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#Learned how to approach others with sincerity #Practical experience in international elderly welfare #That genuine sincerity reaches people everywhere
What I worried about most was my relationship with the clients (the elderly) rather than with the staff. Because of the special situation of dementia/Alzheimer''s and being of a different race, I was very concerned that they might dislike me. However, everyone liked me and took care of me, so I could approach them with ease. The more I approached them, the more they liked me. It seems sincerity gets through anywhere!
-Greece Senior Welfare Care Internship / Heejeong Kim, Gapyear family gapper / 4-week gap year |
Why I chose the Greece Senior Welfare Care Internship
Actually, I wanted to take a one-year leave of absence, earn money, and travel to Greece and Turkey. But my parents strongly opposed me traveling alone, and I couldn''t give up, so after thinking it over I saw the Korea Gapyear program recruiting internships related to my major in the country I wanted to go to, Greece, and I applied immediately.
My personal gap year story spent in Greece
I was at an elderly welfare/dementia-Alzheimer''s institution as apsychological therapy internI did that. My daily routine was to go to work and participate in psychological therapy programs by floor (the elderly were placed on floors according to the severity of their illness). For one hour, 20 minutes was a physical therapy program and 30 minutes was a psychological program. For the first week I followed and observed to adapt and to get a sense of how this institution operates.a senseIt was time to get that sense.
Although the programs varied slightly depending on the severity of the illness, the mostseverepatients were asked the date, shown picture cards and talked about those pictures, sang Greek songs with tambourines to keep rhythm, and took part in programs composed of bowling games or ball-passing games. Next, for those showing slightearlysymptoms and those without illness, they discussed the day''s news and what happened on that day 10 or 20 years ago, and participated in programs centered on games like Hangman / spot-the-difference / arithmetic. However, the lunch break before splitting into morning and afternoon programs was too long, so later I brought a netbook and did personal work(writing intern log, internship plan, etc.)I did.
Weeks 2–3I adapted to the program and started learning a few Greek words, following the treatment processes beside staff and sometimes sitting next to clients to help. One day a staff member was so busy that I had to run the program; following what I''d seen so far and with help from other nursing teams, the clients followed along well, so it was a good experience.
And after completing the program without incident through the fourth week, I went on the personal trip that was my goal.Greece–Turkey–Bulgaria–Hungary–Italy–CroatiaI traveled those countries and returned. Doing an internship allowed me to experience elderly welfare—something I couldn''t experience at school—through an overseas internship, which was meaningful, and I gained more from the experiential side than the theoretical. Finally, I would like to thank Heo Ina, the planner at Korea Gapyear, for all the help and continued attention during the preparation and execution of the internship.
© Korea Gapyear
Structure and composition of the Greece Senior Welfare Care internship program
In my case, my main task was to follow the staff and observe the clients (the elderly). The institution''s programs for clients were excellent, but the program for interns consisted of the same daily routine without active tasks like events, so toward the end I remember it feeling monotonous.
A typical day of the internship program
10:00 - 12:00 Arrive at work and observe the psychological and physical therapy programs for clients on each floor
1:00 - 5:00 PM Lunch and waiting
5 PM - 7 PMObservation of psychotherapy programs on each floor
Reflections on the internship program
My biggest concern was the relationship with the clients (the elderly) rather than with the staff. Given the special situation of dementia/Alzheimer''s and that I am of a different race, I worried that they might dislike me. However, everyone liked me and took care of me, so I could approach them without worry. The more I approached, the more they liked me.Sincerityseems to work everywhere!
KoreaGap YearⓒKorea Gapyear
Tips for participants considering joining
First, clearly define what you want to gain and what you want to experience, communicate this with the organization, and tell them what you want to do so you can achieve your goals concretely.
My travel route during the gap year
I arranged to work four days a week for 10 hours a day and to have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, so I traveled every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In the first and second weeks I traveled around Athens; the third week I went to Mykonos, and in the fourth week I went to Santorini and Rhodes.
ⓒKorea Gapyear
Language
English level before participating Basic conversational skills
At participation No problem
My tip for language!
Communication among staff was in English, but it wasn''t smooth with the elderly. If you prepare some basic Greek phrases in advance, everyone will be very pleased.
Items to bring
Items that were inconvenient to be without: Power strip
Items that were inconvenient to have:I packed many different clothes but they only became baggage. It''s better to boldly leave out clothes you''re unsure you''ll wear.
My packing tip!
If you prepare using the packing list provided by Korea Gapyear, it solves almost everything. Also, if you plan to travel after the program, it''s best to minimize your luggage.
