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#Breaking Free from Lethargy #The Strength to Just Start #A Life-Changing Process
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I, who was trapped in a lethargic daily life due to depression and anxiety I took a gap year to spend some alone time for myself. I wanted to discover a slightly freer and more resilient version of myself. I spent time with lovely children and received unconditional love, and I was able to receive a lot of bright, healthy energy. When I decided to say "yes" to every opportunity in Vietnam, my life really began to change. I realized that once you start anything, a process emerges and your own story is created.
<Recharging with warm love from children in Hanoi, Vietnam> A review from gapper Song Su-a
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#I''m a working professional who took a gap year to spend some alone time for myself!
Hello! I''m Song Su-a, an ordinary late-20s office worker. Through this Vietnam gap year, I traveled abroad alone for the first time. Since it wasn''t a trip with friends or family, I had many worries before leaving, but being able to handle everything on my own and return to Korea safely was, in itself, a really gratifying experience! I went on this journey entirely to spend time for ''me.'' At first it was unfamiliar and awkward, but it became a valuable opportunity to get closer to myself.
Sua, who wanted to escape a lethargic routine and discover herself through the new challenge of traveling alone, went to Vietnam for educational volunteering. If you''re good at counseling others about their worries but feel like you don''t know yourself as well as others do, I highly recommend one-on-one consulting with a gap year specialist!
The definite way to change my life: gap year 1:1 consulting
#I wanted to discover a freer, stronger me in an unfamiliar place!
My goals or changes I wanted to achieve through this Vietnam gap year weren''t grand. I just wanted to step out of my current daily life for a while, breathe deeply, and feel and experience new things in an unfamiliar environment. After going through a period of major change, I experienced depression and anxiety. I locked myself in lethargy, having lost even the will to live. As a result, I was swept up in increasingly unhealthy emotions and couldn''t get out, and I think I focused only on getting through each day.
So I wanted to live differently for once in a place unrelated to my past. With that single desire, I decided to leave Korea—full of anxiety and depression—for a while and ''start over from the beginning'' in a new environment in Vietnam. There I wanted to find a freer, stronger version of myself.
#I was able to take on new challenges with lovely and kind people!
It was a happy time because I could be with lovely children and receive lots of unconditional love.
There were so many precious people accompanying my Vietnam gap year journey. Looking back, because of them my time was able to shine much more.
Most of the friends I volunteered with were younger than me. I worried, ''Will I have to play the role of an older sister?'' but once I lived with them, I actually received a lot more bright, healthy energy from those friends, which was wonderful! Many were much more mature and emotionally resilient than me, so I felt like I learned a lot about life. And I''m not usually very active, but thanks to them I challenged myself to do many things I hadn''t done before. We traveled together, visited new places, walked a lot — I even lost quite a bit of weight because of it, haha. Above all, I''m truly grateful that the friends always reached out first and encouraged me!
Not only that, but the staff at the volunteer organization helped me whenever I had difficulties and genuinely asked how my day had been. Thanks to their kindness, I was able to adapt well to Vietnam. I miss everyone so much!
#Instead of worries and concerns, I decided to try saying YES!
Say ''Yes!'' to the opportunities given to you. I used to worry so much in my head before starting anything that I often couldn''t even begin and would give up. But in Vietnam I deliberately decided to say ''yes'' to every experience and offer that came my way. From that moment, my life really began to change! Things I tried for the first time, new encounters, adventures in unfamiliar places... All of those enriched my life, and above all my perspective on the world became much more flexible and fun. Once you start anything, a process emerges and your own story is created!
I was also someone who obsessed over plans and believed every task must have a clear beginning and end. But my experience in Vietnam gradually taught me to let go. I spent four weeks where if I was sad I just cried my heart out, if I was happy I laughed out loud, and I tried to live ''as myself'' no matter what anyone said. Of course, because of the way I''d lived before, it wasn''t easy to let go all at once. But as I practiced slowly and steadily, I found that at some point my heart felt much lighter.
Don''t hesitate — be brave and take on the challenge. I hope you create your own special journey!
#Vietnam Hanoi educational volunteering — this was my daily routine!
My day followed the kindergarten volunteer schedule. From Monday to Thursday I spent the day teaching English to children at the assigned kindergarten. I usually woke up around 8 a.m., had a simple breakfast, then took the bus and arrived at the kindergarten around 8:40. 🚌
In the morning we started the day energetically by dancing with the children, and after that we spent time playing with them and naturally getting close. At lunchtime, some children eat slowly, so I helped those children to eat well. In the afternoon, English classes continued — we used flashcards (English cards) to learn vocabulary, and helped the children encounter English naturally through songs and games. Overall, the day revolves around the children! It''s not the kind of environment where volunteers are given tasks that are too difficult or hard, so you don''t need to worry too much.
