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#Increased responsibility, improved self-promotion skills #Leathercraft skills, valuable connections #Learned how to enjoy work
While enthusiasm and the desire to work hard are important, it''s even better to participate with the thought that an internship is an opportunity to not only work but also have some leeway to learn skills.
-A current trend: Paris, France leathercraft internship / Hong Iyoung, gap-year gapper / 8-week gap year |
Q.Please give a brief introduction.
I''m Hong Iyoung, 29 years old, and I majored in clothing/apparel studies. After graduating I worked as an intern in the global marketing department of a bag brand and then in the export sales department of an apparel export company. However, while working I realized the job didn''t suit me, and after much thought I quit my job to find what I truly wanted to do...what I truly wanted to do.I decided to take a gap year to find it.
My personal gap year story in Paris
I participated in the gap year program for 8 weeks. Since it wasn''t a long period, I couldn''t learn to make the workshop''s signature product—watch straps—and instead learned to make basic leather goods.
I had learned a bit of leather workshop work in Korea, so I already knew how basic tasks are carried out. Because leatherwork methods vary slightly depending on the maker''s style, I followed the local workshop''s methods.
The products I worked on included belts, passport cases, phone cases, pencil cases, and bracelets. Some I completed from start to finish on my own, while others involved only certain parts of the process.
During the first few weeks I practiced techniques such as applying color to the sides of basic leather products,edge paintingand creasing, which involves applying heat to the edge to harden the leather and imprint lines,creasingI learned these techniques. At first my speed was very slow and I couldn''t achieve neat results. But after repeating the work for several days I gradually mastered the skills and was able to produce finished pieces more quickly. Repeating the same tasks could be boring and make me want to learn other things, but I kept working with the mindset that I was practicing.
©Korea Gapyear
Sometimes, if there was an actual order that I could handle, I would work on it under the manager''s instructions. At those times I actuallymy abilitieshelped, so I approached the work with greater responsibility and enjoyment.
I performed assigned tasks somewhat passively at times—repeating the same work for days or waiting long periods when there was no work. In such moments, having a passive attitudewon''t get you much.I thought, so I told the manager about the work I could do and expressed that I wanted to try tasks beyond simple repetitive work, which led me to take on other duties. Since no one is always there to look after you,I realized then that I had to promote myself and seize opportunities..
As time passed I learned a variety of tasks such as cutting leather and operating machines. Also, simply watching the manager work on other products sometimes became a good opportunity to pick up methods and know-how.
The work typically involved delicate tasks handling small products, so my eyes would hurt from looking at tiny details continuously. I also hammered the leather and used strength from my shoulders and hands to imprint lines, which sometimes left bruises on my shoulders. Because the work involved expensive leather, mistakes would render the material unusable, so the work required extreme care. But at the same time, being able to handle a lot of expensive crocodile leatherwasreally great.Handcraft work requires gaining a feel through lots of experience, and the opportunity to make products from a variety of high-quality leathers was a great chance offered by this Korea Gapyear internship program.can be chosen as one of them.
ⓒKorea Gapyear
In addition to experiences related to this kind of work, it was a great pleasure to experience the family-like atmosphere of the French workshop. Rather than the typical vertical hierarchy in Korea, everyone worked in an egalitarian atmosphere — they sometimes argued, but they also understood each other and shared their thoughts. Also, when someone left the workshop, the person leaving would prepare a small refreshment and everyone would gather to wish them happiness in their future, and when someone had a birthday there would be a party; there were many opportunities for staff to be together.
Looking back, because I was paying both my expenses and my labor, there were times I felt upset from the desire to learn a lot, but that time...oneselfI realized that whether you learn something or not can depend on how you use and think about that time. Therefore, how you do a leather workshop internship really depends on your own attitude and mindset.
What I regret after finishing the program is that the language mainly used at the workshop was French, but I went without studying French. If I had known even a little French, I could have learned more and kept a closer relationship with the workshop staff.Overall, it was a valuable experience in which I could learn the workshop''s know-how while making products from various kinds of leather in the workshop''s family-like atmosphere.
Q.How did you prepare before departure?
I prepared living essentials such as a credit card to use locally and emergency medicine. I also learned basic things needed for living in Paris via the internet, such as how to get a local mobile phone, open a bank account, and use the subway.
Q.What was the most memorable thing about participating in the gap year program?
While doing an internship at a leather workshop during my gap year,what was most memorable and what I learned was that the workshop staff all worked in a family-like atmosphere. In particular, the owner would joke with the staff and created an atmosphere where each person could express and discuss their opinions freely to maintain a close, non-hierarchical relationship. Even while working, they...communicationThey communicated a lot while working, so sometimes work took longer, but ultimately they were able to produce a synergistic effect thanks to the family-like atmosphere.
