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#Became more comfortable communicating in English; overcame fears #Connection with international friends; the moving experience of volunteering #Unexpected happiness and the joys of travel
I blended into life in Cambodia and had a really, really good time. Actually, I originally planned to participate for only four weeks, but I felt so regretful that I extended for two more weeks, and that was an excellent choice.
-Let''s give wings to Cambodian children with disabilities who have lost their wings!/ Hwang Yejin, Gap-Year Family Gapper/ 6-week Gap Year |
Becoming a nurse felt like a dream, but the reality was different.
29 years old. I was a nurse. There were many difficult parts to working as a nurse, and physically and mentallyI was under a lot of stress. Why I had so little certainty about my work and kept airing complaints and grievances...I kept complaining... In fact, I still have no lingering attachment to quitting nursing.At first it seemed like a dream and was cool to me, but after actually becoming a nurse I felt like I was belittling myself,I couldn''t help it. The job of a nurse that had seemed like a dream and impressive to me wasn''t very welcoming once I actually became one.
At that slightly late age, while thinking about what I really liked and searching the internet, I happened to''learn about the gap year,'' and at first I took it lightly but gradually became interested.There were various projects, and I carefully read the reviews for them.The reason I hesitated to try it was a lack of courage to go it alone in an unfamiliar place,and the other was a bit of fear about doing something I had never tried before.
Thenthe reason I chose the project was that it felt like it had to be now or never.Before my last twenties (how sad), I wanted to try and learn everything I could. And so my cool six weeks of life began.
Wandering, adapting, and even extending the project
I arrived at the accommodation on the weekend. There wasn''t a single person there, and I didn''t know what to do,and even when they explained simple rules in English, I had no idea what they were saying.As soon as I arrived on the first day, I actually wanted to go back to Korea. And later Ifound out that on weekends most volunteers either finish their schedules and return or go traveling.I learned this. I sat blankly in my empty room and then decided to go out no matter what.
I took a Cambodian mode of transport (tuk-tuk) and went to a nearby market.Worried I might get lost or be pickpocketed, I wandered around like that,and when I returned to the accommodation, a Korean ''younger sibling'' who had already adapted to life in Cambodia welcomed me.I was so happy. Being able to use Korean in an environment where only English was used was truly a great blessing.With the help of that Korean younger sibling, I gradually adapted.
I began to get used to life at the accommodation and to Cambodia''s weather and environment, but(I even got used to the heat above 30 degrees and sudden squalls) I could never really get used to ''English.'' At first,People from each country use English, but their accents are all different, so even when they say the same things...it sounded different, so it was really difficult.
Maybe time solved it. At some point, listening to and speaking English became a little easier/freer.I certainly put in that much effort myself, but,that way I blended into life in Cambodia and had a really, really good time.Actually I originally planned to participate for only four weeks, but I was so reluctant to leave that I extended for two more weeks, and that was an excellent choice.
The children who smiled first and came up to me — so lovely.
''Let''s give wings to disabled children who have lost their wings.''It was my volunteer project. In Korea I rarely encountered disabled children, so honestly I was a bitworried and not fully prepared about what mindset I should have.
On the first day I visited the institution for disabled children with a local teacher, and disabled children and non-disabled children were togetherin the same room. We divided volunteering into morning - break - afternoon, and my tasks werehelping with meals, changing diapers, playing with the kids, etc. — nothing particularly difficult.
However, because most of the children had physical disabilities, they could not change their posture by themselves orperform even basic movements, so they lived with the help of local volunteers for everything.Their respiratory systems were mostly poor, so many coughed often during meals and had difficulty swallowing food properly,and there were children who couldn''t chew and had to swallow food as it was.
There were children who would keep crying unless held, and children who repeatedly cried and then laughed.Honestly at first I felt a sense of distance and there were many things I hesitated about, but that side of mewas shameful compared to the children: they weren''t at all surprised by someone they were seeing for the first time and they beamed widely, and I couldn''t help but smile along. I don''t know why, but their broad smiles moved me, and seeing them run up asking to be hugged made me smile once more.
The facilities and environment weren''t major factors. I was just sorry I couldn''t hug them more. I don''t know why something that would normally be nothing moved me so deeply — it''s a happiness you can''t know without experiencing it.game over.
Foreign friends who made life in Cambodia more wonderful.
