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#Bright personality, confidence, self-understanding #Precious connections, self-discovery #Pride in having done it on my own
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While sharing various stories with different people, I also had a lot of time to think about myself, and it helped me understand myself better.
The ultimate free travel experience: volunteering as a childcare teacher with foreign friends in Chiang Rai, Thailand Choi *Min Korea GapYear Review |
# Hello, it's the 20-something who found his bright smile again.
Hello. I am a job seeker who volunteered as a childcare worker in Chiang Rai, Thailand, through Korea Gap Year.
Before applying for the program, I was going through a tough time and was in a slump. I had just broken up with my long-time girlfriend, and I failed an exam I had been preparing for in hopes of getting a job. These consecutive events really affected my confidence and, most importantly, my social skills.
At that time, a friend recommended the Gap Year program to me. Through consulting, I was able to get specific recommendations on which programs would be helpful for me. Among them, I chose this program because I wanted to regain my social skills and bring back my bright personality by doing activities with children, who I love.
*For Choi O-min, who was in a slump, a positive environment that could help him regain his confidence and social skills was essential. To help bring about effective change, we recommended a tailored Gap Year plan through consulting. If you'd like to get a customized plan and know where to start and how to make the best change, I highly recommend a 1:1 consultation with a Gap Year consultant!
A Surefire Way to Change My Life: Gap Year 1:1 Consulting
# I desperately wanted to find my old self. I think I’ve found it now!
The biggest goal was to regain my old self. Restoring my confidence and social skills was so important. Although I chose this program to find something I want to do or enjoy in the long term, I thought if I left with too grand a dream, I might feel overwhelmed.
Before joining, I had been preparing for employment and got unfavorable results. As a result, I didn’t feel the need to talk to people, and because of my financial situation, it was hard even to ask friends or family to share a meal.
In that situation, I gathered the courage to take on the challenge, and I wanted to approach it with a light heart. Even if there was a long-term goal, ‘First, let’s get back to who I was. Whatever it is, let’s try it first,’ I made an effort to approach the program with this mindset.
# Meeting good people has been filling me up more and more.
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The best part was meeting kind and warm people. More people than I expected were kind, and they helped me enjoy the local culture even as a stranger. They also listened seriously to my concerns and respected me as a person. I was really grateful for that.
Among the kind friends and people, I spent the most time with the local coordinator, who goes by the nickname JOO. The coordinator is actually a childcare teacher. When preparing lessons, the coordinator helped us prepare together as a local, and also played a huge role in facilitating communication between me and the local Thai people. Furthermore, they shared a lot of experiences with me, enabling me to have a wide range of activities. Thanks to the coordinator, I was able to have many experiences during our time together.
One piece of advice from a friend that stayed with me was to just try things out. Rather than regretting not trying something due to worries, I realized it is more valuable to try and learn by doing. I felt this truth even more strongly while I was there.
# I did what I wanted without worrying about others, and learned more about myself.
I definitely learned a lot and grew a lot. While having various conversations with many people, I had plenty of time to think about myself, which helped me understand myself better. Also, because no one knew me, I was able to do things the way I wanted without worrying about others. It was a time where I could clearly understand who I am and what I like.
If you participate in the program, I think you will notice a big difference depending on how you spend the one or two months. I first wrote down the things I wanted to try and then focused on achieving them. Rather than making a very tight schedule, I created a somewhat flexible plan so that I could better handle unexpected situations! Lastly, I think it would be good to decide on a general travel concept before joining the program.
# What is a typical day like for volunteer work in Chiang Rai, Thailand?
On weekdays when there are classes, I usually wake up around 7, wash my face, have breakfast, and then we have a morning meeting at 8:30. During the meeting, we usually check on our health and share any important information. After that, we leave for school at 9, and I teach cute kids until around 11:30.
After that, I return to the accommodation for lunch, and if the school needs help, I go to school to prepare class materials or assist with tasks. If I don't need to go back to school, I help with outdoor volunteer work organized by local institutions. After spending the afternoon, I have dinner, and afterward, I either have some personal time or chat with the friends I volunteered with. I usually go to sleep at 10.
If you want to focus on outdoor volunteer work in Chiang Rai, Thailand?
🇹🇭 Build a Village in Chiang Rai, Thailand with Foreign Friends ✨
During weekdays, I followed the daily routine like this, and on weekends, I traveled to other places in Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai, like other regions in Thailand, is famous for its temples, and the White Temple is the most famous one. I recommend a course focused on the White Temple. Take the Chiang Rai city bus to the White Temple, explore the temple, and then visit the Singha Theme Park, which was created by the Thai beer brand Singha, using public transport or walking. It's a great plan to visit the White Temple, explore the open park with various animals, and even try out a zip line!
# My Tips for Preparing for Volunteer Work in Chiang Rai, Thailand!
I basically prepared using the materials introduced by the gap year coordinator. There were a lot of materials, so I referenced many of them! For other details about the trip, I asked friends or acquaintances who travel often. I also discussed with my family about what I personally needed to bring along and how to prepare.
Honestly, I have always had a longing for traveling abroad. I had wanted to stay in another place for a long time, but I couldn’t do it because of limited time and circumstances. But when I finally made the decision and left, I discovered that another world was waiting for me.
Since I was going for volunteer work and not just for a vacation, I assumed people would be open-minded, so I wasn’t worried about anything beyond the preparations I made. Hehe.
# My Gap Year Volunteer Experience in Chiang Rai, Thailand!
Experience ★★★★
: I really enjoyed the time spent teaching the kids, which was something I had always wanted to do. Additionally, I had the chance to do other activities I wanted, like a temple tour and seeing elephants, which made the experience even more enjoyable!
Learning ★★★★★
: I learned so much, not only about teaching kids simple English but also about communication with people from different cultures.
Environment ★★★
: The natural environment is amazing. However, you might experience some water contamination, so mosquito spray is a must!
Safety ★★★★
: There were no safety issues at all because the coordinator was staying in the next accommodation, which gave me peace of mind while I stayed there!
Leisure ★★★★★
: After work on weekdays, I had personal time to plan things I wanted to do. I could contact people in Korea, plan things for the future, and even think about what I wanted to do in Korea. On weekends, I had full days off, which allowed me to implement the plans I made!
Gap Year Volunteer Work Abroad is different from typical volunteer work that just adds to your resume!!
If you're interested in the volunteer project that Choi O-min participated in at Chiang Rai, Thailand, click the banner below!
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