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#Overcame fear of people; regained self-esteem #Gained valuable experiences and lifelong friends #Felt the profound value of meeting people
Gap Year PrReason for participating in the program Calling it an occasion or reason would be too grandiose; I had simply taken a leave of absence and vaguely wanted to leave Seoul. Not to go somewhere short-term like a trip, but to live somewhere other than Seoul. And then I discovered the Gap Year Stay program. After discovering it I even thought, ''Is this a sign from above telling me to get out of Seoul and try living elsewhere?''
Things I wanted to change through the gap year, or the goals of the gap year The goal was clear.Let''s see all of Gyeongju! I decided that once work finished I would hurry out and explore diligently. I wanted to become someone who didn''t look like they''d only lived in Seoul. That was it. And after work ended I really hurried out and wandered around a lot. I went to the columnar jointing that tourists rarely visit, and I felt like I''d been to most spots in Gyeongju, so I even went to Pohang. It amazes me even now that someone like me—who takes a long time to put thoughts into action and overthinks side issues—roamed around Gyeongju without the slightest hesitation; even my mother was surprised that I, who am too lazy to go to the convenience store in front of my house, went all the way to Pohang.
My own gap year story At first, I didn''t particularly want to go to Gyeongju. Gyeongju—the place people visit on school trips during middle and high school—I had never been there once in my 23 years. So I had even less interest. Rather, I wanted to go to places that people hadn''t often visited; I didn''t feel any particular need to go to a place everyone had already been during their school days.
The reason I applied for the gap year program in Gyeongju was also that I wanted to live somewhere else. There was a Busan Gap Year Stay and Paris was also on the list of gap year programs, but I didn''t want to go abroad and I had lived in Busan for about a month. So somewhat anticlimactically, I chose Gyeongju.
Three days after arriving, I thought, "I''m glad I came here."
The first three days were really exhausting. I had no sense of what I should be doing, and the work was hard and difficult because it was my first time. Then, three days later on a day without a morning shift, trusting my two sturdy legs, I walked to Anapji. Next was Cheomseongdae, then Gyochon Village, then Oreung, and Poseokjeong. Each place I passed made me look forward to what would come next. I walked for about six hours, but the first thing I said after returning to the guesthouse wasn''t ''I''m tired'' or ''this is hard'' but''I like that on my days off I can get around more.''It was. From that day on I explored Gyeongju with an attitude of learning and acceptance.
I also felt that meeting people is truly valuable. Although I haven''t lived for a long time or spent many years,I had been hurt by people a lot.Because of that I hesitated a lot to start new things and my self-esteem was relatively much lower than before. For me, working at a guesthouse and socializing with guests was something I began after overcoming a lot of fear. Andthe reward for overcoming that fear was much greater and more worthwhile than I had imagined.Even after finishing the program and returning to Seoul, I have kept in regular contact with people, and the staff who ran the program with me have remained friends I will have for life.
When I think about myself 30 years from now, or my old age, I always have one thought: I will definitely live by the sea. It''s like a pledge of mine. So I had a romance about Busan and even lived there briefly, but Busan''s sea was quite different from what I had imagined. Rather than a place to make a life, it felt like a travel destination, and it wasn''t at all the kind of place that would be a gift to my breathless, fast-lived old age. Still, that vow-like desire continued, and when I came to Gyeongju I heard there are beaches nearby. I heard they are far from downtown and that people don''t go there much as a tourist spot, which made me want to visit even more.
In the end I took my days off together and went to Gyeongju''s columnar jointing. It''s, dare I say, the best coastal promenade I''ve been to. Really! The coastal walkway lets you stroll leisurely while smelling the sea, and you can sit in a café overlooking the sea and watch the beach for hours without noticing the time. If someone says they''re going to Gyeongju, I would, above all else, tell them to go to the Wave Sound Path first.
If someone asked me whether I was glad I went to Gyeongju, I could say without hesitation that it was truly worth going. And I myself had a truly valuable experience, and even though it was only a month, I think I learned a lot. ''Gap Year Stay'' isn''t simply about going somewhere to travel. You have activities assigned to you, and at first I found that difficult to accept. But the pride and sense of accomplishment when I overcame that and completed them were greater than anything. When guests I met during the program leave the guesthouse and then message me on KakaoTalk saying things like ''I had a great time'' or ''Let''s definitely meet when you''re back in Seoul,'' I feel proud that I remained a good connection for these people.
Combining the days I will live and the days I have lived, although it was only one month, it was a truly wonderful month. Even this moment of writing this report feels moving because of the unforgettable memories and connections. I hope this emotion gives a deep resonance to my life.
What I liked about the gap year program I participated in Around this time last year I had said I would obtain the Korean history certification and studied for about two months, but I stopped studying because I felt it wasn''t necessary for employment. However, during the program I had a conversation with two men from the Philippines, and when asked why King Munmu''s tomb is near the sea I couldn''t answer at all. I felt very ashamed of myself then; being told ''how can a Korean not know Korean history'' became the reason I resolved that when I return to Seoul I must take the Korean history certification exam in May.
If you compare before and after participating in the gap year program? Before going to Gyeongju, since I had taken a leave of absence, I thought I should study English. I needed to get certifications. My head was very confused with thoughts about what I should do. With that mindset I attended an English academy and also obtained a computer certification.HaBut the next thought was, since I did this, I should do something else next. That was the thought.
But while running the program in Gyeongju''I felt like I was learning more than from studying right now'' I came to feel that. Simply running the program was me doing what I wanted to do, and even after returning to Seoul I was able to think of the work or study I plan to do as something I truly want.
If I were to rate the gap year I spent with stars? 1. Experience ★★★★☆ As mentioned above, if you say you work at a guesthouse, most people say it''s a special experience. Hearing that made me feel great pride and I felt my self-esteem being restored.
2. Learning ★★★★☆ Is there a greater learning than the learning gained by confronting things hands-on? I believe I learned a lot just by meeting people and talking with them. Moreover, in Gyeongju, which has a thousand years of history, you naturally end up studying history even if you don''t want to!
3. Environment ★★★☆☆ The living environment wasn''t a home, so of course it was inevitably inconvenient. I didn''t sleep in a room by myself, and if you''re a light sleeper it would be even more uncomfortable. However, it''s a good environment for traveling.
4. Safety ★★★☆☆ Even though the guesthouse was near downtown, shops in Gyeongju start preparing to close before 9 PM. By 10 PM the streets all become dark. Because of that, during the month I was running the program I tended to return home before 8 PM.
5. Leisure ★★★★★ It''s a really great place to travel alone without worrying about what others think. There are quite a few people who come alone, and there were more places to spend time alone than I expected. As someone who likes walking and cycling, I liked it a lot. Tourist sites generally have well-laid bike paths, the walking trails are nicely decorated, and the night views in particular are so beautiful you can''t pass by without taking photos. |