Q.How were the structure and organization of the program?
Basically, an English-speaking manager was assigned to oversee me. If the manager was busy or absent, I would ask other staff for help. The work I did was to make items from the existing product line or to take on parts of new orders that I could handle by myself.
ⓒKorea Gapyear
Q.Can you describe a typical day?
I worked from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If there was work from the previous day I continued it, and if not I received new tasks from the manager. I took a one-hour lunch at any time I wanted between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. If work ran late it sometimes ended after 6, but usually finished by 6:30, and the workshop closed no later than 7.
Q.Tell us about a personal place you discovered during your gap year.
While staying in Paris,other regions of FranceI recommend traveling to other regions of France. It''s also nice to visit other European countries, but if you travel to other parts of France you can experience many aspects of France that you can''t feel in Paris. In the west of France,the Normandy regionIf you travel along the coastal road from north to south, you''ll have the opportunity to see and experience not only France''s beautiful natural scenery but also the history of old Europe, including traces of the World Wars. You can also encounter the Alps in the southern region of France.Chamonixis also recommended.
Q.My tip for future participants!
Passion to work hard is important, but rather than only labor, having some leisure andbeing able to learn skills.It''s best to participate with the understanding that this is, in fact, an internship.
Q.Were there any changes when you compare before and after participating in the gap year?
Before participating, out of habit from working in Korea I was compulsively focused only on work during working hours, thinking I always had to be doing something; I worked hard and diligently. After participating, I learned that you can work more relaxedly, communicate with colleagues, and still enjoy your work.
Language
My English ability before participating wasEveryday conversation: OK
At the time of participationSomewhat difficult
My personal tip about language
I joined the program communicating only in English without studying French. However, since the workshop staff use a lot of French, it''s advisable to study at least some essential French beforehand.
Packing list
Items that were inconvenient to be without:Stationery such as pens and other supplies can be found in Paris, but they are expensive.
Items that were convenient to have:Towels, hair dryer
Items that were inconvenient to have:Clothes and cosmetics add a lot to your luggage if you bring them, so I recommend buying them locally.
My personal tip about packing!
Since your luggage tends to increase while living locally, I recommend bringing only minimal items. Also, bring items you can use and then discard locally; throwing them away before returning home is a way to reduce costs and luggage.
While enthusiasm and the desire to work hard are important, it''s even better to participate with the thought that an internship is an opportunity to not only work but also have some leeway to learn skills.
-A current trend: Paris, France leathercraft internship / Hong Iyoung, gap-year gapper / 8-week gap year |
Q.Please give a brief introduction.
I''m Hong Iyoung, 29 years old, and I majored in clothing/apparel studies. After graduating I worked as an intern in the global marketing department of a bag brand and then in the export sales department of an apparel export company. However, while working I realized the job didn''t suit me, and after much thought I quit my job to find what I truly wanted to do...what I truly wanted to do.I decided to take a gap year to find it.
My personal gap year story in Paris
I participated in the gap year program for 8 weeks. Since it wasn''t a long period, I couldn''t learn to make the workshop''s signature product—watch straps—and instead learned to make basic leather goods.
I had learned a bit of leather workshop work in Korea, so I already knew how basic tasks are carried out. Because leatherwork methods vary slightly depending on the maker''s style, I followed the local workshop''s methods.
The products I worked on included belts, passport cases, phone cases, pencil cases, and bracelets. Some I completed from start to finish on my own, while others involved only certain parts of the process.
During the first few weeks I practiced techniques such as applying color to the sides of basic leather products,edge paintingand creasing, which involves applying heat to the edge to harden the leather and imprint lines,creasingI learned these techniques. At first my speed was very slow and I couldn''t achieve neat results. But after repeating the work for several days I gradually mastered the skills and was able to produce finished pieces more quickly. Repeating the same tasks could be boring and make me want to learn other things, but I kept working with the mindset that I was practicing.
©Korea Gapyear
Sometimes, if there was an actual order that I could handle, I would work on it under the manager''s instructions. At those times I actuallymy abilitieshelped, so I approached the work with greater responsibility and enjoyment.
I performed assigned tasks somewhat passively at times—repeating the same work for days or waiting long periods when there was no work. In such moments, having a passive attitudewon''t get you much.I thought, so I told the manager about the work I could do and expressed that I wanted to try tasks beyond simple repetitive work, which led me to take on other duties. Since no one is always there to look after you,I realized then that I had to promote myself and seize opportunities..
As time passed I learned a variety of tasks such as cutting leather and operating machines. Also, simply watching the manager work on other products sometimes became a good opportunity to pick up methods and know-how.
