Han Bi-ya, a representative Korean traveler and international relief activist, widely known by the nickname “Daughter of the Wind,” has published her new book, “It Was Good Then, It’s Good Now!” (Jungang Books), after five years.
In this book, Hanbiya conveys the lessons she learned in the latter half of her life, such as 'how to walk slowly,' 'the joy of sharing,' and 'the joy of learning,' in her characteristically cheerful and warm voice.

I never really learned how to walk slowly.
There are many plausible sayings like “live at your own pace” and “it’s okay to take it slow,” but it’s hard to find people who actually live that way.
I was always anxious that I would fall behind if I lived slowly, and anxious that I would be pushed aside if I lived at my own pace.
So I ran and ran, even blindfolded.

--- p.20

When I worked at World Vision, I helped and rescued hundreds of thousands of people with funds worth hundreds of billions of won.
That's also why I'm called 'big hand' even though I have small hands.
But systematized, large-scale support inevitably leaves out blind spots where the most desperate people are left out.
There are also structural limitations that prevent us from providing immediate assistance in urgent situations.
On the other hand, 'I'll pay for it' is 120 out of 100 in effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction because I can directly help the person in front of me with my own money according to my own judgment.

--- p.25

If you look around carefully, you will see that there are people in need of help everywhere, both domestically and internationally.
No need for grand scale or special methods.
All it takes is one thought, sent to one person, one day.
The great help we receive throughout our lives remains in our hearts, but isn't it the small, heartfelt touches and glances that keep us warm for a long time?
--- p.41

Little feet that decided to walk, little hands that decided to give! Finding a way to live well, a way to live true to myself, isn't a grand task.
I think it all starts with, 'How do I walk today and how do I use my hands?'
Because those small, repeated actions every day accumulate to create my life, and that life will surely gradually lead me to become the person I want to be.

--- p.71

Anyone over 60 is bound to have a few creaks or two in one or two places.
It may be because humans are organisms with a set 'shelf life', but this is especially true for body parts that have been overused since childhood, like mine.
So, rather than a breakdown or malfunction, this is a sign that a long-standing component has done its job, and a bill for completing the task assigned to me.
--- p.81

The biggest feature of my class is that it is field-oriented.
This is a method of directly applying learned theories to real-world cases.
Half of the three-hour class is devoted to theory, while the other half consists of country-specific case studies, student presentations, and discussions.
To do this, I have to study as hard as a student for 16 weeks.
So, for two days before class, I read related papers and reports, analyze the latest field situations and issues, and create teaching materials.
New experiences and information from relief efforts brought in each year—from South Sudan in 2022, Rwanda in 2023, and the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh in 2024—make these lively classes possible.
--- p.94

The Rohingya are called "Bengali Kala" (black people from the Bay of Bengal) and are subject to strict controls on movement, occupation, marriage, number of children, and education.
Even when going to a neighboring town, you need a separate pass, and there is a curfew after 6 PM.
There are also reports that couples are given permission to marry on the condition that they have only one child, and those who have more than one face huge fines or up to 10 years in prison.

--- p.118

Whether you travel alone, in pairs, or in groups, the essence of travel is the same.
It's about breaking away from my familiar routine and entering an unfamiliar world to have fun and interesting times, finding out what I want in that time and meeting my true self, encouraging and recharging myself as I encounter myself, and thus, liking myself more.
I think it doesn't matter if you're alone or with someone, as long as you can take care of this.
But what if you set out with that expectation in mind, only to find it difficult to actually pack it? In that case, I recommend closing your eyes and boldly going "separately, yet together."

--- p.214

In January 2023, Hanbiya's retirement school opened its doors.
And the only freshman was admitted.
(That's me!) As a principal, teacher, and student, I personally designed a curriculum optimized for my own goals and standards to coincide with the opening of the school.
The retirement school is a four-year system, with each grade being five years long, so it was a perfect fit.
It is divided into 1st grade (65-69 years old), 2nd grade (70-74 years old), 3rd grade (75-79 years old), and 4th grade (80+), and each grade will be flexibly adjusted according to the physical, financial, social, and emotional state of that period.

--- p.224

“Honestly, the good times are all gone.
Some people might ask, “What else is there left at this hour when the sun is setting and darkness is falling?”
I think differently.
While morning or midday may be appropriate for growth and achievement, evening or night is much more appropriate for maturity and leisure.
There is no one time that fits everything.
What matters is where you focus and how you view life as a whole.

--- p.263