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#Changed from a dependent person to an independent person #Gained time alone and had various encounters #Had an enjoyable time in Busan
I wanted to change my habit of relying heavily on others. I wanted to live alone and travel to have my own time, and through that time become more independent. So the goal I decided for this gap year was ''becoming an independent person!''.
- Busan, Gap Year Stay :: The Passionate Second City / Park Jinha, Gap-Year Tribe Gapper / 4-week gap year |
In my own time,
Except for 8 AM to 12 PM, I wasn''t heavily constrained by time and could travel freely. At first I started with Dongbaek Island, which I could walk to, and later I took the subway for an hour and a half to reach Daejeo Ecological Park! For a month,I often went out because I wanted to see and experience many different things before returning..
Perhaps because Haeundae is by the sea, evenings were colder than I expected. Since it was April I had only brought light clothes, so as soon as I arrived in Busan I contacted home and had a padded vest and thicker clothes sent to me. At first, being alone felt very awkward and I felt like passersby were staring at me for no reason, but as the days passed I became less sensitive to it.
For a month I explored every corner of Busan, from famous places to lesser-known spots.On days I didn''t travel, I went to the movies or took evening walks along Haeundae Beach. As the weather warmed up, many people came out to busk. Sitting on the steps, watching the night sea and listening to sweet songs was truly a beautiful and happy time.
The accommodation was,
Since April when I went was the off-season, I could have a room to myself. On Saturdays it was occasionally fully booked and I had to share a room with other guests, but it wasn''t a big inconvenience. In fact, I became close with a friend from Suwon whom I shared a room with, and we still keep in touch. Shampoo, body cleanser, towels and other daily necessities were all provided, and there was a washing machine so I could do laundry.
The manager (older sister) was,
The best thing about coming to Busan was meeting the manager. When I sometimes forgot or made mistakes, she would patiently explain things again and always told me it was okay. She would start conversations first, worrying I might be lonely being in a different place alone, and we''d go out for walks together in the evenings.
She was an excellent cook, so thanks to her I enjoyed really delicious meals every time! Once a week I helped her make dumplings, which was really fun. The manager had lived in Australia for three years on a working holiday, so she became a great adviser for me as I was considering a working holiday.
She also recommended good methods and books for studying English, and when I asked about grammar I didn''t understand while studying, she explained it. Because of her experience living and working alone in Australia, she understood and took care of gap year situations very well, and I was very grateful.
The gap year I spent was,
Experience ★★★★★
Staying at the guesthouse was great because I could meet a variety of people. From friends my age to nurses, lawyers, and even members of the National Assembly, I met people I wouldn''t normally encounter and felt a lot through conversations with them.
Learning ★★★★★
All the older sisters and brothers I lived with at the guesthouse, including the manager, were fluent in English, so I could buy English books to study and ask about things I didn''t know, which helped me build my English skills.
Environment ★★★★★
Regarding meals, we shopped at the supermarket each week and cooked every meal with the fresh ingredients we bought, so the food was delicious!
Safety ★★★★★
In the late evenings I always moved around with the manager! We avoided dangerous places!
I had a room to myself and each room had a door lock, so it was safe.
Leisure ★★★★★
There was a movie theater a 10-minute walk away, so I often went to watch movies when I was bored!
Dongbaek Island was also nearby, so in the evenings I often went out for walks and had a beer with the manager.I enjoyed my free time.
