I love this photo.
That is Ahnna and Seema, respectively, from South Korea. I met them during orientation in Jeonju in February, which would make them some of my oldest friends during my (second) brief time in Korea.
Brief. I say second because I am still in communication with Estevez, aka, James Bond, from 2005. The wonders of Facebook, which is also where I lifted this picture.
Seema lived in an apartment above mine. She is from England, is nine years younger, and we both agreed that, had we not been fated to have been placed in schools that placed us in the same apartment building, we likely would not have become friends. At least not close. But, they did, and we did.
Ahnna was one part of the Ahnna/Chris combo that was fast becoming two of my closest friends in Busan. Chris and I first connected in Jeonju at a noraebang. Both of us, like everyone else there, were pretty drunk, and I mentioned I liked In Flames. It was love at first devil horns. \m/
Ahnna, at first, was the girl in orientation with the beautiful butt several of the male teachers, myself included, allowed ourselves a lingering gaze as she passed. She later became Ahnna with the easy going personality and friendly nature. And the beautiful butt.
We got drunk together, went on city explorations together, shopped at HomePlus and had It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia marathons together. We all were well on our way to becoming close, possibly lifelong friends. And, then I went home.
Things change when you're not there, when you're not in someone's constant consciousness. It's no one's fault, no one is intentionally keeping you out of the picture. You're just out of the picture. It's why you don't get invited to weddings when you have not seen someone in seven years, even though you were close friends in college. It's not malicious. You're just not there.
Roots take time to develop. Maybe they can form within two months, but the sustenance they require to mature can be hard to find when lives take divergent paths, both physically and mentally. Roots need to constantly be fed for them to survive. But, when they do, it's beautiful, like that picture up above.
Thanks, ladies, for the inspiration.
