For the past two weeks, my family and I have been living through a unique and challenging experience: our building’s only elevator is being replaced, leaving us with only one option to go up and down—20 flights of stairs. As a family of four, including my wife and our twin babies, this situation has pushed our daily routines and physical endurance to their limits.
The Morning Routine
Each morning, my wife and I start the day by preparing to bring our babies to 어린이 집 (daycare). It’s a routine that sounds simple but has become quite an ordeal. We strap on 아기띠 (baby carriers), each of us carrying one baby, and then carefully descend down all 20 floors. The steps seem endless, and the additional weight makes every step feel like a small workout. By the time we reach the bottom, we’re both ready to catch our breath—but of course, the day has just started.
The Evening Climb
In the evening, I use a time leave to finish work an hour early so I can pick up the children from daycare around 5:30 PM. My wife and I meet at 어린이 집, collect the babies, and start the journey back up. Climbing 20 flights of stairs with babies in tow is no small feat after a full day of work. Recently, we discovered that our building’s rooftop connects to the adjacent building, where the elevator is still operational. While this helps reduce the physical strain, it’s not an easy shortcut: the rooftop is dark, dirty, and cramped. Still, we’ve adapted, taking this alternative route whenever possible.
Physical and Mental Toll
The physical demands of our routine have been immense, but the mental toll is just as significant. Last weekend, I stayed indoors with the kids, playing and lifting them for hours. By Monday, my back had given out—I had strained it to the point of injury. Now, every stair step and even passing through the dark rooftop feels like an exhausting chore.
Moreover, the need to take a daily time leave adds to my mental strain. Using up my leave gradually decreases my available days off, which adds a layer of anxiety. I worry about running out of leave, but at the same time, I feel my work performance dropping due to the lost hour every day. It’s not easy to find a solution since starting my day even earlier is simply not feasible.
Looking Forward
We still have two weeks to go until the elevator replacement is complete. Although this experience has been tiring, I’ve also found it to be a time of growth and reflection. I’ve come to appreciate the small comforts of daily life that I once took for granted. I’ve also gained a deeper respect for people who face these kinds of physical challenges every day, whether due to building conditions or other factors.
Hopefully, after these last two weeks, we can look back on this experience with a sense of accomplishment and a few stories to tell. For now, my focus is on maintaining a positive outlook and taking it one step (or, rather, twenty flights) at a time.
Atsushi's Life in Korea 