I applied for the gap year because while preparing for employment and writing my personal statement I reflected on myself, wanted to build more confidence, and wanted to meet and engage with more people. -Busan, I want to live there :: my passionate second city |
-Items that were convenient / items that were troublesome:No particular items come to mind.
-Tips on what to bring
Bring the items you normally use and those necessary for daily life, and if you forget something you can buy it right away, so it shouldn''t be too inconvenient.
What were the good aspects of the gap year program you participated in?
1. I was glad I could make friends in Busan.
2. Living in Busan, which has a completely different atmosphere from the places I''ve lived so far, became an unforgettable memory for me.
3. I was able to learn the dialect.
4. I could understand that people''s lifestyles and values differ by region and learn about their culture.
Please tell us about the people you met or were with through the gap year program.
The people I spent the most time with were the staff.
We ate together from morning to night and sometimes traveled together; although the one-month period was short, within it weshared a lot of affectionwere able to share.
Any tips for future participants?!
yourplanned things,things you want to doI hope you organize them into a list and carry them out. Also, take a proactive attitude to build friendships with the staff and seek out opportunities to meet many local people.
Comparing before and after participating in the gap year program?
There weren''t any major changes over the course of one month, but I formed new relationships and gained memories of new experiences.
What are the recommended places in Busan you discovered during the gap year?
Gamcheon Culture Village, Beomeosa Temple, Wolryeong Mountain beacon mound, Songdo Beach, Waterfront Park, Dadaepo
My gap year story in Busan
One of the most memorable experiences was having a party with guests at the guesthouse at 8 p.m. on Friday. We spent a fiery Friday sharing travel stories over chicken and beer. I was lucky to start my gap year on a Friday and joined the party right away. That night the party reached the maximum number of people, 18. At first I was overwhelmed adapting to the guesthouse, but I joined the party with a "let''s enjoy it" mindset, and thanks to that I quickly became close with the staff.
The reason I applied for the gap year was that, while preparing for job applications and writing my personal statement I reflected on myself and wanted to build more confidenceI developed that feeling and also wanted to meet more people and challenge myself, so I applied for a gap year and impulsively came down to Busan. I didn''t have any big plans, but because I wanted to meet and communicate with many people, I think I approached people proactively and with an open mind for a month. Thanks to that, I made many friends in Busan and have kept in touch with foreign friends to this day.
My proactive attitudeseems to have left a good impression on the aunt who works at the guesthouse and the general manager. They always praised me, and as a result I gained a lot of pride and confidence in taking on new experiences.
Another memorable experience was, because I usually liked drawing, muralsin Busan, which has many murals, with the thought of finding and doing something meaningful mural volunteer activityI participated in it. I went to Yeonje Middle School''s playground in the morning to volunteer for the students. At that time, the people participating in the volunteer work had no experience drawing murals, so I took charge of mixing colors and overseeing the mural painting. Despite the humid summer weather in Busan, it was exhausting, but I felt proud when the students thanked us.
I usually enjoy finding hidden restaurants as a hobby. Many travelers have already introduced eateries on blogs, but to find places only Busan locals know and places Busan people like, I asked Busan residents and tried them myself. People know that Gaya Milmyeon is famous and delicious, but personally, Gupo Milmyeon in Jungang-dong was tastier.
I also discovered a cafe at Songdo Beach with a great night view, and I took friends and family who visited Busan there to enjoy a pleasant time together. Friends who came from Seoul also stayed at the guesthouse for a day or two, and after I finished work we toured together and made good memories. When I guided my friends around, they said I used the dialect well after only a month and seemed like a true Busan local, which made us happy.
During the month, days seemed to pass in a blur as I adapted to and explored new places and met new people. Looking back at each photo,I thought, "I really brought back only good memories from Busan."That''s what I thought. Unless I find a job in Busan, I probably won''t have another chance to stay in Busan for such a long period, but I will never forget the image of Busan and the people I met there.
