I gained the guts to take on the world, Busan, Gap Year Stay Review :: A Passionate Second City

#Overcame fear; gained mental clarity #A strong determination to live my own life #I gained the guts to take on the world

Author: Noh Yoon-jung
Country / City: Asia/South Korea/Busan
Views : 3906

Now that the gap year program has ended, many of the things I’d been thinking about have been somewhat sorted out. So I feel the same fear, but it’s exciting. My determination to really live my own life has become firmer. To put it a little strongly, I’ve gained a bit of grit like, ''Alright world, let’s go at it.'' Haha

- Busan, Gap Year Stay :: The Passionate Second City / Noh Yoon-jeong, gap-yearer / 4-week gap year

'' One year off from school, one year of working holiday. I’m two years behind others. What should I do?''

There’s nowhere left to fall back to now, so I should at least get a job. But just one last time... I’ll struggle and try.

With that mindset, I squeezed time to participate in the Busan Gap Year Stay program.I literally wanted to spend a one-year gap year, but anxious thoughts like, ''I’m already two years behind by the world’s standards...'' made it just a timid act of rebellion.

For about five years I’ve been singing that I’d live somewhere warm someday. It didn’t matter whether it was in Korea or overseas.

And over the past few years I increasingly wanted to try living in Busan. I liked the warm weather and the seaside; I’d never been on a proper trip there, but I just liked Busan.

So thinking, ''I can get a job in either Busan or Seoul, so even if living costs are extra, why not try living in Busan,'' I decided to take a one-month gap year to see how it felt and, if I liked it, get a job in Busan.I applied for the Gap Year Stay.

Orientation. Orientation.I thought it was just a formality. Besides, since mine was only a one-month program, I thought even more so that it would be nothing special.

So until I received the OT from Korea Gap Year I had a carefree attitude: I’d live in Busan for a month, travel a bit, and if I liked it I’d stay here. And I never imagined they would run the orientation in that way.

It wasn’t a formal OT,but a time to revisit the reason for having a gap year,so I can’t write down everything,, to meThey offered me something different from my original plan of getting a job: to meet as many seniors as possible in the field I wanted to work in, listen to their stories, go down to Busan and spend a gap year there, and think about it deeply..

I was surprised they supported me even though we’d met for less than an hour, and the things they told me made me suddenly start thinking a lot.

My heart pounded all the way home, and I also thought, ''Isn’t this too fanciful?''

Anyway, since it wasn’t a difficult task,I decided to meet the seniors and go down to Busan to think about it. It suddenly took an unexpected direction and I began to ponder seriously, and my head was spinning the whole time I stayed in Busan and while traveling.

I asked for SOS help from the CEO of a company who I’d gotten close to during my working holiday and who knows me better than anyone.

And then I heard a clicking sound

''There aren’t many people who can do it well, but it’s pointless if people who can do it only think about it in their heads, haha.

Whether abroad or in Korea, whether you fail or succeed, you have to take action to know the result. Just thinking is always failure~''

A few months ago I suddenly remembered something I wrote on social media: ''Even if you can''t eat it, go!''Back then the boss said, ''If you say GO!, you can eat it!''

So I cleared my head and decided to trust myself. While traveling I kept making vows to myself again and again.

The gap year program...has ended, and my Gap Year is now about to begin. It''s a little scary and daunting, but I think 2015 will be an interesting year of learning, realization, and significant growth.

To everyone reading this: be yourself. I hope you spend a ''Gap year'' being true to yourself :)

And an addendum: guesthouse life

Around 11 a.m., I wake up, eat the brunch the landlady prepares, and sweep the yard to shake off sleep.

After cleaning the rooms the guests stayed in, it''s already 2 o''clock; if I hang the last load of laundry, today''s meal money is earned :D haha

At first I traveled around Busan a lot. I made a list of places I wanted to go to''Check—''It''s really fun to check them off as I go.

After seeing things to some extent, I spent more time at the guesthouse. I greeted other guests and chatted, read books, and watched movies with the younger guy who works in the basement DVD room. I wondered when I''d had such relaxed times in my life and liked the feeling of being voluntarily unemployed. Hehe

Later, I grew attached to the guesthouse family, and parting was so sad and hard. The night I went to Taejongdae with the younger staff member who was with me the day before I left — I can''t forget the breeze that brushed past there. I also want to remember for a long time the pitter-patter of the rain on the night the staff had a shot of makgeolli and we squeezed into one bed in my room.

I had a really happy time meeting good people, and later I hope to achieve exactly what I aimed for and come back to meet them again.

Scenery of Yonggungsa Temple

My own Busan travel route I discovered during the gap year

If I had to pick three favorite places, in order,Haedong Yonggungsa,Taejongdae,Dongbaek Island. That''s how I''d recommend them.

Yonggungsawas about an hour and a half from the guesthouse, but it was so nice I had no regrets. It was the top place I recommended when guests asked for good spots. It''s really impressive that a temple sits right in front of the sea.

TaejongdaeI went three times while staying in Busan. The sunset is beautiful and the grilled shellfish is delicious. The last time I went it was at night, and while looking at the lighthouse I reflected on the time I had spent in Busan.

To describe the route: start from Nampo-dong. In the morning I watched the sunrise at Songjeong Beach and then walked to Yonggungsa Temple (took about 20–30 minutes).

I like walking, so on the day I went to Dongbaek Island I explored the island and then leisurely walked from Haeundae to Dalmaji Hill (the Nurimaru on Dongbaek Island is really beautiful too!).

Sunrise at Songjeong Beach

Tip for those considering participating?!

A fewGoalsSetting goals and immersing yourself in them during the gap year could be a valuable experience.

I''m not saying you have to stay busy. Whatever way you spend your gap year, if you decide to make it a meaningful time and remember that initial intention, I think the range of things you''ll feel and experience during the gap year will broaden.

Because a gap year isn''t a time arranged and planned by others, you can learn as much as you choose to experience.

I hope everyone makes their own moments meaningful and shine.

What I liked about the gap year program

Aside from working hours, I liked that I could travel freely during the rest of the time, and I was grateful for the orientation (OT) before the program that helped me make the most of the gap year.

For a month I took it easy like an idler, reflected on my previously busy life, and spent time catching my breath while sketching out plans for the future. So when I come to Busan again, I''ll probably remember this time and feel a bit strange.

Nampo-dong tree festival

Before and after the gap year

Before participating, I was excited about Busan, but my heart was heavy because of vague fears and anxieties about the future.

Now that the gap year program is over, the things I had been thinking about are somewhat sorted out. So although the fear remains, it''s exciting.

My resolve to truly live my own life has grown stronger. To put it a bit strongly,"Alright, world—bring it on."You could say I gained that sort of nerve. Haha.