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#Overcame fear and gained courage #The joy of solo travel, new connections #A regret-free experience that greatly helped my life
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The most meaningful part of my life was meeting people from various age groups and professions, sharing stories with them, traveling together, and discovering the joys of traveling alone.
- Florence, Italy, Gap Year Stay / Ahn Seong-hee, Gap Year Participant / 8-week Gap Year
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* This project is currently closed.
Walking through the streets of Florence alone was enough to fill my heart with joy
I think back to when I first arrived in Florence, Italy. At first, it felt surreal to simply be there, but now, two months have passed. It’s already been a week since I returned from solo travels through Switzerland, France, and Spain. Just walking through the streets of Florence was enough to fill my heart with excitement and happiness. After that week, my co-worker left, and I started working with a new colleague. Unlike the previous coworker, who worked solo, we worked as a team of two, which I considered quite lucky. Although it made the work easier compared to others, the stress was still intense. If your sole purpose is to travel, I would not recommend this program.
Still, living in Florence for two months was a deeply enriching experience. I traveled with people I had just met, reconnected in Florence with someone I met on a plane and guided them around, and received Cruciani bracelets as gifts. Each day brought new experiences and new encounters that made this journey unforgettable.
Although the rainy season brought cold and rainy days, the peacefulness allowed me to see a new side of Florence. On clear days, rainy days, windy days, and cloudy days, I experienced the diverse beauty of Florence. While planning this solo trip to Europe, I faced many challenges but was able to overcome them thanks to the help of kind people. I also received a lot of advice about travel and life.
A Vacation in Venice
Venice, which I explored with Mina, a 22-year-old I met at the hostel, was a truly fascinating place. The idea of an entire town built on islands was amazing in itself. The canals between buildings, boats as the main mode of transportation instead of cars—it was all so intriguing. It really made me realize how diverse the world is, with its places, languages, and people.
Mina, seven years younger than me, seemed more mature, with broader perspectives and greater knowledge. I was reminded how small my world had been. She was studying English in Ireland, and I was impressed by her courage to live and study in a faraway land at such a young age. It made me feel a step closer to the vast world.
Through this project, I also met and spent time with many people. Among them, the ones who left the strongest impression were the friends I traveled with for the first time in the countryside. They had all quit their jobs and shared similar thoughts, and they were the first companions I met after arriving in Florence.
There was Gaeun, a pharmacist; Jiseon, a headhunter; and Sunjik, a CEO. Gaeun was 26 years old, and Jiseon and Sunjik were my age—29. Yet, they seemed more mature and visionary than I was. During the trip, we had many deep conversations, and I learned a lot from them. I'm truly grateful to them. I hope they're all doing well wherever they are now.
The city that moved me: Rome, Southern Italy, and the Vatican
The majestic Colosseum and the intense sunlight were enough to leave me in awe. Although one side was under construction, which was slightly disappointing, it couldn’t overshadow the grandeur of the Colosseum. Similarly, the Trevi Fountain was also under renovation, which was a pity. Still, places like Piazza Venezia, Piazza di Spagna, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Mouth of Truth were all breathtaking.
For the Vatican and Southern Italy, I highly recommend taking a guided tour . The tour provided a wealth of knowledge and information that greatly enhanced the experience. Unfortunately, during the Southern Italy tour, the weather was terrible, and I couldn’t visit Naples or Amalfi. It was such a disappointment. If I get another chance, I’d love to go there someday.