On the second day after arrival, I went to a bar with foreign friends. There were about ten people. It was a spur-of-the-momentdecision to go, and at first it was awkward, but the foreign friends, who were far from ''awkward'',made me feel comfortable so we quickly became close; we took pictures together, drank beer and danced.Maybe a different version of me, compared to in Korea, appeared there.
Since new volunteers came from different countries every week, I could meet people from various nations each week, and that’s how foreign friends began to form — we went shopping together, watched movies and shared deep conversationswith each other.They spoke as slowly and understandably as possible to me, since English was difficult for me.My first roommate, a Swiss friend, and the Norwegian medical student who always treated me kindly and sought me out first.I''m so grateful to have met friends, including an Australian friend who helped me a lot.Because of them, my life in Cambodia became much more wonderful.
Another unforgettable memory: a trip full of unexpected variables.
I told a Korean sister that we''d just go to Pattaya beach over the weekend, but from Phnom Penh...It took 16 hours by night bus and private car to get to Pattaya.Since it felt like such a waste to have spent so much time getting to Pattaya, we spontaneously planned to visit neighboring countries, Thailand and Laos.We planned it and, since we had packed minimally, bought essential items locally.
With the extremely hot weather, locals who couldn''t communicate in English, and traveling by bus, many complications arose.Complications occurred. The bus returning from Laos to Phnom Penh took a whopping 36 hours.It was a lot of fun, but it was also very exhausting.Even with sufficient planning, many variables can arise during travel, leading to unexpected experiences.
There are many places you can go within Cambodia or to neighboring countries.I really recommend Angkor Wat, Kampot, and Vang Vieng in Laos.
Another concern: not wanting to return to Korea.
After finishing six weeks of a novel life, I actually didn''t want to go back to Korea.Knowing that I lived in Cambodia so well — stress-free and doing exactly what I wanted — the thought that returning to Korea...would force me to face reality again and deal with many worries and thoughts,made me afraid again.
However, one important thing I realized is that these worries are entirely my own,they will help me grow, and although it''s hard, the questions about how I should live going forward...might make me a little happier and more self-reliant.MuchMy thoughts increased much more, but more than any of them...I mainly worry about ''How should I live so I won''t have regrets?'', and although I know there is no fixed answer,I will continue to think and take action to find my own answer. Looking back again at Cambodia...the six weeks I spent there were truly happy.
I blended into life in Cambodia and had a really, really good time. Actually, I originally planned to participate for only four weeks, but I felt so regretful that I extended for two more weeks, and that was an excellent choice.
-Let''s give wings to Cambodian children with disabilities who have lost their wings!/ Hwang Yejin, Gap-Year Family Gapper/ 6-week Gap Year |
Becoming a nurse felt like a dream, but the reality was different.
29 years old. I was a nurse. There were many difficult parts to working as a nurse, and physically and mentallyI was under a lot of stress. Why I had so little certainty about my work and kept airing complaints and grievances...I kept complaining... In fact, I still have no lingering attachment to quitting nursing.At first it seemed like a dream and was cool to me, but after actually becoming a nurse I felt like I was belittling myself,I couldn''t help it. The job of a nurse that had seemed like a dream and impressive to me wasn''t very welcoming once I actually became one.
At that slightly late age, while thinking about what I really liked and searching the internet, I happened to''learn about the gap year,'' and at first I took it lightly but gradually became interested.There were various projects, and I carefully read the reviews for them.The reason I hesitated to try it was a lack of courage to go it alone in an unfamiliar place,and the other was a bit of fear about doing something I had never tried before.
Thenthe reason I chose the project was that it felt like it had to be now or never.Before my last twenties (how sad), I wanted to try and learn everything I could. And so my cool six weeks of life began.
Wandering, adapting, and even extending the project
I arrived at the accommodation on the weekend. There wasn''t a single person there, and I didn''t know what to do,and even when they explained simple rules in English, I had no idea what they were saying.As soon as I arrived on the first day, I actually wanted to go back to Korea. And later Ifound out that on weekends most volunteers either finish their schedules and return or go traveling.I learned this. I sat blankly in my empty room and then decided to go out no matter what.
I took a Cambodian mode of transport (tuk-tuk) and went to a nearby market.Worried I might get lost or be pickpocketed, I wandered around like that,and when I returned to the accommodation, a Korean ''younger sibling'' who had already adapted to life in Cambodia welcomed me.I was so happy. Being able to use Korean in an environment where only English was used was truly a great blessing.With the help of that Korean younger sibling, I gradually adapted.
