Facing parts of myself I didn''t know, I was able to understand a little about what kind of person I am. -Jeju! I want to live there — for those who need their own time / An Jeong-hyeon, gapyear tribe gapper |
Language
English level before participationEveryday conversation OK
During participationNo problem
My personal tip about language!
Being able to give basic guesthouse usage guidance to foreign guests is enough.
What to bring
Items that were convenient to have:Flat iron, comb, extra bag
My personal tip about what to bring!
Bring enough personal medications so you don''t run out.
Q.What did you like about the gap year program you participated in?
Good points -Sharing stories with new people and vicariously gaining life experiences.
Most moving point -The charming scenery of Jeju
What I learned -Gratitude for each day; attitudes toward others (being attentive, keeping appointments).
Realizations -The conviction that I am someone who can grow further.
Q.Please tell us about a place you discovered during your gap year.
I mainly traveled with the staff I stayed with, and when I wanted to travel alone I went on solo trips.
Places I had always wanted to visitI focused my travels on those places.The theme of the dayWe sometimes traveled by deciding on the day''s theme.(taking any bus that comes, etc.)Especially by taking a boat.islandI liked routes that involved traveling to islands (Gapado, Udo, Chuja-do, etc.).
I also recommend remembering the dates when the five-day market and the Bellong Market are held.
Q.Tip for future participants!
I think you''ll have a much more meaningful time if you consider what you want to gain during your gap year and what you want to share with others.
Q.How would you compare before and after participating in the gap year program?
the me I didn''t knowmeBy confronting that me, I was able to learn a little about what kind of person I am.
Q.My personal gap year story in Jeju
"Sensory Satisfaction, Emotional Jeju"
See more
- Photographer. Ahn Jung-hyun
Jeju is a place where everywhere you pass becomes a work of art.
Common roadside stone walls, the green waves of barley fields, Hallasan seen far off in the middle of a deep red sunset, the sea gradating from pale sky blue to deep navy, the evening look of an empty harbor, clustered oreums, and scenes that are dreary from rain but atmosphericunforgettable momentsare stored in my mind.
Wherever I took photos, photography made me a photographer and made me someone who loves photography more than anyone else.
Listen
- The power of attentive listening!
''Travel'' has a mysterious power that disarms everyone''s heart.
Travel makes you honest with your emotions and makes you unhesitant to share your inner feelings.
Everyone I met in Jeju shared the common trait of being ''travelers,'' so although it was a short time, they remain like long-known friends—probably because of that special power.
Because of being staff, meeting many guests and listening to their stories and sharing thoughts every night made me many friends, andA precious life experienceIt became one. Meeting various people and sharing their values and hobbies felt like the honey of a midsummer night. Also, whenever I wandered around travel spots, I picked a different song each time tochoose music that matched the mood of the day and the place. Later, when I think back to those places, I can perfectly recall the location, the day''s scenery, the temperature, and the atmosphere. It''s my personal travel tip I recommend to everyone.
Smell
-I''m the top sniffer in this area!
The peppery scent of Bijarim, the mysterious smell of trees, the damp earth scent after the rain, and the pepper-tree smell of Jeolmul that was similar to acacia,
I still can''t forget the salty scent from seaweed pulled up at the Woljeong-ri coast, the sweet smell of peanut makgeolli I drank on Udo, the funky smell of Sincheon Ranch, and the rich aroma from the bomal kalguksu I had on Gapa-do.
Because I normally have a keen sense of smell that remembers people by their scent, I think I enjoyed the trip 200%.
I keep longing for that place because of scents I can''t smell in my everyday life back home, and I''m also afraid those scents in my memory might fade away.
Full of various scentsThe scents of JejuI just want to smell them again.
Taste
-From restaurant-hopping to self-sufficiency!
Rather than the ''Jeju restaurants'' posted on blogs and shared on Facebook, I sought out eateries frequented by locals.It was an excellent choice to be recommended places with long traditions that capture the ''true Jeju'' taste rather than well-promoted commercial restaurants.Generally, such places had small, very worn shops.
I ate out a lot for about a month; the next month I sought food myself.
The sea urchin roe I was given after chatting with the haenyeo grandmothers who had come ashore burst in my mouth more than any Shooting Star ice cream, and ramen made with the bomal I caught myself had such depth that the magical powder ''ramen seasoning'' was rendered meaningless. The wild raspberries scattered along the roadside delivered a tartness true to their natural hue, andthe octopus caught between the rocks varied in toughness depending on boiling time, and later I ate so much that I grew to hate octopus ramen.
Feel
-I''ll become a seal of the Jeju sea!
Have you ever touched sunlight shining down underwater?
When I felt that radiant light shimmering on my hand, time stopped and it felt as if I alone existed in the world, soa very happy momentit was.
In fact, I spent two months in the water, busy admiring Jeju''s brilliant sea.
I spent a peaceful afternoon snorkeling at a beach where beautiful coral reefs and pretty fish that looked like they belonged in ''Finding Nemo'' fluttered about, and although the waves were rough, I watched lively scenes of mackerel and flounder — popular for sashimi — moving energetically right before my eyes.
I returned feeling that the profession of haenyeo (female divers) is truly a fascinating one.
