Here's to you Trista

There are some people in your life that just get you. I'm talking even the stupid things you say, the neurotic freak outs, and the serious meltdowns. This of course goes hand in hand with the laughing so hard your crying moments, the smiling until your cheeks hurt, and the 'I'm so happy I'm dancing in the middle of the street and I don't care' moments. I have had one friend like this in my life before and I felt very lucky to have found her....but since distance and life pulled us apart I never really thought I would find another. Well, here in Korea in the most foreign of circumstances God filled that space for me. He brought me a crazy, living life, honest, and compassionate girl from New Orleans.

She has been my sense of security, my source of laughter, and my go-to person when life was too hard to swallow. When no one else was laughing in the room, I would look at her and she would be laughing right along with me. She got me and I got her..... no need for explanations, no need for conversation. Half the time a simple look would convey all she needed to know or all I needed to know. Like I said, some people just get you, and no matter your differences you are completely the same. You fight for each other, you are loyal to each other, and you don't have to ask when you need help. It's just there.

No matter how many worries or doubts I had about friends before my move to Korea many of them have been completely washed away due to this New Orleans sass-machine. She has convinced me that this world does have amazing people still left in it, and that trusting people is sometimes worth the risk. She has always shown up, and it has always surprised me. I'm not used to having such good friends in my life, and it changed the way I viewed the idea of friendship. Her goal was to restore my faith in people, in girlfriends, and to make me see the point in opening up to others again. Well, someone give her an award because she accomplished the impossible. I believe again, and I see that the risk is totally worth it because of how amazing it has been to have a great friend like her by my side. I have no idea how to fill the gap that will be there once we are no longer in the same city, but I now have a desire to figure it out. I have a desire to meet more people, and let them in, and see what it feels like to let people close to me like I did with her.


Some people are just too good to lose touch with and I know she is one of them. I believe her when she says she will stay in touch and I have hope for finding close friends again wherever I end up living. The first best friend I had in my life is no longer present, but I believe that this one will always be around no matter what previous cards I have been dealt. She's broken through every other assumption I have put forward and proved me wrong, so I will let her continue the trend.

Here's to dance parties, awkward Korean twister, passing notes, dress up parties, and UN nights. Here's to trips around Asia together, North Korean empty threats, throwing paint on each other, and nights of watching WWE in my room. Here's to VISS our subway store, eating more dakgalbi than we should, channeling our inner wedding singer, and Kim our favorite Korean country bartender.

Finally, here's to making new memories in the States....they better get ready for what's coming.

Friends from day 1.

Love you Trista.