5 Healthy lifestyle Habits
I learned While living
in South Korea
My family moved to South Korea when I was a teenager, and left when I turned 18. I remember feeling very odd and out of place for the first 3 months as I tried to absorb and adapt to the food, culture, sights, sounds, people, et cetera.
To be honest, it took years to really adapt. But as for the falling in love part- I loved it immediately. First of all, there is a lot do to in a city of 9.7 million people. You never really get bored (or at least I didn’t). Second of all, I was accustomed to countryside living and being exposed to so many energetic, busy people all at once was quite interesting.
One thing I loved about Seoul was it’s close proximity to the mountains. About a 7 min walk from our apartment was a natural spring at the foot of Byeongmokan mountain, where we would walk and fill jugs of water for drinking. We would then bring it home, boil it, and then let it cool.
Looking back, these were the memories of Korea that I cherish because they taught me a simpler way of living and enjoying life. I don’t remember ever complaining about carrying water home from the spring, I just remember the talks with other Korean people who were also filling water jugs, and the surprised and confused looks on their faces when they saw first saw the American girls who had found their “secret” spring instead of just going to the supermarket like everyone else.
I learned a lot about healthy living from Korean people, but for the sake of space, I've narrowed it down to a few.
Exercise. Koreans enjoy exercise, and aren’t afraid of walking places. This includes walking to the market and carrying home bags full of fresh produce, climbing mountains, or taking long late night walks.
Hydration & Personal Hygiene. Koreans take hydration seriously (ie. they drink lots of water), as well as their personal hygiene. I remember the first time I went to the bathroom at a coffee shop. To my surprise, I was the only one who hadn’t brought my toothbrush along! So next time you head out, pack your toothbrush. Your teeth will thank you later. 🙂
Respect and awareness of others. Koreans are very mindful of the space around them, and show general preference to others, especially elders (much to be said on this topic). While they can be boisterous in social situations, Koreans are generally quiet- especially when using public transportation or while having coffee with a friend. FYI: The loud person on the subway is usually the American. One thing I loved was the awareness in how you hand things to others, especially elders, which is with two hands instead of one (more on this later.) This is a small gesture, but is considered a sign of humility and respect.
Nutrition. Koreans know what’s up when it comes to a healthy, balanced diet. The open market is always packed with mothers and grandmothers buying fresh vegetables, tofu, freshly caught fish, ect. Dried seaweed is also popular, and it isn’t odd to see shops exclusively selling large sheets of seaweed. It tastes delicious with a bowl of rice. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend you do. Another thing I learned from Koreans is eating in small portions. Not only do you avoid an overly full stomach, but the act of savoring small bits is so gratifying.
For more on Korean self-care and mindfulness, I recommend checking out “The Book of Korean Self-care” 🙂
That’s all for now. Your comments are always welcome in the box below!
