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#Gained certainty about the work I want to do #Realized the moments that make me happy #Impressed by the NGO's systematic way of working
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While gaining experience related to my future career what kind of work I like,and what I''m lacking, I was able to understand myself, Most of all, because I was doing what I wanted to do, I discovered a brighter and happier version of myself than anyone else!
Vietnam NGO Internship for Growing into an Educational Development Professional Won Harin, gapper (elementary school teacher) / One-month educational development NGO overseas internship gap year |
Hello! I am a teacher currently working at an elementary school!
Hello! I am a teacher currently working at an elementary school! :)I like traveling, but more than visiting tourist attractions, I enjoy meeting various people at destinations and talking with them! I like wandering around without a map when I travel haha
My life''s role model is Father Lee Tae-seok. He devoted himself as an educator and a physician to the children he met in the lowest places of society.I''m not a doctor, but I promised myself that I would, as an educator, provide education for marginalized people like he did.
While gaining experience through educational volunteer activities at home and abroad, I met people working at education development NGOs and became interested in education development NGOs through them. I was really curious about what education development NGOs do, since I had only been teaching children!Coincidentally, there was an overseas internship program related to education during my gap year, so I applied!
*For Won Harin, who wanted special experiences in educational development and to properly set her future direction,she was given daily customized one-on-one personal missions offering unique experiences, opportunities to consider her direction and unhurried time, and also received a gap-year notebook to reflect and make plans.
# Preparations before leaving for the Vietnam NGO overseas internship!
Actually, I was so busy working at school that I couldn''t prepare much for departure.Still, GapYear sent me the things I needed to prepare before departure and a checklist, so thanks to that I was able to depart fairly well!
Also, I was lucky to have participated in several overseas programs before this internship, so I think I had higher expectations about staying abroad for an extended period! haha
# Through this overseas internship, I wanted to objectively look at the profession of being a teacher myself!
Through this education development overseas internship project, I wanted to objectively see for myself what I truly want to do and whether I have the ability and qualities to do that job.
I constantly worried: Am I being unrealistic about the work I want to do? What if I don''t have enough ability to do it? Can I be sure I won''t regret leaving the stable job of being a teacher? Do I have the confidence to go despite opposition from those around me?So through this gap year I wanted to take time to look at myself objectively and, by indirectly trying out the work I want to do, check whether I have the ability for it!
# Everything the local Vietnamese NGO does and its staff were really professional!
During the overseas internship/gap year, the work carried out by the local Vietnamese NGO was very systematic, and the staff were very professional; seeing them work with pride in what they did was really impressive!I actually thought the level and enthusiasm for education in Korea were higher, but this was an opportunity to realize that was also my prejudice.
During my overseas internship of just under a monthThrough experiences related to my future career, I was able to learn in small ways what kinds of work I enjoy and where I''m lacking, and above all, by doing what I want to do I discovered a brighter, happier version of myself! Through this overseas internship gap year project I realized I should not rush but calmly prepare step by step for the work I want to do, and I was able to return having set concrete plans to achieve my goals! :)
# A day in the life at the local organization''s internship!
From 9 to 12 we each sat at our desks working on computers, and lunch was from 12 to 1. The NGO I worked at worked really hard—around 12:15 they would go out to eat lunch and then come straight back into the office to continue working.
And we held English classes for NGO staff twice a week for one hour each, mainly running games focused on conversational English expressions.The English lessons were given to staff members who could converse in English!
After finishing work at 4:30, volunteers went into town (Old Quarter) to eat out or go shopping. I usually liked wandering alone, so I spent my free time reading at a college-area cafe near the volunteer housing, shopping, or walking around the city! haha
# People I met during the overseas internship!
Because I''m curious, I kept asking endless questions about Vietnamese culture, what Vietnamese people think about Korea, what the organization is doing now, and the purpose of the tasks I was assigned, but what I remember most are the staff who kindly answered all my questions and smiled!
They prepared Vietnamese traditional snacks and the popular hotpot for me and even wrote heartfelt letters — I will never forget the people at that organization! And not only them but the multinational volunteers I met at the same volunteer organization: we were different in age, nationality, race, and gender, but the time spent with them became precious memories 😊
Lastly, the local internship organization staff who, with a belief in education, worked hard on education development and went out of their way to support volunteers!They greeted me warmly every time I left for or returned from work at the lodging and kindly asked how my day was, and because of them I could spend the whole volunteer period safely and happily!
# My tips for preparing for a Vietnam NGO overseas internship!
- Language
: Most of the volunteer organization staff and local university students can speak English! But it''s good to learn basic Vietnamese expressions before you leave!! (Vietnamese has tones, so pronouncing a different tone can change the meaning—be careful!)
- Accommodation & meals
: At the local accommodation, breakfast was simple fruit and toast, lunch was provided as a meal allowance and I bought it near the office. Dinner was usually Vietnamese local food, and sometimes spaghetti or pizza was served! haha
- What to bring
: When going to Vietnam be sure to bring masks from Korea as an essential item. Also, a backpack was necessary for commuting to the organization or for weekend trips. Be sure to bring emergency medicines like antidiarrheal medication and cold medicine, and bringing a USB is convenient for work. Also, since the local organization can sometimes lend laptops, it''s good to ask about that during the pre-interview.
Also, it’s often colder than you might expect, so I recommend bringing a light, thin down jacket! If you have the space, it would also be nice to bring some Korean souvenirs or snacks as gifts for the local organization staff or project staff. They’re very interested in Korea, so even a single snack drew their attention and they asked a lot of questions about it. haha
My Vietnam overseas internship gap year was!
Experience★★★★★
: During the overseas internship period In addition to working at an education development NGO, I not only had time to experience Vietnamese culture by participating in various events and activities hosted by volunteer organizations, but I was also invited to a local education office competition where I could meet Vietnamese students, parents, and teachers. It was an experience where I could have deep conversations with Vietnamese teachers comparing Korean and Vietnamese education and discussing what direction students and teachers should take.
Learning★★★★
: During the overseas internship, I found that the range and depth of areas you can participate in—sponsorship activities, participating in training programs through partnerships with international NGOs and localizing and applying curricula, environmental and sex education, economic education—are broad and deep!
Safety★★★★
Leisure★★★★★
: After work on Friday you can go on weekend trips, and if you want you can take Friday off! If you fly, you can go to Hoi An or Da Nang or nearby Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Bali), and for short overland trips people often go to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh–Trang An, Sapa trekking, Ha Giang motorcycle tours, and Ai Chau.
Capturing the growth journeys
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