The work typically involved delicate tasks handling small products, so my eyes would hurt from looking at tiny details continuously. I also hammered the leather and used strength from my shoulders and hands to imprint lines, which sometimes left bruises on my shoulders. Because the work involved expensive leather, mistakes would render the material unusable, so the work required extreme care. But at the same time, being able to handle a lot of expensive crocodile leatherwasreally great.Handcraft work requires gaining a feel through lots of experience, and the opportunity to make products from a variety of high-quality leathers was a great chance offered by this Korea Gapyear internship program.can be chosen as one of them.
ⓒKorea Gapyear
In addition to experiences related to this kind of work, it was a great pleasure to experience the family-like atmosphere of the French workshop. Rather than the typical vertical hierarchy in Korea, everyone worked in an egalitarian atmosphere — they sometimes argued, but they also understood each other and shared their thoughts. Also, when someone left the workshop, the person leaving would prepare a small refreshment and everyone would gather to wish them happiness in their future, and when someone had a birthday there would be a party; there were many opportunities for staff to be together.
Looking back, because I was paying both my expenses and my labor, there were times I felt upset from the desire to learn a lot, but that time...oneselfI realized that whether you learn something or not can depend on how you use and think about that time. Therefore, how you do a leather workshop internship really depends on your own attitude and mindset.
What I regret after finishing the program is that the language mainly used at the workshop was French, but I went without studying French. If I had known even a little French, I could have learned more and kept a closer relationship with the workshop staff.Overall, it was a valuable experience in which I could learn the workshop''s know-how while making products from various kinds of leather in the workshop''s family-like atmosphere.
Q.How did you prepare before departure?
I prepared living essentials such as a credit card to use locally and emergency medicine. I also learned basic things needed for living in Paris via the internet, such as how to get a local mobile phone, open a bank account, and use the subway.
Q.What was the most memorable thing about participating in the gap year program?
While doing an internship at a leather workshop during my gap year,what was most memorable and what I learned was that the workshop staff all worked in a family-like atmosphere. In particular, the owner would joke with the staff and created an atmosphere where each person could express and discuss their opinions freely to maintain a close, non-hierarchical relationship. Even while working, they...communicationThey communicated a lot while working, so sometimes work took longer, but ultimately they were able to produce a synergistic effect thanks to the family-like atmosphere.
Q.How were the structure and organization of the program?
Basically, an English-speaking manager was assigned to oversee me. If the manager was busy or absent, I would ask other staff for help. The work I did was to make items from the existing product line or to take on parts of new orders that I could handle by myself.
ⓒKorea Gapyear
Q.Can you describe a typical day?
I worked from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If there was work from the previous day I continued it, and if not I received new tasks from the manager. I took a one-hour lunch at any time I wanted between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. If work ran late it sometimes ended after 6, but usually finished by 6:30, and the workshop closed no later than 7.
Q.Tell us about a personal place you discovered during your gap year.
While staying in Paris,other regions of FranceI recommend traveling to other regions of France. It''s also nice to visit other European countries, but if you travel to other parts of France you can experience many aspects of France that you can''t feel in Paris. In the west of France,the Normandy regionIf you travel along the coastal road from north to south, you''ll have the opportunity to see and experience not only France''s beautiful natural scenery but also the history of old Europe, including traces of the World Wars. You can also encounter the Alps in the southern region of France.Chamonixis also recommended.
Q.My tip for future participants!
Passion to work hard is important, but rather than only labor, having some leisure andbeing able to learn skills.It''s best to participate with the understanding that this is, in fact, an internship.
Q.Were there any changes when you compare before and after participating in the gap year?
Before participating, out of habit from working in Korea I was compulsively focused only on work during working hours, thinking I always had to be doing something; I worked hard and diligently. After participating, I learned that you can work more relaxedly, communicate with colleagues, and still enjoy your work.
Language
My English ability before participating wasEveryday conversation: OK
At the time of participationSomewhat difficult
My personal tip about language
I joined the program communicating only in English without studying French. However, since the workshop staff use a lot of French, it''s advisable to study at least some essential French beforehand.
Packing list
Items that were inconvenient to be without:Stationery such as pens and other supplies can be found in Paris, but they are expensive.
Items that were convenient to have:Towels, hair dryer
Items that were inconvenient to have:Clothes and cosmetics add a lot to your luggage if you bring them, so I recommend buying them locally.
My personal tip about packing!
Since your luggage tends to increase while living locally, I recommend bringing only minimal items. Also, bring items you can use and then discard locally; throwing them away before returning home is a way to reduce costs and luggage.
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