Of smooth conversations

One of the numerous things I did as a teenager, when I got my first phone, was install apps or join groupchats with the sole aim of having a Korean friend. My idea of friendship then, revolved around what was portrayed in Korean dramas back then. Sadly, each time I met a Korean, we barely had anything to say to each other, which made the conversations awkward. After the usual introduction of selves, we always ran out of topics and left chats pending.

However, if tables were turned, and I had a Korean friend now, it wouldn’t turn out the way it did back then, if both parties were really interested in making the friendship work. For a conversation to flow, both parties have to share interests right? Yeah. Now, there are topics that bind people of all races, no matter the distance, music being one. We don’t necessarily need to share the same music tastes. As long as we both have opinions we’re willing to share, the conversation should flow smoothly.

Our conversation wouldn’t revolve around just music of course, one thing I like to talk about with friends, is our favourite childhood tv shows. Considering we reside in different regions, I’ll like to revisit that memory with him or her. I’ll hear what he or she has to say about Korean children shows and maybe if we even watched similar shows. But what if said friend has no childhood show memories or isn’t particularly interested in sharing, we’ll talk about adult shows - movies we’ve watched, and I’ll even want to know how many kdramas he or she has watched, considering it’s their own country drama.

I’ve actually, always wondered what Christmas looks like in Korea. I would love to know if he or she was religious, and how they celebrated it if they were. Here in Nigeria, it’s all pomp and colors during that time of the year. Everywhere is dramatically decorated with red, white, gold or green tinsels, and colorful led lights. It’s always that much of a big deal here. I would love to know what the environment is like in that place during Christmas. Does it bubble, or is it like a regular holiday season?

We’d also talk about the food. We’d talk about tteokbokki, jjajangmyeon and bungeoppang. Is he or she a fan of those two foods, considering the fact that I’m a fan of it on camera? Together, we’re going to discuss the diverse foods we both have. Aside all these I’ve mentioned, one thing I’ll look forward to is pictures of regular things in his or her environment. For instance, a snapshot of the road, on said friends way to work, funny reels sent to each other, banners and the likes. It’s also important we share a similar sense of humor. That way, nothing has to feel forced, or one person doesn’t have to hold back emotions, to make the other feel better.

Friendship doesn’t have to be defined by borders. What matters mostly, is both parties willingness to make things work. Like the prompt suggested, this is me imagining what I’ll talk about, if I had a Korean friend.

Thanks for reading.

Images are mine.