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#Personal liberation, greater flexibility in relationships #English skills, diverse cultures #Life's choices, the meaning of happiness
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I think everyone has a tree inside their heart, and I feel like that tree has grown thicker and sturdier. I''ve come to know myself in new and deeper ways, and the anxiety and loneliness I felt when I was alone have greatly decreased.
Great value! Learn English safely in the Mediterranean — Malta! Jeong Ji-wonGapper''s review |
Hello! I spent my second gap year in Malta :)
Hello! I''m Jeong Ji-won, and after completing a language study program in Cebu, Philippines and then another in Malta, I feel that I''ve grown considerably in many ways!
I was very curious about European culture and wanted to improve my English conversation skills. Above all, I wanted to meet people from various countries and hear their stories and thoughts.Before setting off on my gap year, Korea felt small to me and I wanted to gain a broader perspective,I wanted to listen to and experience the lives and thoughts of many people and establish my own values. For these reasons, the consultant recommended the Malta language program as a suitable option for me, and I decided to follow that advice.
Actually, I wasn''t worried about staying abroad for a long time at all. I did have concerns like, ''Will I be able to change through this gap year? What if nothing changes after I return?'' but My life in Korea felt so anxious and difficult that my biggest feeling was wanting to start the gap year as soon as possible. And that choice was the right one!
* For Jeong Ji-won, who needed a new challenge, it was necessary to step out of her current routine into a positive environment and different challenges.To help Jeong Ji-won''s transformation, we recommended a project through consulting :) If you want a tailored plan on where and how to start making changes, we highly recommend 1:1 consulting with a gap-year specialist consultant!
A sure way to change my life: Gap Year 1:1 Consulting
In Malta, I aimed to be freer with myself and from others.
The main change I wanted to make during the Malta program was ''not worrying about what others think.'' If I overcame the depressed period in Cebu and returned to a normal state,In Malta, I aimed to become even freer with myself and with others.In Korea, I had lived thinking I was relatively free from others'' gaze compared to others, butOnce I left Korean society and focused only on myself instead of comparing myself to others, I realized that I actually cared a lot about what others thought, and because of that there were many things I couldn''t do.So, I think that became my biggest goal.
Although my Malta gap year — which I began with high expectations — sometimes went in unexpected directions and I had difficulty with unfamiliar cultures, by the end I met a stronger, more grown version of myself. It was truly meaningful time because I gained many unforgettable memories without regrets and many good realizations that I want to remember and keep with me as I live my life.I''m grateful and will continue to enjoy life :)
Through various encounters, I learned how to accept relationships with more generosity.
Through the Malta gap year, I was able to interact with friends from many different countries.
I met many people from a variety of countries such as France, Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Libya, Tunisia, Japan, and more. It was my first time meeting people from South America like Brazil, Colombia, and Chile — they were all extremely lively and I felt they really know how to enjoy themselves. I was also surprised that their facial expressions were generally bright and they seemed to have positive mindsets. That made me curious about South American countries, and I thought I definitely want to travel to South America someday. One of my flatmates was Libyan, so I also became close with friends from African countries; their expressions can sometimes be blunt, but they were all simple, kind, and friendly, leaving a very positive impression.
Of course meeting new people is always enjoyable, but I think the most difficult part was human relationships.The way relationships are formed there was different from the relationships I had in Korea with friends from Asian countries, so at first it was a bit confusing and I worried about how to approach them and how to become close. People from Asian countries including Korea and Japan often feel awkward and unfamiliar at first, but over time they gradually become close and many become more proactive.
On the other hand, I saw many Westerners greet brightly from the start, make small talk, and talk about various topics even with people they just met. But then, when they turn away, it can feel like the relationship is over, so that felt a bit difficult. However,I think I came to understand and accept that this is just how these people interact. Once I adapted to this way, I actually felt more comfortable and experienced less stress from relationships, so my mind felt lighter.
# I realized that enjoying life and living happily is ultimately one''s own choice.
One of the real advantages of the Malta gap year program is being able to meet and talk with friends from many different countries in Europe, Africa, South America, Japan, and so on. Where else could you have conversations with so many people from diverse countries!When you talk with them you really feel they have different cultures, and sometimes you think, “Some aspects are similar.” It made me feel very small in the world, and the worries and stresses I had in Korea no longer seemed like a big deal, so my mind lightened a bit.
