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#Developed interest and confidence in a new field #An attitude of not fearing failure #Felt warmth from bonding with the children
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Looking back on my overseas internship experience, I gained more than I expected. I became interested in a new field and gained confidence that I could do well!
A Harvard student goes to Thailand to brighten the world. Gong Won-hee, gapper (23 / university student) / 3-month NGO overseas internship gap year |
# Hello! I am a university student who completed a three-month overseas internship at an NGO located in Thailand.
Hello! I''m a 23-year-old university student who returned after doing a three-month internship at an NGO located in Thailand.
I am currently on a leave of absence from school, and just before joining this project I participated in a demi-pair project in Toronto, Canada through Korean Gap Year and a volunteer project in Hanoi, Vietnam!
* For Gong Won-hee, who wanted time to gain new experiences and set the direction for her future life,Daily missions for self-reflection and customized one-on-one personal missions for new experiences and challenges were provided, and a Gap Year Note for reflecting on yourself and making plans was also provided.
>> Click to check out over 530 Korean Gap Year projects in 44 countries all at once!
# When I had lost my sense of direction in life and was struggling, I got to participate in an overseas internship project through Korean Gap Year''s 1:1 consulting!
When I was at a low point and had lost direction in life, I discovered Korean Gap Year. At that time I didn''t even know which of the many projects listed on the website I should choose,Because I didn''t even know what my situation was to simply choose a project, I first received a 1:1 Gap Year consultation.
Through the consultation, I received recommendations for several Gap Year projects suited to me. With a desperate desire to change, I decided I needed a gap year in my life and participated in the recommended language study, overseas volunteering, and overseas internship gap year projects.
>> Find your life''s direction! Go to Gap Year 1:1 Consulting Click!
# I wanted to achieve my own goals through this overseas internship gap year!
During this overseas internship, my goals were 1) to acknowledge myself and 2) to express myself properly.
Additionally, I set as subsidiary goals to focus more on and enjoy the situation, and to persistently accomplish one thing. Also, through this overseas internship gap year project, I aimed to realize my ideas!
# Conversations with the founders at the beginning of the overseas internship were really helpful!
In the early stages of the overseas internship, conversations with the local NGO founders were very helpful.Through the way they acknowledged me and through the advice they gave about future directions, I was able to shake off my fears.
And thanks to their words encouraging me to consult together and move forward, I gained strength and was able to explore and pursue different directions.This part is what I liked most about the project, what moved me the most, and what I learned! :)
Another thing I liked and was moved by during the overseas internship was the children I worked with at the local NGO.Because I mainly worked with children, I had many opportunities to meet them. As a result, I was able to memorize the faces and names of about forty children and become close to them.
Among them, the friends who were especially close to me helpfully took the initiative to assist with the activities I wanted to do and even led the other children. I always greeted and joked with those warm kids, so when the time came to say goodbye, I was really sad.
I thought that because so many volunteers came and went the children wouldn''t want to get attached, but many of them gave me sincere farewells saying they hoped I would visit again. The memories of greeting and hugging each of those children remain truly sad yet beautiful and moving.
During the three-month internship, I realized two major things.
While doing this three-month overseas internship gap-year project, I realized two main things.
First, you learn through failure, so you shouldn''t be too afraid of failing; and second, when your plans are completely blocked, you should not hesitate to actively seek advice from people around you who have experience. Those are the two.
When I was lost in thought, I couldn''t do those two things and had a hard time. Thanks to the intense experience I went through then, I gained these two things. Even though it was confusing and difficult at the time, I think I will be able to handle similar difficulties more flexibly in the future. hehe
Through this experience I became interested in the field of international development & education!
Looking back on my overseas internship experiences now, I think I gained even more.I became interested in the previously unfamiliar field of international development and cooperation, and even in education — which I had thought wasn''t for me — and I saw that I could do well in those areas.
I also gained confidence thanks to the founders who gave me feedback when I asked about what I do and about myself. Of course, I also gained confidence from carrying out my plans and the feedback I received afterward. In addition, I gained the important insights I mentioned earlier.
With these experiences, learnings, and confidence, I expect that I can do well at anything and handle future difficulties flexibly!! :)
Here''s a typical day in my overseas NGO internship project!
Aside from morning start times and meal times, it was generally flexible.
✔︎ 9:00 am ~ 9:30 am – Arrive at the organization
✔︎ 12:00 pm ~ 1:00 pm - Lunch break
✔︎ 1:00 pm ~ 6:00 pm – Afternoon to evening
My internship work sometimes involved accompanying health-sector volunteers on home visits to vulnerable neighbors, and on market days I would go to the market with the organization''s kitchen staff or other volunteers.
Otherwise, I generally started and ended my day at the organization. Sometimes I rested in my room in the afternoon and took walks on a nearby trail. Since there weren''t many facilities nearby, I often went into town with someone whenever there was a need. hehe
# My personal local travel recommendations!
During the internship, I usually spent weekends visiting Chiang Mai.I usually enjoyed city life in Chiang Mai — searching for great restaurants, drinking coffee at cafes, watching movies, taking cooking classes, shopping, and so on.
Places especially worth visiting in Chiang Mai include the mountaintop temple Doi Suthep and the national park; due to my schedule I only visited Doi Suthep. I spent my time only in Chiang Mai, but you can also visit nearby places such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Dao, and Pai. After finishing the project I went to Bangkok to catch my flight back to Korea and did some sightseeing during the remaining visa period (about 5–6 days). In Bangkok I visited the Ayutthaya ruins and was very satisfied. I recommend it if you go to Bangkok!
# To those considering a gap-year overseas internship!
I hope you won''t be afraid of your planned project failing.Even if that plan collapses and you lose your footing briefly or for a while, through that failure you can discover other fields; in my case, by doing my best at what I could do, I was able to see other possibilities.
The saying that you learn through failure was what the founder of this Thai internship organization emphasized to me the most.It''s probably something he tells every volunteer who comes here. What I learned is certain, and since I did my best, you''ll be able to be satisfied with participating in this project too!
# My tips for preparing a gap-year overseas internship!
- Language
: Before participating in this internship project, I improved my English skills through Korea Gap Year’s Canada demi-pair language program!
- Accommodation & Meals
: I mostly ate the meals provided by the organization, and sometimes I cooked and ate with the founders and colleagues! The meals provided by the local internship organization generally suited my taste, but during the last month I often cooked for myself!
- Packing list
: Northern Thailand was cold in winter. So I strongly recommend bringing a hairdryer. I also bought insurance, and other necessary items could be purchased near the internship organization. On weekends you can go into Chiang Mai city and buy things at big malls or traditional markets! Rather than bringing too many things from the start, I recommend buying them locally when needed!!
My Thailand gap-year internship was!
Experience★★★★★
: Through this internship experience I became interested in education, international development, and other areas I didn''t know about before! It was truly a wonderful and great experience for me!
Learning★★★★★
: Through this gap year I got to know myself better and was able to learn about fields I didn''t know much about!
Environment ★★★★
: I think it was a sufficiently good environment. Especially for those who like nature, I think it''s really, really a great environment!
Safety ★★★★★
: There was nothing in particular that would be a safety concern!
Leisure ★★★★
: During the internship, I was able to spend weekends enjoying leisure in other areas such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, Chiang Dao, etc!
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