Sometimes I write a story that I know there will never be a second part to. The ones that pull at my heart and make me wish for there to be more.

And this one takes top prize. Most of us tend not to open the door to a stranger. But when New York residents Alexander and Andrea Campagna got a surprise knock at their door during a deadly blizzard, they not only opened their door, they offered their home to one stranger, but 10.

Ten South Korean travelers were on a van headed to Niagara Falls, when the blizzard took them by surprise. And the Campagna’s welcomed  the tourists in, gave them food and shelter until they were safe to leave.

And that typically would be the end of the story. Except, it wasn’t this time.

The Campagnas are fans of Korean food but had never been to the country before. As part of their trip, they explored Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace. Photo by Diane Kang for The New York Times

Just now, the U.S. couple are on a 10-day, all-expenses paid tour of Seoul – the capital of South Korea. The Korea Tourism Organization wanted to highlight the kindness of the couple, as well as promote tourism to their country.

It’s kind of a storybook situation that you could not have scripted,” Alexander said.

Kim Jang-Sil, the president of the tourism organization, said he hoped to show the Campagnas the “warmhearted kindness” of the South Korean people.

And the city didn’t disappoint. The Campagnas were interviewed on local shows and helped film a tourism video. The Korean government spent time with the couple; they were put up at the Four Seasons and dined at fancy restaurants. They were given private tours of local attractions. They took a mountain hike, a trek to the Demilitarized Zone that separates South Korea from North Korea. They visited a Buddhist temple.

And of course, just like when their blizzard guests had been with them, the couple got to experience all the Korean food they could want.

Alexander and Andrea Campagna, lower right, celebrating with some of the travelers to whom they gave refuge during the Christmastime blizzard in upstate New York, along with members of the Korea Tourism Organization. Photo by Diane Kang for The New York Times

The best part, the couple said, was seeing their friends again. They were able to meet with six of the tourists – but this time at a traditional Korean house, which looked over a former home of a royal South Korean home.

There were happy tears as they sat and talked about how grateful they were all to have met. They talked about how it was destiny they would meet.

The travelers said they knew they were ‘home’ when they found a rice cooker in the Campagnas’ home. “When I opened the refrigerator, it felt like it was made for us,” said Park Gun-Young, who had been with his wife and daughter.

Andrea said that Korea had always been a part of the couple’s relationship, sharing that on their first date more than 7 years ago, they had dinner at a Korean restaurant.

At the reunion lunch in Seoul, Kim Jang-Sil, the president of the Korea Tourism Organization, presents a gift to the Campagnas. Photo by Diane Kang for The New York Times

Since the impromptu holiday weekend during winter, the couple said they have heard from so many people who loved what they had done. Andrea said that it showed how the world was “hungry for a heartwarming story”.

The Campagnas gave their former housemates, now friends, gifts, including Christmas ornaments and a picture of their home, covered in snow. 

We bonded so much with them,” Andrea said. “It was like reuniting with family.”

During the course of their trip, the couple learned about ‘inyeon’ or fate. “How did they end up on our street in Buffalo? In a home where we happened to love cooking Korean cuisine and have those spices?” she asked. “How did that all happen?”

Then simply, she said “fate.”

What an amazing way to look at the world – in the big scheme of things, maybe we are all connected to each other in more ways than we could think? And how amazing for humanity that kindness like this exists.

Watch below for a look at the fateful reunion in South Korea.

Sources: NY Times | The Guardian