Pepero = Pocky = Icing covered pretzel sticks. Strangely, I find it ironic that Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day also means Pepero or Pocky Day, at least for the Koreans and the Japanese. Honestly, it’s really a strange combination of a day when one stops to think about it.

I also find it ironic that as much as Korean resents Japan for what happened during the Japanese Occupation Era, Korea likes to copy Japan in more than one ways. Copying the Japanese snack of Pocky into Pepero, it wasn’t until 1994 did Pepero Day start with Japan following suit with their Pocky Day in 1999. (Having read this on Wikipedia, I am not sure if it’s accurate. Don’t hold me accountable, please!) Talk about irony on top of irony. It cracks me up.

Every year, around November 11, this one convenience store in my neighbourhood, Family Mart, sells gifts and whatnot for Pepero Day. I happened to walk by it and perused what was being sold. I saw a stuffed (doll) Pepero, Easter basket type of Pepero, boxes of Pepero all in a bundle, giant Pepero, the ubiquitous chocolate Pepero, the chocolate almond Pepero, and bunch of other stuff that I’m not sure what they are other than the mere fact that it’s freaking Pepero.

However, there’s one thing that I was keeping an eye out for: Strawberry-flavoured Pepero. I noticed that these haven’t been seen in the market for years now. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, that they would produce limited edition of those for Pepero Day. Boy, talk about being disappointed. They don’t have any. What a devastating travesty! Of all the flavours to not have, why must it be strawberry, 딸기 (ddalgi), ichigo, WHATEVER! I want my Strawberry Pepero!

. . . Oh well. I’ll just hit the Commissary on base and get some Strawberry Pocky to drown in my sorrows.