Also, seeing foreign friends who raise their hands in class and present or share their opinions very naturally without fear initially felt awkward to me, but after three months I also became quite natural about it.It was surprising to me how much the fear and worry about making mistakes disappeared.
I feel like I gained a lot of realizations while living in Malta.I deeply felt that enjoying life and living happily is ultimately a personal choice. Some friends who love to travel don''t earn a lot of money, but they live by traveling; a friend who liked DJing worked at a company during the day and DJed as a hobby at night and now even earns money from DJing. Also, there were people in their 60s who came to Malta to study English for a year. The common traits of the friends I met were that they were very satisfied with their lives, their faces looked relaxed, and their expressions were bright. Through this I realized that happiness and enjoyment are both choices individuals make.
# I feel like the tree inside my heart has grown thicker and stronger.
I imagine that everyone has a tree in their heart, and I feel like mine has become thicker and sturdier. I learned a lot of new and deeper things about myself, and the anxiety and loneliness I felt when I was alone have greatly decreased. I’ve also become more relaxed in relationships and the range of ways I can view things has widened. Of course, my English improved :)
You may struggle with cultural differences at first when you start the project, even though you’re excited to experience Malta’s beautiful scenery and European culture. That said, rather than staying only with Koreans and finding the comfortable route, I recommend that, even if it’s a little uncomfortable, you try challenges one by one to experience many things and expand your ways of thinking :)
I sincerely support your gap year journey!!
# Malta language study — here’s what a day in my life looks like!
In Malta the basic classes are group classes for three hours in the morning, but I added one hour of one-on-one lessons. So I took one-on-one class from 8:00–8:50, then the first group class from 9:00–10:30, had a 30-minute break, and then the second group class from 11:00–12:30; the afternoons were free time.
In the afternoons I usually traveled alone or with friends, or I went swimming because Malta’s sea is really beautiful. Also, there are festivals in Malta every weekend so I went to see them, or other friends often traveled to nearby European countries.
Speaking of travel,I want to recommend my favorite, ''Comino Island''. From the accommodation, leave in the morning and take a bus for about an hour to an hour and a half to the pier; if you arrive around 11 or 12 and take a boat for about 15 minutes, you''ll reach Comino Island. As you get closer to Comino Island, the color of the sea gradually changes into a clear, transparent emerald, and it''s breathtaking.
At the beach called the Blue Lagoon, you''ll be speechless at the stunning scenery, and while swimming you''ll feel as if you have the whole world. Haha. When you get hungry, buy a hamburger or hot dog from nearby food trucks, lie down in the sun and relax, then go back into the sea to play some more — by around 4–5pm. If you take the boat back around then, the sunset will begin as you arrive at the pier. That view is also really beautiful, so I definitely recommend watching the sunset before taking the bus back to your accommodation!
My personal Malta language-study gap year preparation TIP!
After deciding to go on the gap year, I left within a month and only prepared the absolutely necessary documents and plane tickets; I don''t think I prepared anything else special.What I paid the most attention to was my ''mindset''. The gap year coordinators and consultants also told me that the most important thing is the mindset, so I think my biggest preparation was trying to remember what I needed to focus on during the gap year and doing my best.
My Malta language-study gap year was!
Experience★★★★★
: I think I had time to broaden myself by experiencing both the new experiences I expected and the unexpected ones.
Learning★★★★★
: Through other cultures and conversations with various people, I learned a variety of things — new ways of living, things that would be good to apply to my life, English, and more.
Environment★★★★
: It was great — I lived comfortably in a truly beautiful country, but aside from the fact that, being far from Korea, it was sometimes difficult to find Korean food or items I needed, it was good.
Safety★★★★★
: I think it''s a place with no safety issues as long as you are careful.
Leisure ★★★★★
: I think it''s the perfect place to have leisure time. You can heal by the sea, and it''s also great for taking affordable trips to nearby European countries — it''s truly perfect for relaxation.
Jeong Ji-wonattended by Malta language study project Want more information?!
