11/11: Pepero Day!

Some marketing genius decided that November eleven, a date that's written entirely as ones (11/11), should be dubbed "Pepero Day," in honor of the chocolate-covered, straw-shaped cracker. Korean stores and bakeries are currently stocked full of the stuff. I'm expecting to be riddled by a storm of Pepero quarrels in class as students give each other (and yours truly) Pepero-themed gifts.

Like most expats, I don't have a damn clue why it's called "Pepero," as the snack has no relationship whatsoever to black pepper, chili peppers, bell peppers, or any other sort of pepper. My theory: if Hello Kitty is what happens when vaginas are commodified by East Asian marketers, then Pepero is what happens when those same marketers turn their attention to the penis.

Ladies! They're hard! They're long! And they're tasty! And on November 11 every year, you should be sucking on them, one after another!

Already sick of Pepero, I've sent my top agent after the marketers:








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