I began to get used to life at the accommodation and to Cambodia''s weather and environment, but(I even got used to the heat above 30 degrees and sudden squalls) I could never really get used to ''English.'' At first,People from each country use English, but their accents are all different, so even when they say the same things...it sounded different, so it was really difficult.
Maybe time solved it. At some point, listening to and speaking English became a little easier/freer.I certainly put in that much effort myself, but,that way I blended into life in Cambodia and had a really, really good time.Actually I originally planned to participate for only four weeks, but I was so reluctant to leave that I extended for two more weeks, and that was an excellent choice.
The children who smiled first and came up to me — so lovely.
''Let''s give wings to disabled children who have lost their wings.''It was my volunteer project. In Korea I rarely encountered disabled children, so honestly I was a bitworried and not fully prepared about what mindset I should have.
On the first day I visited the institution for disabled children with a local teacher, and disabled children and non-disabled children were togetherin the same room. We divided volunteering into morning - break - afternoon, and my tasks werehelping with meals, changing diapers, playing with the kids, etc. — nothing particularly difficult.
However, because most of the children had physical disabilities, they could not change their posture by themselves orperform even basic movements, so they lived with the help of local volunteers for everything.Their respiratory systems were mostly poor, so many coughed often during meals and had difficulty swallowing food properly,and there were children who couldn''t chew and had to swallow food as it was.
There were children who would keep crying unless held, and children who repeatedly cried and then laughed.Honestly at first I felt a sense of distance and there were many things I hesitated about, but that side of mewas shameful compared to the children: they weren''t at all surprised by someone they were seeing for the first time and they beamed widely, and I couldn''t help but smile along. I don''t know why, but their broad smiles moved me, and seeing them run up asking to be hugged made me smile once more.
The facilities and environment weren''t major factors. I was just sorry I couldn''t hug them more. I don''t know why something that would normally be nothing moved me so deeply — it''s a happiness you can''t know without experiencing it.game over.
Foreign friends who made life in Cambodia more wonderful.
On the second day after arrival, I went to a bar with foreign friends. There were about ten people. It was a spur-of-the-momentdecision to go, and at first it was awkward, but the foreign friends, who were far from ''awkward'',made me feel comfortable so we quickly became close; we took pictures together, drank beer and danced.Maybe a different version of me, compared to in Korea, appeared there.
Since new volunteers came from different countries every week, I could meet people from various nations each week, and that’s how foreign friends began to form — we went shopping together, watched movies and shared deep conversationswith each other.They spoke as slowly and understandably as possible to me, since English was difficult for me.My first roommate, a Swiss friend, and the Norwegian medical student who always treated me kindly and sought me out first.I''m so grateful to have met friends, including an Australian friend who helped me a lot.Because of them, my life in Cambodia became much more wonderful.
Another unforgettable memory: a trip full of unexpected variables.
I told a Korean sister that we''d just go to Pattaya beach over the weekend, but from Phnom Penh...It took 16 hours by night bus and private car to get to Pattaya.Since it felt like such a waste to have spent so much time getting to Pattaya, we spontaneously planned to visit neighboring countries, Thailand and Laos.We planned it and, since we had packed minimally, bought essential items locally.
With the extremely hot weather, locals who couldn''t communicate in English, and traveling by bus, many complications arose.Complications occurred. The bus returning from Laos to Phnom Penh took a whopping 36 hours.It was a lot of fun, but it was also very exhausting.Even with sufficient planning, many variables can arise during travel, leading to unexpected experiences.
There are many places you can go within Cambodia or to neighboring countries.I really recommend Angkor Wat, Kampot, and Vang Vieng in Laos.
Another concern: not wanting to return to Korea.
After finishing six weeks of a novel life, I actually didn''t want to go back to Korea.Knowing that I lived in Cambodia so well — stress-free and doing exactly what I wanted — the thought that returning to Korea...would force me to face reality again and deal with many worries and thoughts,made me afraid again.
However, one important thing I realized is that these worries are entirely my own,they will help me grow, and although it''s hard, the questions about how I should live going forward...might make me a little happier and more self-reliant.MuchMy thoughts increased much more, but more than any of them...I mainly worry about ''How should I live so I won''t have regrets?'', and although I know there is no fixed answer,I will continue to think and take action to find my own answer. Looking back again at Cambodia...the six weeks I spent there were truly happy.
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