Click the banner belowPlease!
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I think everyone has a tree inside their heart, and I feel like that tree has grown thicker and sturdier. I''ve come to know myself in new and deeper ways, and the anxiety and loneliness I felt when I was alone have greatly decreased.
Great value! Learn English safely in the Mediterranean — Malta! Jeong Ji-wonGapper''s review |
Hello! I spent my second gap year in Malta :)
Hello! I''m Jeong Ji-won, and after completing a language study program in Cebu, Philippines and then another in Malta, I feel that I''ve grown considerably in many ways!
I was very curious about European culture and wanted to improve my English conversation skills. Above all, I wanted to meet people from various countries and hear their stories and thoughts.Before setting off on my gap year, Korea felt small to me and I wanted to gain a broader perspective,I wanted to listen to and experience the lives and thoughts of many people and establish my own values. For these reasons, the consultant recommended the Malta language program as a suitable option for me, and I decided to follow that advice.
Actually, I wasn''t worried about staying abroad for a long time at all. I did have concerns like, ''Will I be able to change through this gap year? What if nothing changes after I return?'' but My life in Korea felt so anxious and difficult that my biggest feeling was wanting to start the gap year as soon as possible. And that choice was the right one!
* For Jeong Ji-won, who needed a new challenge, it was necessary to step out of her current routine into a positive environment and different challenges.To help Jeong Ji-won''s transformation, we recommended a project through consulting :) If you want a tailored plan on where and how to start making changes, we highly recommend 1:1 consulting with a gap-year specialist consultant!
A sure way to change my life: Gap Year 1:1 Consulting
In Malta, I aimed to be freer with myself and from others.
The main change I wanted to make during the Malta program was ''not worrying about what others think.'' If I overcame the depressed period in Cebu and returned to a normal state,In Malta, I aimed to become even freer with myself and with others.In Korea, I had lived thinking I was relatively free from others'' gaze compared to others, butOnce I left Korean society and focused only on myself instead of comparing myself to others, I realized that I actually cared a lot about what others thought, and because of that there were many things I couldn''t do.So, I think that became my biggest goal.
Although my Malta gap year — which I began with high expectations — sometimes went in unexpected directions and I had difficulty with unfamiliar cultures, by the end I met a stronger, more grown version of myself. It was truly meaningful time because I gained many unforgettable memories without regrets and many good realizations that I want to remember and keep with me as I live my life.I''m grateful and will continue to enjoy life :)
Through various encounters, I learned how to accept relationships with more generosity.
Through the Malta gap year, I was able to interact with friends from many different countries.
I met many people from a variety of countries such as France, Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Libya, Tunisia, Japan, and more. It was my first time meeting people from South America like Brazil, Colombia, and Chile — they were all extremely lively and I felt they really know how to enjoy themselves. I was also surprised that their facial expressions were generally bright and they seemed to have positive mindsets. That made me curious about South American countries, and I thought I definitely want to travel to South America someday. One of my flatmates was Libyan, so I also became close with friends from African countries; their expressions can sometimes be blunt, but they were all simple, kind, and friendly, leaving a very positive impression.
Of course meeting new people is always enjoyable, but I think the most difficult part was human relationships.The way relationships are formed there was different from the relationships I had in Korea with friends from Asian countries, so at first it was a bit confusing and I worried about how to approach them and how to become close. People from Asian countries including Korea and Japan often feel awkward and unfamiliar at first, but over time they gradually become close and many become more proactive.
On the other hand, I saw many Westerners greet brightly from the start, make small talk, and talk about various topics even with people they just met. But then, when they turn away, it can feel like the relationship is over, so that felt a bit difficult. However,I think I came to understand and accept that this is just how these people interact. Once I adapted to this way, I actually felt more comfortable and experienced less stress from relationships, so my mind felt lighter.
# I realized that enjoying life and living happily is ultimately one''s own choice.
One of the real advantages of the Malta gap year program is being able to meet and talk with friends from many different countries in Europe, Africa, South America, Japan, and so on. Where else could you have conversations with so many people from diverse countries!When you talk with them you really feel they have different cultures, and sometimes you think, “Some aspects are similar.” It made me feel very small in the world, and the worries and stresses I had in Korea no longer seemed like a big deal, so my mind lightened a bit.
