At this point, the grant money covering all the costs of the trip was starting to run out. We were almost done. We bid farewell to Targhee and Orion in Bangkok and headed to Seoul, South Korea. After two painful brain-swab COVID tests (one at the departing airport and one upon arrival), we made it to our final international destination.

     Olyver had made a friend from South Korea online through a mutual connection, and when we were looking for an alternative to still-closed Japan, we decided to visit his friend and their family in Seoul. They were incredibly generous and kind to us, despite being busy with school and work. It’s amazing that a friendship formed through kids playing games online could lead to such a meaningful real-life connection. I truly valued the opportunity to have conversations and reflect on cultural similarities and differences with their family.

     Even though South Korea wasn’t in our original plans, I’m so grateful we had the chance to get to know both the place and its people. Also—the best toilets I’ve ever seen in my life, by far.