When I heard that a relative from Korea was coming to Houston, I grabbed the car keys early in the morning.

This road is so familiar that I feel like I could drive it with my eyes closed, but I still get a bit nervous every time I set off.

The distance from San Antonio to Houston is about 200 miles. In terms of time, it takes around 3 to 3 and a half hours.

In Korean terms, it's like the distance from Seoul to Daegu, but here it feels like just a trip to the "next neighborhood."

This is all part of the strange confidence that comes from living in Texas.

As I cut through the morning air heading east, the horizon stretches endlessly before me.

Interstate 10 is a long freeway and a major artery for Texas logistics, with large container trucks lined up on the road.

When driving with family, the most important thing is to maintain a safe distance between these trucks.

After about an hour of driving, I pass Seguin and reach Luling, where the highlight of this segment is undoubtedly Buc-ee's.

The massive rest area in Luling boasts the cleanest restrooms in the world, even in 2026.

After buying a few bags of Beaver Nuggets for snacks and grabbing an iced coffee for myself, it feels like the real start of my Texas journey.

As I pass Luling and head towards Columbus, the scenery begins to change.

The area around San Antonio has red soil, but as I go east, there are more trees and the air becomes humid.

And when I start to see the 'Katy' sign, I feel a slight tension. This is where Houston begins. Katy in 2026 has grown much larger, with endless shopping malls and apartments. The lanes widen to an unbelievable 12 lanes, yet there are still many cars.

Entering Houston, when I hit the 610 Loop or Beltway 8, I have to stay alert as cars merge from all directions.

Finally, I arrive at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. "Is this Texas? The land is really big," my uncle says when we meet at the airport, and I feel a sense of pride in that statement. As I put the luggage in the trunk, I think to myself that it was a good decision to get a big car.

A round trip of 400 miles. My body was a bit tired, but it was a great day to show my family from Korea the vast world of Texas and share a warm dinner in Houston's Korean town.

Texas may be a place where you can't do anything without a car, but it also creates paths that connect families and memories, reminding me of that once again.