Korea has some of the best food on earth.

Everything I ate in Korea was amazing. I didn’t have a bad meal during my entire visit. Over seven days — from breakfast soup to late-night street food — everything was perfect.

I can’t say the same for Thailand, or Mexico, or India. And while these three countries rank higher on my list of best cuisines, during my time in these countries, I occasionally struggled through many awful meals for the sake of politeness.

So why isn’t Korea at the top of my list?

Consider relationships — this means both romantic and friendships alike.

There is always a time at the beginning, when you’re learning things about one another. The curiosity is exciting. It almost feels like a game. There are no downsides; every interaction is uplifting and fun.

Then, at some point, things change.

Over time, as the relationship deepens, we reveal more of ourselves. The other person says or does little things that you don’t completely agree with, or they have some habit or tic that annoys you. These things aren’t bad enough to end the relationship, but they bring an inevitable end to that early phase of blissful ignorance.

That early phase is my relationship with Korean food. As good as my food experience in Korea was, my time in the country was limited to one week.

In Thailand, India and Mexico, I suffered many unpleasant food experiences. However, I’ve spent many months in each of these countries. I had the chance to learn, to see the good and the bad. I experienced the full range of what was offered. And as a result, I have a stronger appreciation overall.

Enough time spent with anything will bring challenges. Whether friendship or foreign cuisine, everything appears flawless until you reach that inevitable point of conflict. And how you react to this conflict will affect the rest of your life.

Will you panic and criticize, disregarding everything good because of a few hiccups?

Or will you accept the bumps in the road as inevitable, and instead focus on the beauty that started you on this path in the first place? How you move forward from this point will define your relationship — whether that be with food, friend or partner.

Korean cuisine is some of the best I’ve ever tasted. But I don’t love Korean food — because I don’t truly know it. I’ve only had a taste.

The others on the list, however, I’ve grown to understand deeply. And to know and accept the little things that don’t align with my particular taste makes me appreciate them so much more.

It’s why I love them.