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#Increased willingness to challenge and sense of adventure; decreased fear of new things #European bus travel; learning through city tours #Satisfied, valuable time
The biggest thing I gained from the European bus trip was that my sense of challenge and adventure grew.It is.
During the trip I went through many trials and errors, both big and small, experienced the characteristics of various European cities, and my fear of new places was greatly reduced.
A European bus trip with young people from around the world! Kim Si-ran, gap year participant (24, university student) / 4-week gap year.
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# I wanted to see and experience Europe''s famous cities in person.
Hello! I took a leave of absence with one year left of my university life. Before returning to school I traveled through a gap year project, and now I am Si-ran Kim, a fourth-year returning student.
I''ve always been very interested in cities, and in terms of urban planning I wanted to see and experience Europe''s famous cities firsthand.At first I looked into traveling alone,but there was so much to prepare and so much to research on my own that I searched for a project that would guarantee the greatest possible freedom, and that wasthe Gap Year project.
It was attractive that I could visit eight European countries in the short span of three weeks, and because it was an international travel company, the fact that there were many foreignerswas also appealing.
* For Kim Si-ran, who wanted to challenge herself with new experiences and find her career path, missions that broke her existing assumptions and tailored 1:1 personal missions about new experiences and career directions were provided daily, and a Gap Year Note that allowed her to reflect on herself and make plans was also provided.
# Before departure, my excitement was greater than my worries!
Before departure I was more excited than worried, and compared to other long-term gap year programs it was relatively short, so it didn''t feel like a long period at all.
When preparing, I actually did little else related to the trip aside from booking the plane tickets and buying the Paris Museum Pass in advance. Instead,I spent a lot of time reading books about cities and architectural styles because I thought that knowing ahead of time would allow me to see and feel more.
# I joined the gap year project with the somewhat special goal of a ''city tour''.
I participated in the gap year project with the somewhat special goal of a ''city tour''. Somy aim was to take in as much as possible with my eyes within the allotted time, to appreciate and realize things.I set that as my goal. By observing the look of each city, I wanted to see how it differed from my country, what the transportation system was like, and how everyday life differed in various ways.
And because it was a trip with foreigners, I wanted to make new friends, learn about different cultures, and have an enjoyable time together.
# During the trip I was also able to have time to think alone and reflect on myself.
Above all, through this bus trip,I was able to experience a wider world, and through trials and errors like getting lost I was able to fully enjoy Europe''s rich culture and arts, which left me very satisfiedI am satisfied. I was also able to visit places I had wanted to go to in person and see many of the magnificent buildings I had wanted to see.
During the trip I was able to spend time alone thinking and reflecting on myself.Also, meeting and making new friends in an environment completely different from my country gave me the valuable experience of being in the position of a minority.
The biggest thing I gained from the European bus trip was an increased sense of challenge and adventure.My easygoing personality—being not too worried even when I got lost—helped somewhat, but during the trip I went through many trials and errors, which allowed me to experience the characteristics of various European cities and greatly reduced my fear of new places.
Daily routine on-site / Friends I traveled with
The travel schedule typically consisted of waking up in the morning, having breakfast, then either spending free time or adding a free-time option to join a local tour program; after that we''d either return to the accommodation on our own or together. The next morning we usually moved on to a new city.
If the destination was relatively close, on the afternoon of the arrival day we''d do a walking tour or bus tour with the tour manager and then have free time.When moving to a distant place, we''d usually spend the evening at the accommodation and have free time the next day.
Most of the friends I traveled with were participants from Australia or New Zealand, and there was one Korean friend. I relied on that Korean friend a lot throughout the trip. Haha Still...As time went by I grew close to my foreign friends and made many memories.
For prospective gappers
If you respond and participate with an open and positive mind rather than worrying, you''ll gain a lot!
I wasn''t good at approaching foreign friends either, but greeting them with a smile, asking how they were, and asking questions that show interest allowed us to open up to each other. I also realized that instead of waiting for others to approach you, you have to take the initiative to get close.
AndIf I had to pick the place I liked the most, it would be Nice in France!
Despite being winter, the warm southern seaside city of Nice was perfect for relaxing and shopping.
It was a wonderful place. It''s a beautiful city where most places are within walking distance, so I definitely recommend visiting!
My gap year preparation tips!
- Language
If you want to travel properly and get along better with foreign friends, it''s a good idea to study at least some travel English before you come.
- Accommodation
Since it was a hotel package, I was generally satisfied with the accommodations! Still, just in case, it might be good to bring some bedbug-treatment items.
- Meals
Think of it as time for socializing.
- Packing list
: Portable charger, laptop, phone, travel insuranceMake sure to pack these. Especially, don''t forget the portable charger!
My gap year
Experience ★★★★★
: Traveling alone abroad, and spending more than three weeks in Europe, gave me plenty of experiences with various places and people!
Learning ★★★★★
: Just observing and feeling with interest naturally became a time of learning.
Environment ★★★
: It was winter in Europe, so it snowed every day. But aside from the cold weather, everything was great.
Safety ★★★
: With a team, travel between cities was safe, but when exploring freely within a city you need to be careful on your own.
Leisure ★★★
: Since this is a project for young people wanting to experience a lot in a short time, the schedule is fairly tight.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
