Projects
|
FAQ
|
Announcements
#Freed from excessive burden #How to express yourself fearlessly #The power to change the world
|
<The ultimate independent travel — childcare volunteer work in Chiang Rai, Thailand with foreign friends>
A review by gapper Park Na-hyun
|
# Why I took a gap year
Hello.I''m Park Na-hyun, a student majoring in International Relations :)I participated in a childcare volunteer program in Chiang Rai, Thailand.Around the time of my last summer break before graduating college,''What should I do so I won''t have regrets?''while thinking about that,what bothered me was that I''d never had the chance to go on an overseas volunteer trip.Because my schedule in Korea was tight,to fit my schedule,I looked for volunteer programs that could accommodate my schedule,and I learned about gap year volunteer programs.Among the various projects, I wanted to contribute to childcare,As a childcare worker in Chiang Rai, I participated in volunteer work in Thailand.
#Gap year alone! Prepare together! No worries!
Traveling alone in Thailand is also a popular spot for ''living for a month,'' so I wasn''t very worried while preparing to leave.Before departure, I looked up the Chiang Rai area in advance, and with the help of the Korean gap-year coordinator I only prepared enough medicine for stress-related symptoms (headaches, the back of the head). Other than that,The coordinator kindly and thoroughly helped me, and since I just had to follow the gap-year preparation procedures, there were no major difficulties.
#In an environment where affection is freely expressed, I naturally changed.
Although I like children, I had difficulty approaching them first, greeting them, and expressing my feelings. Through volunteering in Thailand I wanted to become someone who could actively approach children and express my feelings without difficulty.
When I actually started volunteering, there were children who didn''t even speak the same language...In an environment where the children, rather, expressed love to me and showed abundant affection, I was also able to change naturally.
#There was a local project coordinator, so we ran the classes effectively.
There was a coordinator who went with me to the school and taught all day. After breakfast at 8, if we arrived at school at 9, we''d start classes with the children around 9:30 and lunch would start around 11:30. Then the afternoon class would begin at 13:00 and finish at 15:00. I was worried because I had no experience leading and conducting classes with children, butBecause there was a local coordinator accompanying me, I could conduct the classes effectively without much difficulty.
#I learned a life lesson.
I felt that there are many people around the world doing their best to help others.The shelter where I stayed also operated as a refuge for protecting dogs and cats, and even in a situation where the number of teachers at the local school was woefully insufficient, I saw the teachers always smiling when interacting with the children...I realized that there are many people who have the will to make the world a better place and put it into practice.
The gap-year project, for me who was worried about finding a job after graduation,instilled the lesson that no matter what the work is, all you need is the will to do your best and make the world a better place.
#I met a special connection during my gap year.
In August, around the time I was leaving, it rained unusually heavily so there were no volunteers and I stayed at the shelter and volunteered alone. However, Ruan, the coordinator who taught classes with me at the school, made sure I had no time to feel lonely. Thanks to Ruan, who taught me about Thailand and was curious about Korea, my gap year...I was able to spend it laughing a lot.Even now, as I write this review, I received photos of Ruan''s son''s birthday party haha.
#To those who will later participate in the same project
Locals both know less about Korea than you might expect and yet show a lot of interest. Since classes run 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, you''ll have to teach for about 4 hours on your own,It''s a good idea to download Korea-related content and bring it with you.
I did English self-introductions, Korean self-introductions, animal names in Korean and English, and played ddakji (paper-flip game), among other things.
It''s good to bring plenty of Korean snacks. Besides snacks, you could prepare materials introducing what kind of country Korea is and give a brief presentation.
(Content that captures interest—like Squid Game, K-dramas, or Thai people who are active as K-pop singers—is good.)
Also, in Thailand there are various bugs like ants, lizards, and moths. When it rains a lot, the Wi‑Fi can be down. But it''s a place where people live too, and humans are adaptable, right.As you live there, a comfortable period that feels like home will come. Haha
#Life-change score: 10/10. Perfect.
I had briefly forgotten the belief in making the world a better place due to the impatience of needing to get a job and earn money.However, through participating in this project, regardless of the form or the field,I felt much lighter knowing that simply living in a way that has a positive impact on the world is enough.Even now, I don''t live a life of struggling to achieve highly subdivided goals for my dream job, but ratherI can approach my life with the mindset of doing anything that can make the world a better place.
#Gap year before/after comparison
As I answered earlier, my goal was to express my honest feelings to the children.
In the pre-project meeting, the gap year coordinator advised that having the classes too tightlyRather than taking on it with the ambition of ''I must achieve some goal!'', focus on communicating and interacting with the childrenand suggested it would be better to proceed with emphasis on the children.
Following that advice and focusing on the children, things went more smoothly than I had worried about, and through communication and interaction with the children, nowI''ve become expressive enough to make eye contact and greet a child walking by. Haha
#My personal travel route I discovered while living locally
Chiang Rai''s downtown is divided into department store spots and walking street spots. It''s good to split the spots and plan your schedule. The most famous White and Blue temples in Chiang Rai are worth visiting with a guide to hear explanations. I enjoyed traveling alone in Thailand.
#My gap year story
It started with the simple goal of ''Let''s go do overseas volunteer work!'', but in the worldI saw people doing their best in their own places to make the world beautiful, and now this helps me to escape excessive burdens.
#Thank you, Korean Gap Year coordinator!!
Thank you for giving so much advice during the pre-meeting, andI thank the coordinator who helped me face the version of myself I didn''t even know.
#My gap year is!
Experience★★★★★
Learning★★★★
Environment★★★★
Safety★★★★★
Leisure ★★★★★
A new challenge, the beginning of growth!
Korea Gap Year joins Ms. Park Na-hyun''s journey.
Ms. Na-hyun''s English education volunteer work in Chiang Rai, ThailandProject''s
detailed information and various reviews are belowPlease click the image below :)
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