The Cinque Terre That Moved Me
At first, I used to visit nearby areas during my breaks and afternoons. The place I liked most was Pisa and Cinque Terre! When I arrived in Pisa, the weather was clear, but as I got closer to Cinque Terre, the weather started to get cloudy... Oh no. It started to rain lightly, but I was lucky enough to see the first village. The first village was enough to touch my heart! They say the last village is the most beautiful, though... it was a bit disappointing. Travel always seems to leave you with some regrets. Leaving with a bit of regret makes you want to return next time, right?^^;
An Experience Only Possible in Florence
During my two months, which could be either long or short, I didn’t just want to travel and see sights but also wanted to have some "experiences." So I wondered what kind of experiences I could have here, and after some thought, I decided to watch a movie in Italy. I wondered what the Italian movie theaters would be like and whether they would be similar to the ones in my country. However, Italian movie theaters were far more lacking compared to ours. The movie I watched was "Magic in the Moonlight," but it was dubbed entirely in Italian. Knowing only "Ciao" and "Grazie" in Italian, I ended up just watching the screen, but I still consider it a good experience.
Another unique experience was attending a Fiorentina soccer match in Florence. It wasn’t a major league, so the crowd wasn’t very large, but the way we entered the Italian stadium was very different from Korea. When purchasing tickets, they checked the passport name and the name on the ticket one by one, and if they didn’t match, you couldn’t get in. Additionally, canned beer or drinks had to be transferred into paper cups before entering. Looking back, it was an enjoyable episode and a memorable experience.
The Joy of Traveling Alone!
The best part of this program is probably what most participants would say. Meeting people from the most diverse age groups and professions, talking with them, and traveling together, and realizing the joy of traveling alone.
In fact, I had never traveled alone before. I always thought that while the destination is important in travel, what matters more is "the people you travel with." And although people often tell you to travel alone, you can never understand the true meaning of it until you do it yourself.
Having traveled alone, I now strongly recommend solo travel to those who have never tried it. It allows you to enjoy your own thoughts, meet unexpected new people, and even when you get lost, you might discover places no one else has seen.
There are no set answers in travel. You don’t have to visit famous tourist spots. Sitting on the street all day with a cup of coffee, people-watching, bird-watching, enjoying the scenery, or watching the sunset turn to night while having time for yourself can also create wonderful memories.
Travel, A Time That Greatly Helps My Life
At first, I had doubts. Was this the right decision? Am I spending money for nothing? I also really wanted to go back to Korea soon. But looking back now, I realize that, even though the effects may not be immediately visible, traveling is truly a big help in my life. And the real charm of travel is meeting people you didn’t know until yesterday and enjoying time together with no conditions, just supporting each other!
It seems like it.
If I were to give advice to future participants in the gap year project as someone who has participated, like with anything, there will be many regrets when looking back on your choices. That’s why I think it’s important to carefully consider your own travel style before making a decision.
Everyone has a fantasy about Europe, and at some point, you might want to 'live' there rather than just travel. Since accommodation and meals are provided for two months, it might sound exciting and fun to think about living here for that period, but if you come with just these expectations, it could turn out to be a really boring and tedious two months. It won’t be much different from Korea. In fact, it might even be worse. Without friends, without being able to communicate, and with high living costs, living here for two months might lead to some discomfort.
As for me, I’m not the type to spend a long time traveling in one area. After about a month, I started getting bored. Whether visiting Florence or nearby areas, it all started to feel the same. Everywhere I went, it seemed like I was just looking at churches, and the buildings all looked similar. I just wanted to leave and go to another country as soon as possible.
Therefore, it might be a good idea to create something specific to do in Italy for the two months, aside from just healing or traveling. For example, you could set a goal like learning Italian or studying leathercraft, something that would be highly beneficial to learn while in Italy.
The Courage of One Step That Changed Me
Of course, there were moments of regret regarding my choices, but there were definitely many positive aspects as well. Before participating, I was overwhelmed with vague fears and all sorts of worries, and making the decision to take on the challenge was not easy. Would I be able to travel around Europe by myself after quitting the company I was working for? At my age, could I make new friends? Could I start over again?
However, it was difficult to take the first step, but once I did, I realized that a whole new world opens up. So now, when starting something, I feel like I can take that first step without fear. The gap year helped me let go of fear and anxiety, and gave me courage and a bigger heart.Today, I feel like leaving again.
