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#Overcoming lack of affection, accepting relationships #Child education, children's affection #Cultural differences, the importance of communication
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I was grateful that I could be loved like this even though we couldn''t communicate. The children happily followed along with the Korean class I led, ran to hug me or give me kisses, and gave me stickers — they expressed their affection in many ways.
Recharging warm love with children in Hanoi, Vietnam Park Eun-jinA gapper''s review |
Hello! After leaving my first job, I spent a gap year in Vietnam.
Hello, I''m a 27-year-old drifting after resigning from my first job.
During consultations with a counselor, I realized I wasn''t receiving as much love as I wanted. I was advised that spending time with children and feeling loved would be good, so I chose this project.
* After leaving her first job, Ms. Park Eun-jin needed an environment where she could take care of herself and receive plenty of love, so through personalized gap year consulting we recommended a Vietnam gap year :) Want a customized plan suited to your situation? I highly recommend 1:1 consulting with a gap year specialist!
A sure way to change your life — gap year 1:1 consulting
Even though we couldn''t communicate, I was grateful that I could freely receive the children''s love.
My goal was to experience overcoming my lack of affection by giving and receiving love with the children.
I think the best advantage of this program is that you can be with adorable children! The children were so cute that I was really happy. Sometimes I was tired and didn''t want to go, haha, but I think I went because I wanted to see their cute faces.I was grateful that I could be loved like this even though we couldn''t communicate. The childrenThey happily followed along with the Korean class I led, and would run to hug me, give me kisses, or give me stickers — they expressed their affection in many ways.
I tried not to avoid my concerns and to fully accept the differences and the situation.
I felt somewhat uncomfortable because communication wasn''t smooth due to cultural and language differences. Since it''s not an English-speaking country, the teachers aren''t very good at English. Perhaps because communication wasn''t smooth, there were times when they''d hand a child to me without a word and go do something else. Also, there were many volunteers from Europe, and I felt that the way they become close is different from people in Asia. Sometimes they communicated in French, Spanish, German, etc., besides English, so there were times I felt sad.
But when these concerns arose, rather than avoiding them, I think I tried to accept the differences and the situation. Thinking that problems can arise when communication isn''t smooth, and that while I felt uncomfortable, the locals might not see it as a problem,I tried not to blow the issues out of proportion. Accepting it as ''this is how things are here'' made me feel a bit more at ease.I let go of the compulsion to become close with other volunteers and tried to say even one or two words a day. By doing that, I think I gradually became more comfortable.
Still, what was so fortunate was having Korean friends nearby so we could rely on each other.Sumin and Ji-won! I met them in a previous gap year project and was happy to see them again in the Hanoi gap year project. At first, I struggled with the unfamiliar local life, and having fellow Koreans was comforting and I relied on them a lot.
# My childhood wounds seem to have gotten a little better, like new skin growing.
During this gap year, while spending time with the children, I think I was able to be like a child too.And there was a child I was especially fond of, and I was happy that the child liked me too. I was able to feel loved by someone I care about.Of course, it''s hard to experience big changes in a short time, but I feel like my childhood wounds(?) might have gotten somewhat better.
As with any program, I think this program would be better if you were more proactive in building relationships. Since there aren''t many Korean participants, it can feel very unfamiliar. But don''t give up—approach people little by little!
# What does a day of volunteering in Hanoi, Vietnam look like?
I take the bus and arrive at the center by 8:30. After doing morning exercises with the children, we move to our classes. Each class...
The lessons vary a bit, but the main tasks are playing with the children, assisting with classes (sometimes teaching directly), and feeding them. You help the children carry out their class routines. Morning work ends around the time the children prepare for their nap. The exact time varies daily, but the morning session finishes before 11:00.
Since lunch break lasts until 2:30, you have enough time after lunch to nap at your accommodation or look around the area. Afternoon classes aren''t very different from the morning. The afternoon volunteer schedule wraps up around 4:30 when the children start going home. After that you can spend your time freely.
Volunteering runs Monday–Thursday and Friday is optional, so many people travel on weekends. Usually people travel to areas near Hanoi, but I recommend taking a plane to visit slightly farther places. I went to Da Nang; it was about an hour by plane and there are many beautiful places, so I recommend it!
# My tips for preparing for volunteering in Hanoi, Vietnam!
Worried whether the food would suit me, I brought Korean foods like gim (seaweed), ramen, and stir-fried gochujang. I also got advice about local life from a Vietnamese friend I made in another program. I had trouble because I didn''t properly purchase travel insurance before leaving, so I had to sign up locally...Sincere thanks to the gap year coordinator who helped me look into things. :)
# My gap year volunteering in Vietnam was!
Experience ★★★★
: I was able to have experiences that are hard to have in Korea, like playing with the children or teaching classes. I also felt that even if communication is difficult, you can manage somehow.
Learning ★★★
:There were cultural differences and challenges communicating with other international volunteers, but I think I learned how to understand and accept those differences.
Environment ★★★★
: The local staff asked how I was doing first and took good care of me.
Safety ★★★
: Be careful when walking. There aren''t many crosswalks, and there are a lot of motorcycles.
Leisure ★★★★★
: The 4-day workweek is the best! If there are any special requests, let the staff know. Lunch breaks are long and the workday ends at 4:30, so there''s plenty of free time.
Park Eun-jinvisited byVietnam Hanoi Children''s Volunteer Project Want to know more?!
