In this episode, my Korean best friend Jin spends his last nights with us in Perth, and we celebrate my husband Seong’s birthday in the most “us” way—cozy, silly, and full of food. The week kicks off with the boys playing FIFA and making a ridiculous loser bet (yes… the “run naked” thing, but not fully naked). It’s chaotic, it’s funny, and it’s exactly what happens when your best friend is staying over and everyone gets too competitive. For Seong’s birthday, I sneak out to prep miyeok-guk (seaweed soup), because that’s the birthday staple I always want to make at home. Jin also wanted sandwiches, so I put together a little “high tea style” spread with peanut butter, Nutella, and strawberry jam. I also had an ice cream cake plan happening in the background—trying to check it without being obvious was honestly half the mission. We also open gifts Jin brought from the Korean grocery shop (the useful kind—like things that make cooking at home easier), and we even try making coffee without a grinder, which turns into a “this tastes like tea” moment. The hardest part is always the goodbye—living in different countries makes it sad, but it also makes me cherish these weeks so much more. Next time… maybe Korea. Shhh.