A Morning of Flow
At 6:30 a.m., I woke to the cool morning air. The day began quietly, and before setting off, I managed to edit a podcast, prepare a post for Instagram, and work on my English blog. Using the early hours this way gave me a sense of flow, and with it, a little more space in my mind.
After tidying my room, it was time to say goodbye to my host family. To my surprise, they had even prepared lunch for me. That simple act warmed my heart deeply.
Saying farewell to the six-month-old baby felt especially meaningful. He looked at me, smiled, and waved. That expression is something I’ll never forget. A baby’s honest reaction feels like a mirror, reflecting one’s own state of heart.
Shelter from the Storm
As I set out, the sky was already heavy with clouds. I quickly made my way to a park I had visited before, where I knew I could shelter if the weather turned. It was the right decision. Soon after, strong winds and heavy rain swept through.
There are times when intuition brings joy, but this time I simply felt grateful to have been prepared.
I waited in the park for one to two hours until the rain eased. Then I continued north along the trail road, pedaling through wet pavement and gusts of wind.
The Bridge and the Rain
By late afternoon, I found what seemed like a perfect spot under a bridge for the night. I thought it would be safe from the rain.
But I had made a mistake in assumption. Raindrops slipped through the gaps of the bridge, at first slowly, then heavily. Eventually, water seeped into my tent, and before long, I was completely soaked.
It was tough—uncomfortable and tiring. Yet even inside the damp tent, I studied Spanish and focused on small tasks I could still do. That gave me a sense of purpose, even as the rain poured down.
