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#Had an India travel experience different from others #Learned to play the tabla and made local friends #Felt India's charm and dispelled prejudices
I took a year off from school, and what I most wanted to do was travel and learn a new instrument. While searching the internet, I discovered a gap year program in India to study music, so I decided to join.
-A free music journey to the world, Part 1: India / Shin Yujin, gap-year traveler / 2-week gap year |
Motivation
Since I was young, music has been my most enjoyable hobby. I was always interested in various instruments and kinds of music rather than being limited to just one. For university...I majored in electronics, but I consistently played piano, haegeum, and guitar as hobbies, and when I had the opportunity to go to Mongolia I learned a traditional Mongolian instrument.
I took a year off from school, and what I most wanted to do was travel and learn a new instrument. While searching the internet, I discovered a gap year program in India to study music, so I decided to join.
Preparation
Thanks to the gap year coordinator''s constant attention and communication, I was able to obtain a lot of information and materials from departure to arrival. So I personally wasn''t very worried, but my friends were quite concerned that I, as a woman, was going to India alone.
But when I actually went, I was surprised at how many female travelers were traveling alone. The Indian people were also very kind. Of course there were exceptions, but with a little caution and care you could easily avoid those situations.
Gap year
There were two hours of classes each day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. I spent the rest of the time hanging out with local friends or fellow travelers. The famous tourist sites were too far, so I didn''t visit them during the program; instead I went into town to hang out or discovered local eateries that tourists would have a hard time finding.
The class proceeded by first teaching a piece through basic practice, then giving time to practice. During self-practice time, you would receive feedback if anything was wrong. Once a piece became familiar, we moved on to another piece.
What I learned in India was the instrument called the tabla. There are many instruments and you can choose several, but I decided to learn only the tabla, which I had been interested in from the start. The tabla is a percussion instrument, so rhythm is important; since it was the first instrument I was learning, I concentrated on solidifying the basics.
The teachers were each very kind, and I liked that they taught without missing even the smallest details. During breaks,they would sharestories about India''s history and culture that left an impression. This institution is well-known among locals as a place with a long history that teaches traditional Indian music, so local friends were very happy that I was learning an instrument there, and I was able to make many friends easily.
If you are hesitating to travel because of preconceived notions or prejudices about India, I want to tell you not to worry so much. If you approach India''s culture and religions with a bit more openness, you can fully experience the charm of this surprisingly fascinating country and enjoy your trip to India even more.
Plan
The experience of learning music in India was part of the trip I planned for my gap year during my leave of absence. I now plan to travel to Japan, and when my trip to Japan is over I will go back to India once more to bring the journey to a close.
What does a gap year mean to me?
A unique India trip different from others.
By staying in one area, I was able to connect with locals and make friends through the appealing element of music.
What kind of gap year did I have?
Experience ★★★★★
Above all, five stars for being able to meet so many friends!
Learning ★★★★☆
If you speak English well, the range of things you can learn will expand.
That''s because, unlike the passive academies in our country, you have to enjoy it and approach things on your own.
Environment ★★★☆☆
Hot weather is one of the things you have to put up with. Also, watch out for cow droppings on the roadside!
Safety ★★★☆☆
People aren''t scary. The cows and monkeys around the alleys were more frightening. ㅠㅠ
Leisure ★★★★☆
Because there''s a lot of free time, you need your own plan to make good use of your leisure time. Hanging out with local friends or exploring the neighborhood made the day feel too short.
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