Through this opportunity I gained a broader perspective of the world and met many different, good people — it was a great opportunity. This gap year program helped me grow a level, it was really good and fulfilling. I hope many university students learn about the gap year program and try various experiences. If I get the chance, I''d like to do it again. - Busan, I want to live there :: The passionate second city / 8-week gap year |
- Participation period: April 3, 2014 ~ June 3, 2014
- English ability before participation:Conversational (daily life) OK
- At the time of participation:No problem
- My advice about language
Knowing just a few basic conversational phrases is enough to communicate with foreigners. But it would be better if you studied more, right?
- Items that caused trouble because they were missing / items that were convenient:Phone charger / desk lamp
- Items that were convenient to have / items that were inconvenient:Toothpaste / toothbrush
- My advice on what to bring
Most things are provided at the guesthouse, so you just need to bring personal items.
What was good about the gap year program I participated in
This gap year program gave me an opportunity to learn more about myself and grow.
What advice would you give as a former participant to those who will join the gap year program?
You''ll have a very fun and enjoyable time, so don''t be afraid of being alone and just enjoy it.
If you compare before and after participating in the gap year program?
Before participating I often relied on friends or my parents, but through this opportunity I developed a lot of independence.
Please tell us about your personal travel route during the gap year period.
One week after starting the gap year I went to Gamcheon Culture Village. I took the village bus, took pictures with an older gap year participant I worked with, and enjoyed myself to the fullest.I also remember going to Igidae Park and enjoying its very beautiful scenery. In the final week I went to Gwangalli, ate sashimi with a friend, and had a great time.
ⓒKorea Gapyear
My gap year story in Busan
I went to Busan for the gap year. While I usually went with someone, this time I did everything on my own. Since I normally don''t act alone, I was a bit nervous even when taking the subway. Finally I arrived at Nampo Station and began searching for the guesthouse diligently. I asked people around and found the guesthouse, then pulled my luggage in with a pounding heart. Seeing a guesthouse for the first time, everything was fascinating. I looked around, got assigned a room, and on the first night I slept alongside other guests — sleeping next to strangers made me realize what a guesthouse is like.
The next day I met the older guy who would work with me as staff. I listened to various stories from him and learned guesthouse tasks one by one, like how to clean the rooms. This guesthouse held a party every Friday. Guests and guesthouse staff gathered to drink and talk. I loved meeting different people at each party. Sometimes foreigners also joined. Even though everyone was meeting for the first time, it was amazing to see them all gather and chat together.Some people told their life stories in front of people they''d just met, and they exchanged various stories like relationship experiences. I also received a lot of life advice from people who were older than me.
©Korea Gapyear
After taking about a week to adjust, I made a schedule for the two months. In the mornings I worked at the guesthouse, and after finishing I wanted to find a part-time job so I could use my time more purposefully. I spent weekdays like that, and on weekends I met friends and went sightseeing around Busan. Every weekend I met my Busan friends to visit various places and had a great time. On days when I had no plans, I sometimes went around different parts of Busan with an older coworker, and Gamcheon Culture Village stands out in my memory. It was so beautiful and great for taking photos! A few weeks after touring Gamcheon Culture Village, I also went to Igidae Park. Since it was a park I thought there would only be grass, but unlike what I expected it was so pretty that I was amazed.
In this way, my two months passed productively. I used to always rely on friends or family. But through this opportunity and standing on my own, I feel like I learned a lot, and that makes me happy. I gained a lot of confidence that I can do well on my own now. I do have a slight regret that I should have started conversations more often with the foreigners and various people I met here, but I liked that there were many opportunities to use English, and I also had many chances to practice Chinese, which is my major.
This opportunity gave me a broader perspective on the world, and it was a great chance to meet many different and good people. This gap year program helped me grow to the next level; it was really great and fulfilling. I hope many university students learn about the gap year program and try out various experiences. If I have the chance again, I would like to do it once more.