Click the banner belowplease!
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I was grateful that I could be loved like this even though we couldn''t communicate. The children happily followed along with the Korean class I led, ran to hug me or give me kisses, and gave me stickers — they expressed their affection in many ways.
Recharging warm love with children in Hanoi, Vietnam Park Eun-jinA gapper''s review |
Hello! After leaving my first job, I spent a gap year in Vietnam.
Hello, I''m a 27-year-old drifting after resigning from my first job.
During consultations with a counselor, I realized I wasn''t receiving as much love as I wanted. I was advised that spending time with children and feeling loved would be good, so I chose this project.
* After leaving her first job, Ms. Park Eun-jin needed an environment where she could take care of herself and receive plenty of love, so through personalized gap year consulting we recommended a Vietnam gap year :) Want a customized plan suited to your situation? I highly recommend 1:1 consulting with a gap year specialist!
A sure way to change your life — gap year 1:1 consulting
Even though we couldn''t communicate, I was grateful that I could freely receive the children''s love.
My goal was to experience overcoming my lack of affection by giving and receiving love with the children.
I think the best advantage of this program is that you can be with adorable children! The children were so cute that I was really happy. Sometimes I was tired and didn''t want to go, haha, but I think I went because I wanted to see their cute faces.I was grateful that I could be loved like this even though we couldn''t communicate. The childrenThey happily followed along with the Korean class I led, and would run to hug me, give me kisses, or give me stickers — they expressed their affection in many ways.
I tried not to avoid my concerns and to fully accept the differences and the situation.
I felt somewhat uncomfortable because communication wasn''t smooth due to cultural and language differences. Since it''s not an English-speaking country, the teachers aren''t very good at English. Perhaps because communication wasn''t smooth, there were times when they''d hand a child to me without a word and go do something else. Also, there were many volunteers from Europe, and I felt that the way they become close is different from people in Asia. Sometimes they communicated in French, Spanish, German, etc., besides English, so there were times I felt sad.
But when these concerns arose, rather than avoiding them, I think I tried to accept the differences and the situation. Thinking that problems can arise when communication isn''t smooth, and that while I felt uncomfortable, the locals might not see it as a problem,I tried not to blow the issues out of proportion. Accepting it as ''this is how things are here'' made me feel a bit more at ease.I let go of the compulsion to become close with other volunteers and tried to say even one or two words a day. By doing that, I think I gradually became more comfortable.
Still, what was so fortunate was having Korean friends nearby so we could rely on each other.Sumin and Ji-won! I met them in a previous gap year project and was happy to see them again in the Hanoi gap year project. At first, I struggled with the unfamiliar local life, and having fellow Koreans was comforting and I relied on them a lot.
# My childhood wounds seem to have gotten a little better, like new skin growing.
During this gap year, while spending time with the children, I think I was able to be like a child too.And there was a child I was especially fond of, and I was happy that the child liked me too. I was able to feel loved by someone I care about.Of course, it''s hard to experience big changes in a short time, but I feel like my childhood wounds(?) might have gotten somewhat better.
As with any program, I think this program would be better if you were more proactive in building relationships. Since there aren''t many Korean participants, it can feel very unfamiliar. But don''t give up—approach people little by little!
# What does a day of volunteering in Hanoi, Vietnam look like?
I take the bus and arrive at the center by 8:30. After doing morning exercises with the children, we move to our classes. Each class...
The lessons vary a bit, but the main tasks are playing with the children, assisting with classes (sometimes teaching directly), and feeding them. You help the children carry out their class routines. Morning work ends around the time the children prepare for their nap. The exact time varies daily, but the morning session finishes before 11:00.
Since lunch break lasts until 2:30, you have enough time after lunch to nap at your accommodation or look around the area. Afternoon classes aren''t very different from the morning. The afternoon volunteer schedule wraps up around 4:30 when the children start going home. After that you can spend your time freely.
Volunteering runs Monday–Thursday and Friday is optional, so many people travel on weekends. Usually people travel to areas near Hanoi, but I recommend taking a plane to visit slightly farther places. I went to Da Nang; it was about an hour by plane and there are many beautiful places, so I recommend it!
# My tips for preparing for volunteering in Hanoi, Vietnam!
Worried whether the food would suit me, I brought Korean foods like gim (seaweed), ramen, and stir-fried gochujang. I also got advice about local life from a Vietnamese friend I made in another program. I had trouble because I didn''t properly purchase travel insurance before leaving, so I had to sign up locally...Sincere thanks to the gap year coordinator who helped me look into things. :)
# My gap year volunteering in Vietnam was!
Experience ★★★★
: I was able to have experiences that are hard to have in Korea, like playing with the children or teaching classes. I also felt that even if communication is difficult, you can manage somehow.
Learning ★★★
:There were cultural differences and challenges communicating with other international volunteers, but I think I learned how to understand and accept those differences.
Environment ★★★★
: The local staff asked how I was doing first and took good care of me.
Safety ★★★
: Be careful when walking. There aren''t many crosswalks, and there are a lot of motorcycles.
Leisure ★★★★★
: The 4-day workweek is the best! If there are any special requests, let the staff know. Lunch breaks are long and the workday ends at 4:30, so there''s plenty of free time.
Park Eun-jinvisited byVietnam Hanoi Children''s Volunteer Project Want to know more?!
Click the banner belowplease!
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