Hello friend,
Thinking back on my time in college, I realized that it has been almost a year since I have seen you. I can't believe it. It feels just like yesterday that we were playing Chopsticks in our living room and laughing until we cried at our double chin selfies.
I remember startling you when I first moved in to our dorm room and you introducing yourself as "Elin." Then, even though I scared your pants off, you offered to help me move in and settle me into my room. I knew then that our friendship was going to be a special one.
One of my fondest memories is when I took you to Chick-Fil-A for your first time. Watching your face as you ate one of God's greatest food creations was absolutely priceless. We eventually made it a thing to go and get an eight count chicken nugget almost every week. I also remember our cue to go get Chick-Fil-A: I'd mindlessly go around our room singing It smells so good, like Chick-Fil-A.
Another one of my favorite times was when you came to my home and we celebrated Thanksgiving together. I remember you taking about 300 pictures of the nature on the route to and from Lander, the big boy special we call a Thanksgiving dinner, and of us and our shadows, endlessly laughing at each other.
We'd be here forever if I were to talk about all of our memories, that's how much we jam packed into the 107 days we were in the same country, let alone the same room. Ultimately, I want to thank you. For bringing out the best of me during one of my harder times, for getting me out of our apartment more often than I ever dreamed of to explore the college universe, and for teaching me about your culture. I still recall how to say hello,I love you, purple (my favorite color), and a bunch of other Korean words, foods, and traditions that you taught me. I hope I was able to teach you some decent English... even though I got you to say hey y'all to everyone you encountered.
Let me tell you, I miss you more and more everyday. But you make me so proud. You're all graduated from college, you're now a teacher, and most importantly, you're so happy. It's always wonderful to video chat and text on Kakao Talk every once in a while, when the time difference and our schedules don't clash. Hearing how you're doing always excites me!
I hope that I can see you again one day. Regardless, I know we will keep in touch and constantly laugh about the fond memories we shared.
Lastly, thank you for walking into my life as "Elin" and leaving the United States as "Yeokyeong." I will always cherish our friendship and how close we got even though we are now 7,264 miles apart. Stay in touch, my Korean friend!
사랑해 (I love you),
Your friend the USA