Jason’s parents took me with them to visit his aunt and uncle out in Gangwan-do, an area known for stretches of forests and mountains. The winter I visited was one of the coldest winters in years and I even got an emergency text while in Seoul warning of frostbite.

It was snowing on our drive up there, and the rivers and streams along the way were almost frozen solid, which made the perfect conditions for Korean iceskating. Jason’s uncle brought out boards for the cousins and I to skate on. It was an interesting and humbling experience as you need a little strength to pick the ice to move yourself. Typically, I’m pretty miserable in the cold, but it was so amusing, that I soon forgot.