During my gap year, I met many different people and shared their experiences and thoughts, which broadened my horizons a bit. For someone like me, who had always spent time talking with friends in the same major at school, these encounters widened my perspective. Thanks to that, I discovered things I wanted to challenge myself with and gained the courage to put them into practice. - Paris, France — I want to live there / Bang Hyunji, gap-year participant (gapper) / 8-week gap year |
Every daySchool, home, libraryFor me, who had been repeating the same routine and rushing ahead thinking that getting a job was everything, taking the big step of taking a leave of absence and joining the gap year program brought me a lot of changesIt did. Many of the people I met in Paris—whom I had feared would leave me behind by a year compared to my peers—took time for themselves and had overcome the fear of challenging what they wanted to do. Seeing them live their lives with confidence made me reflect on my own indecisiveness and tendency to live according to others’ standards. Interacting with people who had diverse perspectives gave me an opportunity to seriously consider my future plans, and at the same time I was able to share similar concerns with friends my age.
When guests thanked me and smiled brightly even for help I considered natural, I felt proud of my work as a staff member. When I started the gap year, it was also very difficult for me to inform and guide guests about Paris, which was new to me. So whenever I had spare time, I studied Paris by reading guidebooks or asking staff who had come earlier and the owner. As a result, I became familiar with how to get to places I hadn’t personally visited, their closed days, entrance fees, and so on. Also, on holidays or outside of work hours I visited major tourist sites myself, and the places I had been to in person I could guide guests much more accurately.
I took a one-night trip to Belgium on a day off. I was struck by how nice it was to be able to travel to a nearby country with just one bag containing simple toiletries. On weekends I went to flea markets with the owner and went grocery shopping together. When I had time, we had barbecue parties at the owner’s house or hunted down popular restaurants in Paris.
It was really sad and regrettable to part with the staff I had lived and worked with around the clock. Instead, I am truly grateful to have made very close, good friends, and it’s also a happy thing to have a family who would warmly welcome me when I go back to Paris someday. The special times I spent every day with good people in great places became precious memories I will never forget. ^^
Before and after taking a gap year
During my gap year I met many different people and shared their experiences and thoughts, and as a result my way of thinking broadened a bit. For me, who had always spent time talking with friends from the same major at school, these encounters widened my perspective. Thanks to that, I developed things I wanted to challenge myself with and gained the courage to put them into practice.
What I gained through my gap year
As a guesthouse staff member, I often realized that with just one word I could change how guests perceived our guesthouse and even alter their impression of Paris. Because the same words can be received differently depending on how they are expressed, I tried to be more mindful when interacting with others and to communicate in a positive way. This style of communication will be a great help in my future professional life.
People I met during my gap year
I met people of various ages and occupations. Although I participated during the off-season from September to November, usually about 15 to 20 guests visited the guesthouse. Some were traveling the world with just a backpack, and many others had quit their jobs to travel. The staff I shared two months of daily life with, the aunt who helped out, and the owner who cooked delicious food every day and worried about me like a father — these are truly unforgettable, special connections.
Places I discovered during my gap year
I recommend visiting Montmartre Hill not only at night but also during the day. On sunny afternoons various performances take place, and sitting on the steps overlooking Paris to watch the performances or listen to music is an absolutely unforgettable experience.
My personal tip for participants!
As noted in the program guide, if you join the “I Want to Live There” program simply thinking you’ll have a fun trip, it will be very different from what you expect and will be difficult. Rather than sightseeing Paris’s attractions, I met many people and enjoyed my duties as a staff member while making use of my free time,so I think I had a good time. Of course there are many Paris sights I didn’t get to see, and it’s a pity I couldn’t make a proper travel plan. Therefore, if you plan a little more diligently and make good use of your time off, you can enjoy your stay and explore the nooks and crannies of Paris.
Packing list
Things I found inconvenient to be without:Diary – I planned to buy a pretty notebook in Paris to use as a diary, but notebooks were too expensive and there weren’t as many pretty ones as I expected. It might be a good idea to buy at least one notebook in Korea and bring it with you.
Things that were inconvenient to have:Laptop – it was useful for planning travel routes and transferring photos, but when I traveled after finishing the gap year program,
it became too bulky. So I left unnecessary luggage in Paris and picked it up after my trip. If you plan to travel like I did, don’t bring a heavy laptop; if you have an iPad, bring that instead of a laptop.
My personal tips for packing!
Because there are so many things to shop for in Paris, it’s best to bring as little luggage as possible. If you stay for two months, your belongings will multiply enormously. Also, many accommodations have Paris guidebooks available, so there’s no need to bring one, and getting information from people who have actually traveled there is much more helpful than a guidebook.
