As fall sets in and a cold breeze cuts a deep swath of empty feeling through my soul, my mood goes frail. This sentiment repeats every fall season without fail since my childhood. There must be a pathological term to explain this, which I do not know. My wife diagnosed that it was because I didn’t receive enough love and attention from my parents in my childhood, and her prescription was that I work hard to earn her love to compensate for the “lost love.”

I must refute this, however, because all my siblings don’t seem to suffer from what I do. For my early years living in Minnesota, I kept complaining to my wife about the cold winters and thunderous, mosquito-ridden summers, suggesting that we get out of here soon.

Then, why have I not yet moved to any of the Sunbelt states? This is a Minnesotan mystery. It is not uncommon to find native Minnesotans who never ventured out to other parts of the nation. I even sense a certain fatalism from such people – as if the very thought of moving out defies their “goddess of the Minnesotan destiny.”

Ironically, the suicide rates in Twin Cities are lower than any of the major sunbathing cities. In my opinion, one single sunny day of Minnesota is a good reason enough to make people happy and smiley in the streets and workplaces – Minnesotans have cultivated the understanding of appreciation!

My coworker, when in his late teens, used to be a crab fisherman in the Arctic Ocean. He once told me that Minnesotan boys were the favorite to their employers because of their high work ethic and tenacity in savagely cold seas. It’s no wonder, considering what they had endured here!

Unexceptionally, every winter, my wife and I talk about our dream of moving to Arizona or California. We know we aren’t going anywhere. It nevertheless provides us a sense of consolation that, only if we decide, we CAN get out of Minnesota anytime for a “happier” life. We’ve been engrained as optimists!

Yet, the true sustaining power that holds us here may be best summed up after we venture outside the Minnesota borders. Toward the end of our family vacations to the places like Hawaii and California, we eventually come to be homesick for our Minnesota, proclaiming, “It’s a nice place here for winter vacation, but not good enough to live.”

Fifteen years ago when I was in Massachusetts looking for a job, I received a call from a recruiter working for my current company. I still remember her first remark on the phone, “People in Minnesota are nice.”

To be honest, the niceness of people was my least care at the time. I had been desperately looking for a job for five months so that I was ready to accept any job – even one like cleaning the bottom of Minnesota lakes in February. However, it didn’t take long to realize that once in Minnesota I was blessed with good people surrounding me: neighbors, pals and coworkers – that my recruiter was vindicated. Furthermore, here is a little secret to spill. Minnesota is also home to about 12,000 Korean-Americans, who came from across the nation and Korea. I hear often that Koreans in Minnesota are nice, probably nicer than those in any other states. The security system of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport doesn’t scrutinize the character of newcomers, nor is Minnesota the destination where only good Koreans choose to live. The fact is that they are assimilated to the culture and the nicety of the Minnesota natives.

As I decided to explore Minnesota, I asked my coworkers about where to visit. They all recommended going to Duluth, saying that I’d see an ocean-like lake with real waves. However, I knew about the sea. I had been raised alongside the ocean and had just come from Boston where my frequent resting place had been Newport for fishing and beaching. I didn’t want to be faked by a pseudo-ocean.

It took me 12 years to visit Duluth for our family trip. Our family really enjoyed the place, and we still reminisce about the trip. It surely was an ocean, just with fresh waters. Another lesson learned: Don’t waste time to appreciate the life that Minnesota has to offer.

I perceive that Minnesota represents the contemporary American voice and place: geographical center, sensible viewpoints, home of many fortune 500 companies, profound art and science activities, best hospital system, University of Minnesota, etc. I also observed that Minnesotans are frequently interviewed for opinions on the current affairs by national media.

The people have compassion, and our political perspectives know how to meet at balanced points when two principles conflict – true in my remote memories. That’s why we have always thrived under the harsh testing of the Mother Nature.

Texans’ hospitality may come from a certain pride and sense of superiority. However, Minnesota nice is based on its genuine openness.

We often feel, especially during winter, a sense of being trapped inland and bored. Visitors from the outside world will receive an open-armed welcome.

Recently, my best friend in Korea called me. After we filled the gaps of years, I asked him, almost begged, “Please come visit me, you only need to buy airfare and all other expenses will be on the house.” He then asked, “What can I do if I am in Minnesota?” After moments of silence, I finally came up and told him, “Imagine this in your mind. 20 degree below temperature, you go out to the middle of a lake, take your coat off in a fishing hut on the top of ice, warming yourself with cans of beers, talking and laughing with your friends, in anticipation of catching the world’s best looking fish called Walleyes. There are no other places like this in the world.”

Believe it or not, despite my hard sales pitch, he didn’t bite!

Byung Hak Lee is a 15-year Chaska resident who also works locally as an engineer.