A-Squad!!!

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!

Japan

Regret

"I do not regret the things I've done, but those I did not do."
-Rory Cochrane

I did not kiss Bret or Jemaine.

I did not drink a Foster beer.

I did not jump off a bridge.

I did not hold a koala.

I did not see a sumo wrestling match.

I did not catch a flying fish in the air.

When traveling, some opportunities are missed. A person cannot see everything that Lonely Planet or Frommer's has to recommend; however, that is the beauty of traveling. Some things are meant to be missed. Others are meant to be seen.

Over the last two months, I have been very fortunate to travel to three amazing countries. Over Christmas break, I went with three friends--Chris, Jen, and Scottie--to New Zealand and Australia. Two weeks after returning from the land down under, I went to the Japanese cities of Fukoka and Hiroshima. I traveled via ferry boat from Korea with seven of my good girlfriends from school. Each trip was vastly different. I went from testosterone to estrogen, Anglo to Asian culture, sweltering tropics to cold cities, shepherd's pie to sushi, art museums to atomic bomb museums, and skydiving to saunas.

I didn't see or do everything that the guidebooks suggested, but it doesn't matter. Some things aren't meant to happen when others are. I have no regrets with my trips, except for not taking enough pictures. These trips have taught me to practice mindfulness when interacting with others and my surroundings in the moment. Things feel more engaging, sweeter, and more connected. This blog entry has no room for regret.

I was supposed to kiss the stars goodnight.

I was supposed to drink Strongbow instead of Foster beer.

I was supposed to jump out of a plane.

I was supposed to lick an ant that tasted like lime instead of holding a koala.

I was supposed to see a poker match between four people instead of a sumo match.

I was supposed to catch an Elmo doll in a bus of twenty random strangers.

Australia and New Zealand

Hiking and Biking