The A-Squad comes to Korea

“Nelson, I’m sitting in first class right now on my way to Seoul. I”ll see you soon.”

Click.

Rick’s words almost made me drop the phone. First class seats? How in the world did he score those tickets? Oh, wait. His friend David works for United Airlines. It really does pay to know someone in the aviation industry. I hung up the phone with giddiness. Rick was on his way to Korea!

Rick is one of my dear friends I made after moving back to Minnesota in 2003. We met at Starbucks, worked together for about a year, and have been friends ever since. He and I like to joke that we are from the same zygote because of our similar interests in books, philosophy, TV shows, and being spotlight stealing dancers at weddings. I was definitely excited to see him!

Rick and David arrived in Seoul on a Thursday and I joined them Friday evening to begin a week of fun. My friend and co-worker, Jen, and her Canadian friend, Joss, became part of our A-squad fun. The five of nestled into the bottom floor of a hostel and explored the city together. We went temples, the DMZ, palaces, the noraebong, a folk village, restaurants where old Korean ladies defended us drunk Korean men, and the jimjilbong for the infamous scrubdown. The boys fell in LOVE with the noraebong. I think we went almost every night; the boys even sang their hearts out on a train!


Last Saturday, I sadly brought my guests to the train station. I hugged them both numerous times and begrudgingly stepped off the bus. Seeing Rick and David makes me wonderfully anxious for my summer reunion with family and friends. I am trying hard not to mentally “check out”, but I think the fire has been lit. There are plenty of fun things to do in Korea- two more friends coming to visit in March, professional development to Malaysia, spring break- but I cannot wait for summer. Let the countdown begin!