And from Friday through the weekend there were no volunteer schedules, so during that time I traveled with my roommate or other volunteer friends. Even on days that weren''t official days off, after volunteering in the evenings we''d explore downtown Hanoi with friends or spend pleasant time at cozy local cafes!
#Preparation tips for my own gap year to Vietnam!
Fortunately, I had the experience of living abroad when I was young, so I wasn''t too worried about overseas life itself. However, it was my first time traveling alone without family, so I was anxious about having to handle everything by myself. When I was young, my parents helped with important matters, but this time I had to take care of everything from A to Z. In that sense, it''s true that I felt a vague sense of unease.
Still, I tried not to worry in advance about things that hadn''t happened yet. Above all, what the consultant I met while preparing for the gap year said was a great help: "Whatever happens, it will all get resolved in the end, and you''ll get through it." That advice comforted me deeply and gave me the courage to set off bravely! In fact, I was still working right up until I left for the gap year, so rather than feeling excited about ''going on a trip,'' I think I was more focused on ''finishing up my remaining tasks before leaving.'' Maybe that''s why my friends asked, "Why are you so calm?" But I was truly happy about being able to rest for an extended period!
Before departure, I prepared using the checklist the gap year program gave me. Since I was going to be abroad for a long time, I was unsure which daily necessities to pack, but the materials sent by the program were a big help. In particular, I tried not to pack too many clothes. Vietnam is inexpensive, so most items can be purchased locally at reasonable prices, so I packed simply, focusing on essential daily items. And one thing I must mention is emergency medicine 💊!
If you get sick abroad, it can make you feel down, so bringing painkillers, cold medicine, digestive medicine, and any medications you regularly take will really help.
#My educational volunteer gap year in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!
Experience ★★★★★
: It was my first time visiting Vietnam, and through this gap year I was glad to be able to volunteer and travel at the same time! : )
Learning ★★★★
: It became an opportunity to learn more about myself!
Environment ★★★★
: Because it''s different from Korea, it may feel unfamiliar at first, but when you approach with a generous and open mind, there are no major inconveniences.
Safety ★★★★★
: The organization staff managed things thoroughly, so I always felt safe! Of course, you should also be careful for your own safety!
Leisure ★★★★★
: After the volunteer schedule ended, I was able to travel around Vietnam with friends! We had three full days off — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — so I had the free time to do everything I''d wanted to try, and that made me happy!
If you''re curious to learn more about the Vietnam Hanoi educational volunteer project that Song Su-a participated in?!
Please click the banner below!
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I, who was trapped in a lethargic daily life due to depression and anxiety I took a gap year to spend some alone time for myself. I wanted to discover a slightly freer and more resilient version of myself. I spent time with lovely children and received unconditional love, and I was able to receive a lot of bright, healthy energy. When I decided to say "yes" to every opportunity in Vietnam, my life really began to change. I realized that once you start anything, a process emerges and your own story is created.
<Recharging with warm love from children in Hanoi, Vietnam> A review from gapper Song Su-a
|
#I''m a working professional who took a gap year to spend some alone time for myself!
Hello! I''m Song Su-a, an ordinary late-20s office worker. Through this Vietnam gap year, I traveled abroad alone for the first time. Since it wasn''t a trip with friends or family, I had many worries before leaving, but being able to handle everything on my own and return to Korea safely was, in itself, a really gratifying experience! I went on this journey entirely to spend time for ''me.'' At first it was unfamiliar and awkward, but it became a valuable opportunity to get closer to myself.
Sua, who wanted to escape a lethargic routine and discover herself through the new challenge of traveling alone, went to Vietnam for educational volunteering. If you''re good at counseling others about their worries but feel like you don''t know yourself as well as others do, I highly recommend one-on-one consulting with a gap year specialist!
The definite way to change my life: gap year 1:1 consulting
#I wanted to discover a freer, stronger me in an unfamiliar place!
My goals or changes I wanted to achieve through this Vietnam gap year weren''t grand. I just wanted to step out of my current daily life for a while, breathe deeply, and feel and experience new things in an unfamiliar environment. After going through a period of major change, I experienced depression and anxiety. I locked myself in lethargy, having lost even the will to live. As a result, I was swept up in increasingly unhealthy emotions and couldn''t get out, and I think I focused only on getting through each day.
So I wanted to live differently for once in a place unrelated to my past. With that single desire, I decided to leave Korea—full of anxiety and depression—for a while and ''start over from the beginning'' in a new environment in Vietnam. There I wanted to find a freer, stronger version of myself.
#I was able to take on new challenges with lovely and kind people!
It was a happy time because I could be with lovely children and receive lots of unconditional love.
There were so many precious people accompanying my Vietnam gap year journey. Looking back, because of them my time was able to shine much more.
