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#Started focusing on myself and setting the direction for my life #The realization of discovering my moments of happiness #The fulfilling feeling of giving and receiving love with the children
I went to Vietnam because I wanted time to focus on myself rather than preparing for a job. It was also a time to look back on myself and realize when I am happiest, and it was truly fulfilling to introduce the feeling of love to the Vietnamese children who have lived through hardship, and to receive love from them as well.
When my presence shines: overseas volunteer work with children in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam! Bora Kim — Gap Year participant (26)
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# Rather than the job opportunities that came after graduation, I wanted to take time to focus on myself first.
Hello.I’m Bora Kim; I volunteered for one month at a childcare institution in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.After graduating from university, before getting a job, I wanted to have a meaningful experience, so I joined a gap-year overseas volunteer project!
To be honest, when a job opportunity came after graduation, I felt I couldn’t say with certainty that my life had direction, even if it had some momentum. I thought that situation was the result of living since entering university by focusing only on the tasks in front of me.
I had difficulty clearly saying what makes me happy, what I like, or how I relieve stress.So I postponed starting a job and decided to take time to focus on myself.
* For Ms. Bora Kim, who wanted new experiences and to know herself better,daily personalized 1:1 missions about life direction and new experiences/challenges were provided, and a gap-year notebook was given to reflect on herself and make plans.
# The reason I chose this volunteer work was that I wanted to let children who have had a hard life know, even a little, what love feels like.
While postponing employment and worrying about what to do next,I became interested in overseas volunteering, something I had wanted to try once during university,and because I wanted to make foreign friends, I applied to the Korea Gap Year overseas volunteer program. I also thought living abroad rather than in Korea would give me more time to focus on myself, so I went to Vietnam.
I chose the Ho Chi Minh childcare program because I wanted to let children who have been hurt by their parents and who will live in different circumstances from most people understand, even a little, what it feels like to be loved.So I think I insisted on this volunteer program rather than programs that care for children living with their parents.
# I plan to continue putting into practice the things I felt while doing overseas volunteer work!
Before departing, I thought about how to approach the children I would meet during the Vietnamese volunteer work in a friendly way,asked friends working in childcare for advice, and prepared small Korean souvenirs in case I met foreign friends.
My goal for this gap year was to take time to focus on myself and learn more about who I am. I didn’t expect that to be fully achieved in just one month, but I valued having at least a little of that time!
My goal is still my goal,and I plan to steadily increase the time I spend getting to know myself better through volunteering and gap-year experiences, gradually reaching that goal!
# Through my time in Vietnam, I was able to find out when I am happiest!
Above all, meeting the Vietnamese children was the best part for me.Children might be shy and avoid strangers when they see them — and some are — but most run up, hug you, and welcome you from the start. Their reaction was different from what I had expected, so I was very surprised; I felt grateful, but also a little sad.
Actually, playing with the children wasn''t an easy task. However, I became accustomed to those characteristics of the children.As time went by, I naturally came to understand them.
Children, especially those living in orphanages that don''t have many things to play with or toys, are very curious and take interest in even the smallest things.Living while understanding these children''s traits, I later learned and realized many things.
Before participating in the Vietnam volunteer project, I couldn''t clearly say what I was best at. But the big achievement of this project is that I discovered it! While living in Ho Chi Minh...I focused on what makes me feel happy, and I''m really glad I found it — I felt I could live the remaining days more meaningfully!
# What does a typical day look like in the Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam volunteer project?
First, I woke up around 6:30–7:00, got ready, and took the bus to the local organization at 7:30. Although the accommodation was in Ho Chi Minh, it was a bit far from the city center, so it took about 30 minutes by bus.
In Vietnam, morning activity start times are very early and it''s extremely crowded even from 6:00..! We took the bus and walked a bit to the organization and arrived at 8:30 to volunteer by playing with the children. I thought tasks like feeding and washing the children were mandatory, but they weren''t, so at first I only played with the children.
But as I adjusted to life at the organization and became familiar with the mothers who look after the children, later I would help with washing the children as needed.
Then there was lunch from 11:30 to 2:00. This break was long, so I ate nearby and always went to a cafe. After returning to the local volunteer organization and playing with the kids...We finished volunteering at 5 and spent free time with the other volunteers who came along!
