The Morning I Went to a Park at 6AM and Everyone Was Already Awake


I couldn’t sleep. Jet lag. So I went for a walk. It was 6AM.


The park was full.


Old ladies in visors. Stretching. Really slow. An old guy walking backwards. Another guy just… swinging his arms. For 20 minutes.


Nobody had headphones. Nobody was on their phone. Nobody was running.


I stood there in my hoodie, holding a coffee, feeling like I was in the wrong movie. I tried to copy the arm-swinging guy. Pulled a muscle. Went home.


이른 아침 한국 주택가 공원, 황금빛 햇살 속에서 스트레칭하는 어르신들, 산책하는 젊은이와 강아지

I Tried to Drink Water First Like a Grown Up and Failed


I read somewhere that “Koreans drink water first.”


So I woke up. Didn’t check my phone. Went to the kitchen. Drank a glass of water.


It was cold. From the fridge. My teeth hurt. My stomach made a noise.


Later my friend saw me and said “Oh, you’re supposed to drink warm water.” Or “barley tea.” I don’t know.


I gave up. Went back to coffee. My stomach was happier. I am weak.


이른 아침 부엌에서 보리차 머그잔을 두 손으로 감싸 쥔 여성, 창가 부드러운 자연광, 미니멀한 주방

Breakfast Was Soup and I Was Not Ready


At home, breakfast is toast. Or cereal. Something you eat while standing.


Here, my friend’s mom made me breakfast. It was a whole table. Rice. Soup. Little plates. All of it was steaming.


It was 7:30AM. I was still half asleep. She handed me soup. It was boiling. I burned my tongue. Again. This is a pattern.


I ate it anyway because she was watching. It was good. But I missed my toast. I didn’t say that. I just smiled and sweated.


전통 한국식 아침 상차림, 흰밥·된장국·반찬 3가지, 따뜻한 아침 자연광, 소박한 도자기 그릇

Summary


I thought mornings were for rushing and coffee.


Here, mornings are for stretching in parks at 6AM. Drinking warm water. Eating soup when you’re barely awake.


📌 Things I Noticed


  • People are up early: And they’re not mad about it. I was mad. And tired.
  • Water is complicated: Cold is wrong. Warm is right. I still drink cold.
  • If you’re new: Don’t try to copy everything in one day. I pulled a muscle and burned my tongue before 8AM. Just go back to bed.

This is just what happened to me. I don’t know the real routine. I’m not a wellness expert. Don’t ask me for health advice. I hurt myself stretching.


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👉 [Next in this series]:  The Day I Ordered One Meal and Got 8 Side Dishes and Panicked

👉 [Previously in this series]:  The Night I Walked Into a Jjimjilbang and Had No Idea Where to Take My Clothes Off

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