Most of the friends I volunteered with were younger than me. I worried, ''Will I have to play the role of an older sister?'' but once I lived with them, I actually received a lot more bright, healthy energy from those friends, which was wonderful! Many were much more mature and emotionally resilient than me, so I felt like I learned a lot about life. And I''m not usually very active, but thanks to them I challenged myself to do many things I hadn''t done before. We traveled together, visited new places, walked a lot — I even lost quite a bit of weight because of it, haha. Above all, I''m truly grateful that the friends always reached out first and encouraged me!
Not only that, but the staff at the volunteer organization helped me whenever I had difficulties and genuinely asked how my day had been. Thanks to their kindness, I was able to adapt well to Vietnam. I miss everyone so much!
#Instead of worries and concerns, I decided to try saying YES!
Say ''Yes!'' to the opportunities given to you. I used to worry so much in my head before starting anything that I often couldn''t even begin and would give up. But in Vietnam I deliberately decided to say ''yes'' to every experience and offer that came my way. From that moment, my life really began to change! Things I tried for the first time, new encounters, adventures in unfamiliar places... All of those enriched my life, and above all my perspective on the world became much more flexible and fun. Once you start anything, a process emerges and your own story is created!
I was also someone who obsessed over plans and believed every task must have a clear beginning and end. But my experience in Vietnam gradually taught me to let go. I spent four weeks where if I was sad I just cried my heart out, if I was happy I laughed out loud, and I tried to live ''as myself'' no matter what anyone said. Of course, because of the way I''d lived before, it wasn''t easy to let go all at once. But as I practiced slowly and steadily, I found that at some point my heart felt much lighter.
Don''t hesitate — be brave and take on the challenge. I hope you create your own special journey!
#Vietnam Hanoi educational volunteering — this was my daily routine!
My day followed the kindergarten volunteer schedule. From Monday to Thursday I spent the day teaching English to children at the assigned kindergarten. I usually woke up around 8 a.m., had a simple breakfast, then took the bus and arrived at the kindergarten around 8:40. 🚌
In the morning we started the day energetically by dancing with the children, and after that we spent time playing with them and naturally getting close. At lunchtime, some children eat slowly, so I helped those children to eat well. In the afternoon, English classes continued — we used flashcards (English cards) to learn vocabulary, and helped the children encounter English naturally through songs and games. Overall, the day revolves around the children! It''s not the kind of environment where volunteers are given tasks that are too difficult or hard, so you don''t need to worry too much.
And from Friday through the weekend there were no volunteer schedules, so during that time I traveled with my roommate or other volunteer friends. Even on days that weren''t official days off, after volunteering in the evenings we''d explore downtown Hanoi with friends or spend pleasant time at cozy local cafes!
#Preparation tips for my own gap year to Vietnam!
Fortunately, I had the experience of living abroad when I was young, so I wasn''t too worried about overseas life itself. However, it was my first time traveling alone without family, so I was anxious about having to handle everything by myself. When I was young, my parents helped with important matters, but this time I had to take care of everything from A to Z. In that sense, it''s true that I felt a vague sense of unease.
Still, I tried not to worry in advance about things that hadn''t happened yet. Above all, what the consultant I met while preparing for the gap year said was a great help: "Whatever happens, it will all get resolved in the end, and you''ll get through it." That advice comforted me deeply and gave me the courage to set off bravely! In fact, I was still working right up until I left for the gap year, so rather than feeling excited about ''going on a trip,'' I think I was more focused on ''finishing up my remaining tasks before leaving.'' Maybe that''s why my friends asked, "Why are you so calm?" But I was truly happy about being able to rest for an extended period!
Before departure, I prepared using the checklist the gap year program gave me. Since I was going to be abroad for a long time, I was unsure which daily necessities to pack, but the materials sent by the program were a big help. In particular, I tried not to pack too many clothes. Vietnam is inexpensive, so most items can be purchased locally at reasonable prices, so I packed simply, focusing on essential daily items. And one thing I must mention is emergency medicine 💊!
If you get sick abroad, it can make you feel down, so bringing painkillers, cold medicine, digestive medicine, and any medications you regularly take will really help.
#My educational volunteer gap year in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam!
Experience ★★★★★
: It was my first time visiting Vietnam, and through this gap year I was glad to be able to volunteer and travel at the same time! : )
Learning ★★★★
: It became an opportunity to learn more about myself!
Environment ★★★★
: Because it''s different from Korea, it may feel unfamiliar at first, but when you approach with a generous and open mind, there are no major inconveniences.
Safety ★★★★★
: The organization staff managed things thoroughly, so I always felt safe! Of course, you should also be careful for your own safety!
Leisure ★★★★★
: After the volunteer schedule ended, I was able to travel around Vietnam with friends! We had three full days off — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — so I had the free time to do everything I''d wanted to try, and that made me happy!
If you''re curious to learn more about the Vietnam Hanoi educational volunteer project that Song Su-a participated in?!
Please click the banner below!
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
What makes this project special