# People I met during my gap year!
First, the staff of the local Vietnamese volunteer organization are the most memorable.They kept me company every evening, introduced places known only to locals, and thanks to them I was able to watch a movie at a Vietnamese cinema. I think these are things I would never have experienced if I had only come to Vietnam as a tourist.
Also, one friend I met at the childcare center is memorable.That friend works nearby but likes children and consistently came to the center once a week. He said there are many delicious things in Ho Chi Minh and took me on a food tour, so I was able to taste some of the most delicious foods I had in Vietnam and experience special street foods unique to Vietnam!
# My recommended local travel route!
I highly recommend the park at Landmark 81, which is a bit away from Ho Chi Minh''s city center.A local staff member of the organization first took me there, and I liked this place''s peaceful atmosphere, different from the busy city, so I went back 2–3 more times by myself. There is an extremely tall building known as the Landmark, a large lawn in front of it, and a walking park. The combination of the tall building and the lawn feels somewhat strange but really nice! You can sit on the large lawn and watch people, lie down and look at the sky, or watch children flying kites.
Outside Ho Chi Minh, I recommend Hoi An, a small town near Da Nang.The whole town is truly beautiful. It''s famous for its lanterns, so it''s especially beautiful at night, but the streets are lovely during the day too. The entire area called the Old Town in Hoi An is designated as a World Cultural Heritage site, so you can see the old Vietnam and find many sights that inspire admiration! It''s far from Ho Chi Minh so you have to fly there, but if you plan to travel the central region before or after volunteering, I highly recommend visiting Hoi An.
# My gap year preparation tips!
- Language
: I thought only speaking skills were important, but listening skills also matter. Also, since not only Americans come, be aware that English accents from different countries may vary.
- Accommodation
: Items not provided at the accommodation can be purchased at a nearby large supermarket, and since prices in Vietnam aren''t very expensive, it''s fine to buy there (towels, shower items, toothpaste, etc.).
- Meals
: They give meal coupons usable at a nearby large supermarket for all three meals a day (if you want). I later sometimes bought food elsewhere or bought ingredients at the supermarket and made meals! Try it once or twice, and if it doesn''t suit you, since prices in Vietnam aren''t expensive, it''s okay to buy meals outside separately :)
- Things to bring
: Vietnam is also a place where people live, so they sell the things you find in Korea! You don''t need to pack everything perfectly; if something''s not available, you can buy it there! Haha. However, if you use contact lens solution, it''s surprisingly hard to find in Vietnam... You can only purchase it at optician shops. Those shops can be hard to find, so if you wear contact lenses, it''s good to bring a large bottle.
Also, I prepared inexpensive bookmarks and such that reflect Korean characteristics to give to the foreign friends I met while doing local volunteer work, like Korean traditional souvenirs and postcards. When parting with them, I gave Korean-themed postcards as gifts, and I think they were a nice present!
# Finally, a word to those considering a gap year overseas volunteer project!
It might help to think of all of these as new experiences in your life.As someone who likes trying diverse experiences, it was a great time. If not now, when else would you live with, talk to, and travel with foreigners like this? Even if you feel your English is lacking, this is a rare opportunity, so speak up confidently and spend lots of time with foreigners — I think you''ll later remember it as a wonderful time.
And after the volunteering ends, during your free time it''s good to wander around Ho Chi Minh City and try various experiences.Going alone is fine, and it''s also nice to go with foreign volunteers you''ve become close to! On weekends where you have two full days of free time, it would be good to take trips to nearby places.
My gap year was
Experience ★★★★★
: Thanks to the local people I met at the volunteer organization, I was able to properly experience local life in Vietnam, and the experience at the orphanage where I met the children was also very good.
Learning ★★★★
: Living in Vietnam allowed me to directly learn and experience Vietnamese culture and language, which was great.
Environment ★★
: Compared to our country''s environment, not everything can be said to be better, but I think I was able to adapt well without problems later.
Safety ★★★★
: Overall, I never felt unsafe while staying there.
Leisure ★★★★
: Outside of volunteering hours, I was free to do whatever I wanted!
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