Also, seeing foreign friends who raise their hands in class and present or share their opinions very naturally without fear initially felt awkward to me, but after three months I also became quite natural about it.It was surprising to me how much the fear and worry about making mistakes disappeared.
I feel like I gained a lot of realizations while living in Malta.I deeply felt that enjoying life and living happily is ultimately a personal choice. Some friends who love to travel don''t earn a lot of money, but they live by traveling; a friend who liked DJing worked at a company during the day and DJed as a hobby at night and now even earns money from DJing. Also, there were people in their 60s who came to Malta to study English for a year. The common traits of the friends I met were that they were very satisfied with their lives, their faces looked relaxed, and their expressions were bright. Through this I realized that happiness and enjoyment are both choices individuals make.
# I feel like the tree inside my heart has grown thicker and stronger.
I imagine that everyone has a tree in their heart, and I feel like mine has become thicker and sturdier. I learned a lot of new and deeper things about myself, and the anxiety and loneliness I felt when I was alone have greatly decreased. I’ve also become more relaxed in relationships and the range of ways I can view things has widened. Of course, my English improved :)
You may struggle with cultural differences at first when you start the project, even though you’re excited to experience Malta’s beautiful scenery and European culture. That said, rather than staying only with Koreans and finding the comfortable route, I recommend that, even if it’s a little uncomfortable, you try challenges one by one to experience many things and expand your ways of thinking :)
I sincerely support your gap year journey!!
# Malta language study — here’s what a day in my life looks like!
In Malta the basic classes are group classes for three hours in the morning, but I added one hour of one-on-one lessons. So I took one-on-one class from 8:00–8:50, then the first group class from 9:00–10:30, had a 30-minute break, and then the second group class from 11:00–12:30; the afternoons were free time.
In the afternoons I usually traveled alone or with friends, or I went swimming because Malta’s sea is really beautiful. Also, there are festivals in Malta every weekend so I went to see them, or other friends often traveled to nearby European countries.
Speaking of travel,I want to recommend my favorite, ''Comino Island''. From the accommodation, leave in the morning and take a bus for about an hour to an hour and a half to the pier; if you arrive around 11 or 12 and take a boat for about 15 minutes, you''ll reach Comino Island. As you get closer to Comino Island, the color of the sea gradually changes into a clear, transparent emerald, and it''s breathtaking.
At the beach called the Blue Lagoon, you''ll be speechless at the stunning scenery, and while swimming you''ll feel as if you have the whole world. Haha. When you get hungry, buy a hamburger or hot dog from nearby food trucks, lie down in the sun and relax, then go back into the sea to play some more — by around 4–5pm. If you take the boat back around then, the sunset will begin as you arrive at the pier. That view is also really beautiful, so I definitely recommend watching the sunset before taking the bus back to your accommodation!
My personal Malta language-study gap year preparation TIP!
After deciding to go on the gap year, I left within a month and only prepared the absolutely necessary documents and plane tickets; I don''t think I prepared anything else special.What I paid the most attention to was my ''mindset''. The gap year coordinators and consultants also told me that the most important thing is the mindset, so I think my biggest preparation was trying to remember what I needed to focus on during the gap year and doing my best.
My Malta language-study gap year was!
Experience★★★★★
: I think I had time to broaden myself by experiencing both the new experiences I expected and the unexpected ones.
Learning★★★★★
: Through other cultures and conversations with various people, I learned a variety of things — new ways of living, things that would be good to apply to my life, English, and more.
Environment★★★★
: It was great — I lived comfortably in a truly beautiful country, but aside from the fact that, being far from Korea, it was sometimes difficult to find Korean food or items I needed, it was good.
Safety★★★★★
: I think it''s a place with no safety issues as long as you are careful.
Leisure ★★★★★
: I think it''s the perfect place to have leisure time. You can heal by the sea, and it''s also great for taking affordable trips to nearby European countries — it''s truly perfect for relaxation.
Jeong Ji-wonattended by Malta language study project Want more information?!
Click the banner belowPlease!
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
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