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#Overcame shyness and became more proactive #Spanish language skills and cultural understanding #A wonderful memory that became a part of my life
My goal was to change my personality. I was very shy and found it difficult to approach others first, so I wanted to become a more outgoing person. My second goal was to gain experiences that would motivate and support me in studying foreign languages in the future.
-Spanish in Córdoba, a city full of passionate youth / Eunbin Lee, gap-year tribe gapper / 12-week gap year |
Hello — I''m Eunbin Lee, a university student.
As a student at a foreign language university, I wanted to go abroad for language study even if only for a short time. However, it wasn''t easy to find the perfect opportunity for me. While I was hesitating about how to go, I learned about the gap year through an acquaintance, and after judging that many aspects of the program — such as its content and duration — suited me, I decided to take the gap year.
Although I decided to go on the gap year, I had vague fears because it would be my first time going abroad alone. But with the help of relatives who had overseas experience during the preparation, I was able to proceed step by step, and when I actually went, I surprisingly adapted quickly and managed well.
During the gap year, what I wanted to achieveGoalThere was.
The biggest goal was tochange my personalityI was very shy and found it difficult to approach others first, so I wanted to become a more proactive person. And my second goal was togain motivationand accumulate experiences that would become a source of strength. Of course, it would be difficult to learn Spanish perfectly during the gap year, but I thought that gaining confidence that I could do it and directly seeing and feeling the local culture would be consistently very helpful going forward.
And finally, I left for Córdoba.
When I first arrived in Córdoba, I couldn''t speak English and I wasn''t good at Spanish, so adapting wasn''t easy. But whenever I didn''t understand something, people kindly explained it until I did, so I was able to gradually adapt.
After class I participated in various activities. Activities like touring local attractions with classmates and teachers, getting together to enjoy barbecues and wine, or learning Latin dance made me feel less like I was simply learning Spanish and more likeI was learning and enjoying Latin American culture— they made me feel that way.
And every Friday after class we would all gather for lunch and sometimes travel to nearby towns. Once we went to a place called Los Cocos — we walked, took buses, and climbed mountains all day; my body was tired, but I remember staring in awe because the scenery there was so beautiful.
Hola~
In the dormitory where I stayed, even with friends I met for the first time, people alwaysgreeted each other ''Hola''.With that one greeting they became friends, and later they would greet one another more warmly and have conversations. At first I thought, ''Why do they greet so much?'' but as I became accustomed to cheerfully greeting everyone, I realized that the gap year''s goal of wanting to change my shy personalitywas being achievednaturally.
Also, I was the only Korean in the dorm. So whenever people asked about Korea, I enthusiastically explained in Spanish, and my Spanish improved a lot during that time. One regret is that I wanted to cook Korean food and treat my friends, but because I''m not good at cooking I couldn''t in the end, and that remains a regret to this day.
I don''t think I''ll ever forget the friends I lived and studied with. We looked out for each other''s weaknesses, built happy memories together, and filled the gap year with joyful times. I also have a very grateful memory of them helping me book my bus ticket and coming to the terminal to see me off until my last day.Argentina and Córdoba have become a part of my life with good memories and experiences.
My own travel destination
Alta GraciaThere''s a small town called Alta Gracia; it is the birthplace of Che Guevara. It also has well-maintained walking routes, so it''s a place worth visiting at least once.
La CumbrecitaThere is a small village created by a German couple who settled there while traveling. It''s a picturesque place like a village from a fairy tale, and I recommend visiting it at least once.
The gap year I took
Experience ★★★★★
Traveling far away alone for the first time and meeting many people was a great experience in itself.
Learning ★★★★★
My Spanish improved a lot, and I learned many new things from South American culture and daily life.
Environment ★★★☆☆
There is a lot of dog poop on the streets.
Safety ★★★★☆
Contrary to my concerns, most people are friendly. Also, there has never been an incident such as pickpocketing.
Leisure ★★★★★
There are many museums and parks nearby, so it''s easy to enjoy free time after classes.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
