LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS work!

Denver to Florida

Mel and Erin first connected in San Francisco. Texting, phone calls, and Zoom dates, have made it easier for the couple to communicate in numerous ways during the day. Before meeting in person, they engaged in a Zoom date to get to know each other.

“Since we had Zoom dates each week prior to meeting, it was almost as if I had already known/met him for quite a while,” said Erin Mercer. “Being in a long-distance relationship isn’t that challenging.”

Erin admits this is her second long distance relationship and felt confident navigating through the complications with previous knowledge.

The couple met in February of last year. Erin moved to Denver in March. Then, Mel transferred to Florida for work. Working remotely, Erin has traveled to Florida each month since Mel’s job transfer with plans to move to Florida soon.

“Being on the same page, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, and keeping each other safe (emotionally, physically, and mentally) is what I’ve learned to make my current relationship work,” said Erin.

Military Life

For those enlisted in the military—whether it is the US Navy, the Army, the Marines, US Air Force, or the Coast Guard—know that it’s a way of life.

Filipino-American Kay Guardiano met her husband, John when they were just 19 years old back in 2005. Kay was finishing college while John enlisted in the US Air Force. During their 20s, John was stationed in Las Vegas, an easy four-hour drive or 30-minute plane trip.

“Vegas is the ultimate destination for partying,” said Kay with some humor.

Kay confessed long distance is not for everyone. “It can work if you and your person are aligned on goals. We had a common goal of living our own lives and fulfilling personal goals,” she said. “We have built an immense amount of resiliency and our own identities.”

Together for 17 years, the married couple has a six-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. Since 2012, they celebrate their wedding anniversary on August 4.

Compiled by Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Our Editorial Director’s Big Move

Asian Avenue Editorial Director Mary Jeneverre Schultz used the telephone to stay in touch with her then-boyfriend and current spouse, when he left California after his college gradu ation and settled in Colorado, more than 25 years ago. Hesitant to leave her California home, she attempted a long-distance relation ship before virtual meetings were the norm.

After three months of job hunting in Colorado, she found a business reporting role in a town, one hour away from Aurora, still engag ing in long distance for about 15 months.

“It felt easier when I was living in California,” said Mary, adding that learning how to drive in inclement weather was stressful.

Thinking back, Mary knew it was the best thing that happened in her life – to settle in Colorado with the love of her life.

International Romance

For five months, Denver resident Tiffany and her partner Michiel have engaged in a trans-Atlantic romance. The couple met at a wedding in Pittsburgh, where she was a bridesmaid and he was a groomsman.

After four months of texting, calling and virtual dates, Tiffany traveled to the Netherlands. “We became official when he asked me at the airport,” she reminisced.

She admits to the hardship of “not being in each other’s lives physically and missing out on moments in life.” The constant communications help them to have something to look forward to, but the time difference is arduous.

“When I wake up, his day is half over,” she said.

Her advice to anyone involved in an international relationship is to make future plans to close the distance.

Our Publisher’s Taiwan Days

Asian Avenue Publisher Christina Yutai Guo and her husband C.G. were in a long distance relationship while studying at different universities in Taiwan, followed by her husband’s two-year military service.

C.G. said, “Taiwan is a small island, where the longest dis tance from the north end to the south end is about 250 miles. In modern days, this would just be a four-hour drive. But in our time, we did not own cars as students and there were no fast-speed highways.”

The couple mainly communicated by sending each other letters.

“I would typically write her two letters per week, and she’d write one back to me. After four years, we piled up hundreds letters. I actually quite enjoyed this old way of communicating, since I like to write,” he said.

When the two wanted to meet or go on a date, C.G. would take an overnight bus on Friday night and arrive in the city where she lived on Saturday morning. They would spend the day together, then he would get back on the bus in the evening for the overnight ride back to his university.

“Distance creates a kind of beauty for all relationships,” CG said. “Because of the distance, you hug each other tighter. Because of the distance, you cherish every moment you are together.”

You may have heard—Colorado is getting a new Asian food hall! Located in Centennial, CoArk Collective made its big debut last month and has been the talk of the town!

The vision of CoArk Collective is a gathering place to bring community members together. Through the collaboration of entrepreneurs and investors, the group purchased a previous Golden Corral Buffet and refurbished it into a contemporary food hall.

“Our goal is to offer Korean food with a modern twist that non-Koreans can also enjoy,” said Sean Choi, marketing manager of CoArk and owner of 3456 Tea, a Korean drink and dessert shop.

$15. The current vendors include:

• 3456 offers Korean traditional desserts such as yuzu tea, grain latte, persimmon roll, sausage ricecake and bean bun;

• Bibim House offers the well-known Korean rice dish bibimbap;

• Croffle Haven offers the Korean ‘Croffle’, which is a combination of a croissant and waffle;

• KOCO Street Food offers Korean-style fried chicken, bowls with chicken and rice as well as Korean ramens;

• Mad Toast offers traditional-style Korean street toasts;

• Momo Bing offers milk tea, black and green tea and their specialty shaved ice ‘Noodle Bing Su’;

• Poke Island offers poke bowls with fresh seafood and unlimited toppings;

• Tok Buckii offers Korean soul food tokbuckii and kimbop; and orders appear on the oversized television screens that indiacte when they are ready for pick up at each vendor counter. In the future, CoArk plans to produce introductory videos on their ordering process and types of foods.

Choi noted that the tip levels are set at 3, 5, and 8 percent (with the option to tip more), lower than other restaurants, in order to make the food hall accessible.

Local artist Hannah Lim also displays her ceramic art at CoArk and provides classes to the public. Follow @artatcoark to learn more about the immersive art space.

CoArk Collective is comprised of 95 percent Korean eateries with one Hawaiian-themed vendor, Poke Island, that is also Korean-owned.

The food hall boasts a huge selection of more than 160 menu items with price points ranging from $4.50 to

• The Up Bob offers Korean-style meat bowls and meat sandwiches. At CoArk, diners can order online, before they arrive, or at the front kiosk upon entering. After selecting their food and paying,

Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, CoArk Collective sits at the corner of Arapahoe Road and Parker Road, in a part of town that is growing in its Asian American population, while still limited in Asian cuisine options. This vibrant intersection of Centennial offers restaurants, retail, and entertainment. After an initial soft launch period, the food hall held its grand opening on Jan. 20, 2023.

For more information about the food hall, visit CoArkCollective.com or follow @CoArk_Collective.

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz