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#Became a more courageous person #Overseas medical experience and valuable connections #Pride in having done it myself
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I wanted to find my own way without relying on family or friends, and before I officially began preparing for graduation and job searching, I thought it would be great to have a chance to experience the healthcare environment of another country firsthand. I feel like I've become a more courageous person than I was before participating, and this experience will be a major driving force in my life from now on.
Medical Volunteering, Sharing Love in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Feedback from Korea GapYear Participant Shin Geum-ha |
# I’m a nursing student who went on an overseas medical volunteer trip to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!
Hello, I’m currently a senior in the Nursing department :)
During my break, I joined a medical volunteer project in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!
I've always dreamed of volunteering abroad, particularly in the field of international medical service.
Before graduating and starting serious job preparations, I wanted a chance to experience a different country’s healthcare environment firsthand.
Rather than just imagining what overseas medical service would be like, I wanted to personally experience and face any challenges that might come with living abroad.
* For Shin Geum-ha, who wanted to gain hands-on experience in medical activities, connect with peers in similar fields, and take on an independent challenge overseas, personalized daily 1:1 missions were provided to help them engage closely with locals and connect with other foreign volunteers. A Gap Year Journal was also provided for reflection and planning.
# I wanted to find my own way without relying on family or friends.
I wanted to experience something for the first time without depending on my family or friends.
From the moment I applied, it was my goal to invest the money I had saved up to successfully complete my medical volunteer work alone.
This itself was what I most wanted to change through my gap year.
Through this experience, I hoped to adapt to new environments in my own way, anytime and anywhere.
Additionally, since I applied for a project related to my major, I wanted to see what differences there are in the healthcare environments of Vietnam and Korea.
# I was nervous about the new challenge, but as it approached, I gradually started to adapt!
I started to feel a little nervous from three days before departure.
When I arrived in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, I felt a lot of pressure to communicate in English,
but once I was there, I found that I was able to adapt gradually.
Before departing, I participated in a virtual orientation for the gap year program and prepared thoroughly by resolving any questions I had through Q&A sessions.
I focused on checking the materials provided by Korea Gap Year via email and my page.
Since this was a medical volunteering program, I packed the necessary clothing and other supplies,
and by preparing for currency exchange and my departure in advance, I was able to focus better and it was helpful.
# The overseas medical volunteering experience was an opportunity to learn new things about healthcare and make friends in Vietnam!
Through the gap year project, I stayed with fellow volunteers,
and I was taught kindly by the physical therapists, anesthetists, and doctors at the hospital.
I also worked with the volunteer coordinators, who were very friendly and attentive.
The hospital where I volunteered mainly dealt with orthopedics, so there were many patients who came in due to motorcycle and car accidents,
and many surgeries performed were similar, like ACL surgeries.
What surprised me was that in Vietnam, there are already many medical professionals, so students aspiring to become doctors, nurses, or physical therapists
have to look for other jobs, such as opening their own businesses after graduation. It was refreshing and surprising.
I was also amazed that many Vietnamese people know a lot about Korean culture (music, dramas) and food!
# I feel like I've become a more courageous person than I was before participating.
If I compare before and after participating in the gap year project, I think I've become a more courageous person.
I'm really proud of the things I accomplished on my own that I never did even in Korea.
I was able to live each day looking forward to flying alone, mingling with people, going to the laundromat, shopping,
and even trying Vietnamese food.
These experiences will likely be a great motivation for my life moving forward!
# What is a typical day like for international medical volunteering in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?
It was nice that volunteers interacted with each other every Monday, and it was good that we could adjust the schedule according to our personal conditions.
At the time I participated, the typical volunteer schedule was as follows:
6:40 Wake up → 7:00 Breakfast → 7:30 Walk to the hospital →
8:00 Arrive at the hospital, change into scrubs in the changing room → 8:00 ~ 10:30 Medical volunteering →
10:30 After changing back, walk to accommodation → 11:00 ~ 13:30 Lunch and free time →
13:30 Walk to the hospital → 14:00 Arrive at the hospital, change into scrubs →
14:00 ~ 15:30 Medical volunteering → 15:30 Walk back to accommodation / then free time
*(During my time there) In the case of the operating room, we didn't go back to the accommodation at 10:30, but instead stayed longer and either bought food from a shop on the first floor or delayed lunch, leaving the hospital for accommodation around 12:00 to 13:00. .
# My Tips for Gap Year Volunteer Activities in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!
(Language)
Since you'll be communicating more with volunteers, I personally think it would help a lot to practice listening. Speaking can be managed somehow, haha.
(Accommodation)
You can think of it as living in a dormitory. There are lockers in the bedrooms, and it seems that people usually match their locker number to their bed number. When I was there, you could use a locker even if it wasn’t the number of your bed as long as it was empty. The button between the air conditioning switch and the light switch needs to be up for electricity to work. If you encounter any issues with the facilities or have anything to check, it's best to contact immediately via WhatsApp.
(Meals)
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner can be eaten in the accommodation or at a restaurant located just 5 minutes away. Depending on the situation, there may be unavailable menu items if ingredients run out. You’ll order food using restaurant tickets that you possess.
(Packing)
It would be good to refer to the checklist provided by Gap Year and pack according to your needs. I brought a shower filter and mosquito net just in case, but I never used them. Personally, my feet are weak and blister easily, so I recommend bringing comfortable shoes.
# Don’t worry too much about language; just try to listen to some everyday English conversations spoken by natives!
To those of you volunteering for medical service in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
If you are not very good at English, it would be good to listen to some everyday English conversations spoken by natives before you go. I recommend it!
I found it difficult to interpret the English sentences spoken by people here,
as they spoke quickly and had various accents from different nationalities.
There were many times I pretended to understand until I got used to it.
However, even without studying, when you actually arrive, you will often use translation tools,
and you’ll start to pick up nuances, so you don't have to worry too much!
#My Volunteer Experience in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!
Experience ★★★★★
I enjoyed getting to know the culture of Vietnam and interacting with people from other countries.
Learning ★★★★
It was interesting to follow medical staff and therapists around the hospital and see what they do.
Environment ★★★★
I had many complaints about my environment, but a month in Australia made me appreciate every day so much that those thoughts completely disappeared.
Safety ★★★★★
While the dark alleys were a bit scary, it was actually fine to walk around with my phone out compared to what I had worried about.
Leisure ★★★★★
Make sure to get a massage or spa treatment while you’re there. You can also explore nearby resorts during weekends or your free time!
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
