For Sri Winda Melati, or Winda as her friends call her, the best part of studying at KDI School wasn’t just the lectures or the campus life; it was an unexpected friendship that changed everything.

Winda, a student from Indonesia, met Lee Jangmi, a Korean student, through the KDI School Buddy Program. They were never classmates, yet something about their connection stood out. Over time, they began sharing not just casual conversations, but meaningful experiences, joyful and difficult.

As Winda prepared to return home to Indonesia this August, Jangmi asked her a simple question:“Where is the one place you really want to visit before you leave?”

Winda’s answer was the DMZ, a place she had long dreamed of visiting but never had the chance to, due to academic responsibilities. What happened next was a gesture she never expected, Jangmi took special paid leave just to make that trip happen for her.

During the visit, Jangmi introduced Winda to her friend Bonglim, who welcomed her with warmth. But it was a heartfelt confession that made the day unforgettable. Jangmi told Winda that out of all her time at KDI School, Winda is her closest friend.

“She said she’s truly grateful that we met,” Winda recalled, “and that my being here made her KDI experience more meaningful.”

For Winda, who never considered herself someone who enjoys traveling, this memory rewrote what friendship could look like: genuine, thoughtful, and beyond borders.

“I never imagined that my presence could mean so much to someone,” she said. “Or that someone would give so much of their time and heart just for me.”

As she leaves Korea, Winda carries more than just a degree. She carries memories of love, gratitude, and the power of being seen by someone who was once a stranger.

“Maybe one day I’ll return to Korea,” she mused. “Just to see Jangmi again.”

Let’s stay friends forever.

사랑해 장미 언니