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#I stepped away from a tiring daily routine and felt a greater sense of ease #Life wisdom shared with new people #A rewarding time that provided rest and renewed energy
Seopjikoji ©Korea gapyear
I certainly felt more at ease. When you feel like leaving somewhere, it can mean that your current everyday life is difficult and you are tired. That seemed to be the case for me. Maybe that''s why the two months in Jeju were seemed to give me peace of mind and a lot of energy.. Jeju Island, I want to live there. Jeju City at the heart of Jeju Project / 8-week gap year |
Common language KoreanActually, Korean, EnglishThere were many people who used them.
- English level before participation:Able to have everyday conversations
- English level upon return:Able to have everyday conversations
Accommodation
- Accommodation:Guesthouse
- Type of lodging:Separated by gender
Meals
- Meal arrangement:Self-catering (participants cook for themselves)
- My advice to future volunteers regarding meals
: It helps to prepare a few dishes you can cook for when it''s your turn to be on meal duty.
Things to bring·Insurance, etc.
- My advice to future volunteers regarding what to bring
: Because we lived in a guesthouse, there weren''t any particular items to prepare..
Isidol Ranch ©Korea gapyear
- After participating in the gap year camp
Through the gap year program I participated in: What I liked·What moved me, what I learned, and what I realized, etc.
First of all, I want to live there..The reason I participated was because I needed a rest. My goal was to step away from familiar surroundings for a while, meet new people, and live in a beautiful natural environment. In that sense, Jeju was a really great place..There were beautiful seas and oreums (volcanic hills) within a short walk, and Hallasan could be seen when you turned your head. Meeting people with similar goals and getting to know one another was very rewarding and enjoyable.
People I met through the gap year program or those I spent time with
Because of the nature of a guesthouse, you meet many people. First of all, there are the guests. As you chat with traveling guests about their trips and life stories, you sometimes meet people you click with and people you can learn a lot from. Some connections may lead to keeping in regular contact. I also had really fun times with the staff who were there during the same period. On days off we traveled together, exchanged information about places we''d visited, and cooked together—the growing affection and becoming like a family felt really nice..
Sangumburi ©Korea gapyear
As a former participant, what advice would you give to those who will take part in the gap year camp program?
In my case, meeting people during the program was really enjoyable. The program offers many opportunities to meet people, so if you open your heart and approach others first, I think your gap year period can be more rewarding and fun..Also, it''s helpful to have a side activity in mind. If you make bracelets or brew coffee—having such a small side job, with the guesthouse owner''s permission, you could earn some pocket money..
How would you compare yourself before and after participating in the gap year camp?
I definitely became more relaxed. When you feel like leaving somewhere, it can mean that your daily life is hard and you''re tired. That was the case for me. Maybe that''s why the two months in Jeju gave me peace of mind and a lot of energy..
The place where I got off the bus. ©Korea gapyear
Tell us about your travel route during the gap year period (recommended places, itinerary, route).
In my case, I focused my travels on the people of Jeju rather than its scenery or natural landscapes. It was really enjoyable to meet people who had come to find relaxation or who were enjoying themselves and to talk with them. The cafe street in Woljeong-ri, staying at Stay With Coffee near Sanbangsan, and conversations with other guesthouse owners were also very fun and informative.
Also, I recommend taking bus 700 (which loops around Jeju from east to west) and getting off whenever you see a pretty spot, then walking around the area. In Jeju, wherever you get off, it''s mostly picture-perfect..Even the same place changes with the season, time, and weather, so you shouldn''t be complacent just because you''ve been there once. If you have the chance, I recommend climbing an oreum (a small volcanic cone) at night to see the stars. It''s truly amazing.
Passing sea ©Korea gapyear
In my case, the reason I joined the gap year was to ''rest.'' After leaving the military I wanted to give my tired self a break, and I chose Jeju Island, the farthest place from Gangwon-do. The airplane ride after a long time was fun, and I liked Jeju''s warm weather. I also liked the guesthouse I signed up for. I thought I would meet good people and have fun traveling..
But things don''t go as planned: the first three days passed while learning the work, my body didn''t adapt, and the first week was hectic. After adapting and getting used to the work, I began to plan my own trips. I asked staff who had arrived earlier for travel advice, did my own research, and created my own theme. Since I used to enjoy zoning out on buses, taking intercity buses around Jeju and spacing out was the best.
The magnificent sea views and the intermittently visible oreums were perfect. While on Jeju, the place I visited most was the café ''Stay With Coffee'' overlooking the Hyungje Islands.It is. The sea view of the Hyungje Islands is truly one of the best, and the café''s coffees were so delicious, so I made my travel theme a café tour.
With the help of the owner/manager, I gathered information about famous Jeju cafés like ''Goraega Doel,'' ''Ceba,'' ''Tashitele,'' and ''Geurim.'' While talking with those owners, I organized my worries, received advice, and gained a lot of peace of mind..If there are people planning to come to Jeju through ''I Want to Live There,'' I really hope they do a café tour. Young people who are worrying about how to live their lives or which direction to take will find many stories from those café owners that can be very useful references.
