An abacus is a tool for doing arithmetic.
People have used it since ancient times in places like the Near East, Europe, China, and Russia. In a lot of places, it was eventually replaced by handheld calculators.
I learned how to use an abacus when I was 9. It was honestly one of the best life skills I was taught. Every Wednesday, I would spend 3 hours sitting cross-legged on the ground practicing. At the time, I dreaded Wednesdays and did not appreciate it, but now I wish I had worked harder to master it and keep the skill alive.
Since I was 9 I have regressed a lot. I find it hard to do even basic mental math because I have not practiced abacus in years.
I want to change that