Projects
|
FAQ
|
Announcements
#Resolved to live an independent, self-directed life rather than being swept along by others #Broadened perspective on culture and the arts #Experienced the relaxed daily life of the French
Through this experience I grew more determined to live my life protecting my own thoughts and beliefs rather than being swept along by others. Engraved on my ankle Live your life(as in ''Live your life'').
-Paris, France, gap year stay / Nam Jeongwon, gap-year tribe ''gapper'' / 8-week gap year |
I took a leave of absence in the second semester last year, and started going to work at a company from August.
On my first day of work, I fell on the bus. I fell harder than I expected, and entered the lobby with both knees bleeding profusely; the first thing I said was, "Where is the bathroom?" Looking back, it was a beginning that fit my situation well. Last year was a continuous chaos, a repetition of falling and getting up.
To be honest, when I was considering taking a leave of absence, I was so disappointed in myself that I seriously considered dropping out instead. From the outside one might think ''why are you making such a fuss'' — I was serious about everything and my stray thoughts kept multiplying. I had come because I wanted to attend our school and our department. So the problem wasn''t school life — it was me.
I wandered until July and started working at the end of August; during a very difficult time when I thought, ''Am I only this much?'', it was an opportunity that helped me regain confidence. And that was the beginning of my gap year life.
A trip to Europe had occupied my mind throughout my university life.
To be frank, I thought I wouldn''t be able to go in the near future. There were practical financial issues, and a 3–4 month trip to Europe was a big goal for me. But by starting work I could learn on the job and save money, and an opportunity came through a gap year program to spend four months in Europe. It truly became an unforgettable time in many ways, and I want to make many more unforgettable memories during the remainder of my travels.
What I most wanted to change during the gap year was to broaden my perspective on culture and the arts, because I want to work in cultural planning,France is, when it comes to culture or a country that is inevitably mentioned when talking about art. Spending two months in Paris, I closely observed the daily lives of the French.
As the birthplace of the term ''Mecenat'', the French government has continuously supported cultural and artistic projects for a very long time, and thanks to this, culture and art are no different from everyday activities for the French. Wherever you go as a tourist there are many street artists. As someone very interested in cultural planning, I found the French — who are different from people in my country — simply fascinating.
In my country, cultural and artistic activities are more often regarded as special events rather than everyday life. From living in Paris I felt that the reason culture and art can be so vibrant is that people there have more leisure. Even in parks on weekday afternoons many families visit, and many students gather in parks after school.Even along the Seine in front of UPMC or the Sorbonne you can easily see university students leisurely finishing their day after classes.
Another interesting thing was the way French shops open on Sundays. Normally shops are almost all closed on Sundays, but there is apparently a law that allows them to open on Sundays if they set up a cultural space inside the store. So when you see shops open on Sundays on the Champs-Élysées, there is always a gallery or studio space. It was two months in which I greatly realized that their attitude toward culture and art is different.
One of the good things about meeting people is that you can learn about that person''s life.
Before coming to Paris for the gap year program, my second goal was to meet 100 people and return. I didn''t actually meet 100, but it seems I met about 60–70 people just in Paris. I want to fill the rest during my travels to reach 100.
The good thing about meeting people is not just the ''meeting'' itself but that you can learn about that person''s life. Whether you like them or not, whether they harm you or help you, there were clearly things to learn from people''s behavior. I took in the good things, and seeing the bad things became an opportunity to reflect on myself.
I had thought that for my age I had encountered many people, but that was a huge misconception. The world is full of diverse people, and even if they are the same age or grew up in similar environments, they each live different lives. During this gap year program, the time I learned the most was probably the time spent meeting and talking with guests and local French friends.
Through this experience I became more determined to live my life without being swept away by others, keeping my own thoughts and beliefs. Engraved on my ankle Live your life(as in ''Live your life'').
