The Atlantic

A Second Chance at Friendship

“It happened because both parties were interested to make it happen.”
Source: Wenjia Tang

Each installment of “The Friendship Files” features a conversation between The Atlantic’s Julie Beck and two or more friends, exploring the history and significance of their relationship.

This week she talks with two men who first met while doing national military service in Singapore. They didn’t talk much then. More than a year later, they reconnected online, took a hike together, and found that they clicked really quickly. They discuss how the hikes became a tradition, and how they got a second chance at friendship.

The Friends:

Le Yuan Kwan, 28, a luxury real-estate broker who lives in Singapore
Troy Lee, 27, an entrepreneur who lives in Singapore

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.


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