What I worried about most was my relationship with the clients (the elderly) rather than with the staff. Because of the special situation of dementia/Alzheimer''s and being of a different race, I was very concerned that they might dislike me. However, everyone liked me and took care of me, so I could approach them with ease. The more I approached them, the more they liked me. It seems sincerity gets through anywhere!
-Greece Senior Welfare Care Internship / Heejeong Kim, Gapyear family gapper / 4-week gap year |
Why I chose the Greece Senior Welfare Care Internship
Actually, I wanted to take a one-year leave of absence, earn money, and travel to Greece and Turkey. But my parents strongly opposed me traveling alone, and I couldn''t give up, so after thinking it over I saw the Korea Gapyear program recruiting internships related to my major in the country I wanted to go to, Greece, and I applied immediately.
My personal gap year story spent in Greece
I was at an elderly welfare/dementia-Alzheimer''s institution as apsychological therapy internI did that. My daily routine was to go to work and participate in psychological therapy programs by floor (the elderly were placed on floors according to the severity of their illness). For one hour, 20 minutes was a physical therapy program and 30 minutes was a psychological program. For the first week I followed and observed to adapt and to get a sense of how this institution operates.a senseIt was time to get that sense.
Although the programs varied slightly depending on the severity of the illness, the mostseverepatients were asked the date, shown picture cards and talked about those pictures, sang Greek songs with tambourines to keep rhythm, and took part in programs composed of bowling games or ball-passing games. Next, for those showing slightearlysymptoms and those without illness, they discussed the day''s news and what happened on that day 10 or 20 years ago, and participated in programs centered on games like Hangman / spot-the-difference / arithmetic. However, the lunch break before splitting into morning and afternoon programs was too long, so later I brought a netbook and did personal work(writing intern log, internship plan, etc.)I did.
Weeks 2–3I adapted to the program and started learning a few Greek words, following the treatment processes beside staff and sometimes sitting next to clients to help. One day a staff member was so busy that I had to run the program; following what I''d seen so far and with help from other nursing teams, the clients followed along well, so it was a good experience.
And after completing the program without incident through the fourth week, I went on the personal trip that was my goal.Greece–Turkey–Bulgaria–Hungary–Italy–CroatiaI traveled those countries and returned. Doing an internship allowed me to experience elderly welfare—something I couldn''t experience at school—through an overseas internship, which was meaningful, and I gained more from the experiential side than the theoretical. Finally, I would like to thank Heo Ina, the planner at Korea Gapyear, for all the help and continued attention during the preparation and execution of the internship.
© Korea Gapyear
Structure and composition of the Greece Senior Welfare Care internship program
In my case, my main task was to follow the staff and observe the clients (the elderly). The institution''s programs for clients were excellent, but the program for interns consisted of the same daily routine without active tasks like events, so toward the end I remember it feeling monotonous.
A typical day of the internship program
10:00 - 12:00 Arrive at work and observe the psychological and physical therapy programs for clients on each floor
1:00 - 5:00 PM Lunch and waiting
5 PM - 7 PMObservation of psychotherapy programs on each floor
Reflections on the internship program
My biggest concern was the relationship with the clients (the elderly) rather than with the staff. Given the special situation of dementia/Alzheimer''s and that I am of a different race, I worried that they might dislike me. However, everyone liked me and took care of me, so I could approach them without worry. The more I approached, the more they liked me.Sincerityseems to work everywhere!
KoreaGap YearⓒKorea Gapyear
Tips for participants considering joining
First, clearly define what you want to gain and what you want to experience, communicate this with the organization, and tell them what you want to do so you can achieve your goals concretely.
My travel route during the gap year
I arranged to work four days a week for 10 hours a day and to have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, so I traveled every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In the first and second weeks I traveled around Athens; the third week I went to Mykonos, and in the fourth week I went to Santorini and Rhodes.
ⓒKorea Gapyear
Language
English level before participating Basic conversational skills
At participation No problem
My tip for language!
Communication among staff was in English, but it wasn''t smooth with the elderly. If you prepare some basic Greek phrases in advance, everyone will be very pleased.
Items to bring
Items that were inconvenient to be without: Power strip
Items that were inconvenient to have:I packed many different clothes but they only became baggage. It''s better to boldly leave out clothes you''re unsure you''ll wear.
My packing tip!
If you prepare using the packing list provided by Korea Gapyear, it solves almost everything. Also, if you plan to travel after the program, it''s best to minimize your luggage.
What makes this project special
