GapNow that the gap year is over and I look back on the gap year period, it seems a lot happened. Over the two months I laughed and cried and a lot happened, and I don''t think I''ll ever have this kind of experience again. Whenever I took on a challenge, a corresponding amount of trial and cost followed. That happened this time as well, but because I endured it, I think it made the time more meaningful. I made unforgettable memories and returned to Korea. Florence, Gap Year Stay / Son Minju, gap-year family gapper / 8-week gap year |
My gap year story
"The Florence I went to for a gap year stay was my first trip to Europe."
At firstBecause it was my first time going, I worried whether I would be able to find my way.Sure enough, the flight from Japan to Austria couldn''t depart that day and was delayed for 18 hours, and I had to spend an extra night in Japan. After some ups and downs, I was able to get from Munich, Germany to Florence.
From the day after I arrived, I began learning and starting staff duties. I had done various jobs in Korea, but this was my first time at a guesthouse. Cleaning! Cooking! were not problems. It''s important to do them well, but when and how you do them is what matters. The hardest part to adapt to was that public spaces and private spaces were the same. By the time I adapted in the second month, it was time to leave.
"Many things happened during the gap year period"
The day after I arrived I was so excited that I roamed all over Florence. I went here and there and wandered around with excitement. As time passed, fatigue built up, and by the end of August I was just trying to recover from the tiredness.But I think I enjoyed Florence enough over the two months. I tried gelato, drank beer on the Ponte Vecchio, ate the T-bone steak you must try in Florence, and bought a pretty cow-shaped leather wallet. I fell for the charm of Limoncello, a drink found only in Italy with about 30% alcohol, and drank it for a while. I also got into collecting champagne corks, so I drank champagne for a while.
The greatest charm of Florence seemed to be the Duomo. I climbed both the cupola and Giotto''s bell tower. The views of Florence from the two places each had their own distinct charm. From the cupola you can look around 360 degrees at the panorama of Florence, and from the bell tower you can see Florence with the cupola in it, so it was a great spot for photos. Another place to see a different side of Florence is Michelangelo Hill. There I listened to someone playing guitar, had a beer, and watched the night view.
At Piazza della Repubblica I danced to the songs of street performance artists, and at a small shop someone prettily embroidered my name on paper with a sewing machine. Also, since July and August are the sale period for shops across Italy, I treated myself to a small gift. It felt like it had been a long time since I did something just for myself. My favorite thing in Florence was the night market. On my last day before leaving, I had a beer and Argentine food at the night market.
"Trips to the outskirts of Florence were also really nice.
Especially Assisi! Assisi is well-known among Catholics. Maybe because it''s a Catholic town, the peaceful atmosphere was perfect for healing. What I liked most there was spending a night at the Assisi convent, which is famous among Korean travelers! The convent provided lodging and meals to travelers at low prices. The view of Umbria from the convent is truly indescribable. It felt calm and peaceful, and I understood why people come here to heal.
And Spello, one train stop from Assisi, is famous as a city of flowers and also for wine. It''s a small town, but wineries line the alleys, and people often come here to drink Tuscan wine. However, the day I went was during the Italian holiday season and a weekend, so most places were closed. Unfortunately I couldn''t try the wine and returned to Florence.
At the end of August, the Puccini Festival, an event commemorating Puccini, is held in a small town called Torre del Lago. Torre del Lago is said to be Puccini''s hometown. When I went to Torre del Lago, an opera was being performed, but I gave it up because there would be no train to go home if I stayed to watch it. Later, after finishing the gap year stay, I decided to go to Verona and be satisfied with seeing an opera at the Arena there.
Now that the gap year is over and I look back on the gap year period, it seems a lot happened. Over the two months I laughed and cried and a lot happened, and I don''t think I''ll ever have this kind of experience again. Whenever I took on a challenge, a corresponding amount of trial and cost followed. That happened this time as well, but because I endured it, I think it made the time more meaningful. I made unforgettable memories and returned to Korea. I am grateful to everyone who helped me participate in this program.
Before and after participating in the gap year program
"Before participating, I was a person who had lost my goals."
I had always lived a life where I set goals, executed them, and was satisfied with the results, but after entering university and studying my major I became overwhelmed by the same daily routine, assignments, and practical work. So I decided to take a leave of absence and have a gap year.
Taking a gap year revived the passion I used to have. And new goals emerged again. If you keep challenging yourself without stopping, trials and pain will inevitably arise, but in return new paths become visible and opportunities to take on new challenges are given.
Now that I''ve finished the gap year, although the same life may repeat again, with new goals in life each day has become a passionate time and an opportunity for me.
Gap year essentials
Items I regretted not having: Fall clothes - The gap year stay period was July–August, so I only packed summer clothes, but when I traveled in September after the stay it was the change of seasons and it was too cold.
Items that were useful to have: Emergency medication
You only need to pack items necessary for basic daily life. I took one small carry-on suitcase and one backpack.
I kept checking my luggage and only brought items I felt I couldn''t do without.
