I’m a time traveller — but not from the future. I’m from the past.
In my world, we didn’t think about plastic waste, carbon footprints, or living in an environmentally friendly way. We looked for comfort. We used up energy like it would never run out. But this summer, I came to a new time and place: Sector 82 of Earthship, which the locals call Seoul, South Korea.
And here, I had to learn the rules. Balance is required for the mothership. You must coexist — not take — if you want to stay on board.
My first test? Moving around. Travel that is good for the environment is not a luxury in this field — it is the law. I visited seven convenience stores to find the Climate Card, which allows me to use Seoul’s green public transportation system. But I didn’t stop there. I also helped other exchange students find their own, leading them through the city’s underbrush like a local scout.
But I liked to walk better. I used to be a long-distance runner — a trace from the past. When I needed to go fast, I called on Ttareungyi, Seoul’s public bike — a great iron horse from the future. I rode through concrete and neon forests with just a tap on my phone.
But on Earthship, moving around is only part of staying alive. Consumption must be mindful. I bought shampoo and snacks from Zero Waste Shops and Refill Stations, cutting down on packaging to almost nothing. I mostly ate banchan — the free vegetable side dishes at Korean restaurants. Eating plants wasn’t a trend; it was a need — a way to make peace with the ship.
I stayed away from mobile data — not only to save money but to escape the constant noise that drives the mind crazy. I used Wi-Fi and eduroam, but only when I needed to. My mattress, dishes, and fan all came from travellers before me. I lived in a shared ecosystem, not a private space.
Air conditioning? I grew up without it. Even in Seoul’s 35°C heat, I didn’t touch it. I adjusted. My body remembered how to sweat — how to survive. I didn’t fight the environment. I flowed with it.
I tracked my carbon savings using Eco Mileage, joined WIMA Korea to pick up trash at beaches, and connected with a tribe of strangers who believed in the same mission — protecting the Earthship.
And slowly, I understood: this ship doesn’t need passengers. It needs a crew.
So I followed the rules. Not because I had to — but because I wanted to earn my place aboard. I became part of a living, breathing system. I learned to leave no trace, to take only what I needed, to exist gently.
I wasn’t just surviving anymore. I was helping Earthship thrive.
Sector 82 changed me. Now, wherever Earthship sails next, I’m ready.
Because I’m not just getting by in this world. I’m helping it grow.
