerine harvest one day experience:
9.00am - Departed
9.30am - Arrived tangerine farm, learned how to pluck tangerine.
12.30pm - Free Jeju famous pork as lunch
1.00pm - After lunch tour
2.30pm - Plucked tangerines
4.00pm - Finished
I enjoyed the time playing in the tangerine garden, I enjoyed the meal, I enjoyed my free tour and the ice cream that I ate during the tour. I think I played instead of helping them! :( My bad! However, the owner gave us 10000 Won as a reward for helping them before we left! How nice and how touch!! I regret I didn't help them more :'(
I miss that time! I miss the Aju-si, I miss the Ha-ra-bo-ji, I miss the handsome young guy, I miss the nice and sweet tangerines. I miss the tangerine harvest badly :( Wish I could go back there again during tangerine festival in the future.
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