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#Changed to an attitude of actively challenging myself and facing obstacles #Positive energy; friendships with foreigners #It was enjoyable, just like the project's title 'Cheerful'
The night before I left, my mother threw me a question: "What are you hoping to get out of that?" Trying to answer it made me more anxious and confused about whether what I was doing was the right thing. Still, it was a big decision I''d already made. The next morning I left.
- A cheerful English-teaching volunteer activity with foreign friends / Lee Ji-seon, gap-year family gapper / 8-week gap year |
A ''cheerful'' project full of things I liked and wanted to do.
I was majoring in elementary education and had finished the first semester of my fourth year, and I was about to take the teacher certification exam. In fact, education universities tend to have clear career paths and definite preparations, so most people run straight toward their goals, and getting distracted can be seen as a waste of time.
But rather than preparing for certification right away,JobAn opportunity to grow more through novel experiences and challenges before getting a job.I wanted to have that.
To be more precise, right before leaving I was worn out and down from a long stretch of running, and I wanted to fill my body and mind with positive energy.If I talk about smaller goals,''Make friends with foreigners, travel with them, and visit their countries'',''''Introduce Korean culture to my friends''I craved meeting a variety of people and cultures abroad, like that.
And in that process,I wanted to be someone who challenged herself more proactively and met things head-on.I wanted to meet that version of myself.SuchI wanted to cultivate that attitude toward life.
Among them, the reason I chose the ''Cheerful English-teaching volunteer activity with foreign friends in Chiang Rai, Thailand'' project.
I thought it was the project that connected best with the field I was studying. More than credentials, by gaining relevant experience abroad I couldhave a special opportunity to reflect on my career path.I thought.
And a bit oddly, the phrase in the project''s title''cheerful''drew me in.
A project where I could teach English in a fun way and also make foreign friends.Since it combined the things I liked and wanted, it literally felt like a cheerful project.
A nerve‑wracking solo trip
I had never stayed abroad for a long time, so I was very worried. Concerns about epidemics in Southeast Asia, drinking water, food, and the language made me so anxious that the night before leaving I couldn''t sleep at all because of last-minute packing and worries.
For travel preparations I asked the gap year coordinator about everything from A to Z, perhaps annoyingly so. For doubts or questions I made full use of the internet and repeatedly read the packing list materials provided by Korea Gap Year, steadily checking to make sure I hadn''t missed anything.
But the night before I left my mother asked me a question:"What do you hope to gain from this?"
Trying to answer that made me even more anxious, and I felt confused about whether what I was doing was the right thing.Still, it was a big decision I had already made. The next morning I left.
Unfamiliar but okay.
Looking back, every moment I spent participating in the project in Thailand was a special and precious experience. At first it was true that everything felt so unfamiliar and lonely. It was my first trip abroad alone, and even the fact that every language I heard was either English or Thai felt strange and awkward.
If I let myself complain, there were other unfamiliar things too: being the only Korean, the squat toilets, and the dormitory with cold showers — everything was full of unfamiliarities.
Now that I think about it,"The other volunteers (not me) chat freely in English and easily make friends — how should I approach them and start a conversation? How can I get closer to them?"I worried a lot about that too. During the process of forming a team and preparing classes together, I became close to some Chinese friends. But two weeks later, when those friends finished the volunteer project and returned to their home countries, I was alone again.
By then there was no choice but to approach Western friends who were completely different and befriend them. The tiny bit of courage I mustered became the trigger — I stepped toward them little by little, and before I knew it I found myself traveling with them for weeks and joking around.
When I actually approached them, I realized it was I who had put up walls and been cautious, not my friends.The friends who gradually got closer while traveling together were much cooler, warmer, and more fun than I had imagined. I can vividly see myself crying my eyes out as I said goodbye to the friends I had grown close to.
I also remember the Thai staff, who were as pleasant and warm as the project''s name suggested.
Bon and Goi were very shy but were the first to show concern when I was feeling down, and they were extremely proactive in helping with issues like plane tickets or local SIM cards.
The very humble and warm Thai people''sThai smilesare still vivid in front of my eyes. Their way of always smiling and enjoying whatever they did, consistent with their characteristic Thai smiles and good humor, was really impressive. In particular, I will never forget the boy from my class who shyly gave me a flower while wearing a Thai smile.
A dream I achieved: visiting my friend''s home.
The ''Cheerful English Volunteer Teaching Project'' I chose involves volunteers forming groups of 2–5 people and, from Tuesday to Saturday each week in the mornings, going to schools or temples for 1–2 hours each morning and afternoon.daycare centers and hospitalsto give English lessons.
To explain for those who might be interested: in weeks with many participants, a homestay group is formed. Participants are broadly divided into groups A, B, and C; one of these groups does homestays and goes to nearby schools to teach. The remaining groups are assigned to different schools to conduct classes.
Usually morning classes start at 9, then around 12 you return to the center for lunch, go to afternoon classes around 1–2 and return for dinner, and from 6–7 p.m. you can have one-on-one tutoring or free time if there''s no tutoring.
By making good use of project time and free time, while participating in this project Iachieved one dream.While participating in the project I met volunteers from many countries — the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy, France, Brazil, China, Japan, Singapore, and more. The important thing is that some of them became close as we traveled together, and we still keep in touch.
After carrying out the project in Thailand, I also participated in a project in Greece. During the Greece project, when I traveled around Europe, the experience of visiting the home of an Italian friend I had met in Thailand was truly special and precious. It was a dream I had wanted to fulfill for a long time.Traveling with foreign friends, visiting friends'' homes — it''s amazing that all of that happened through the Thailand project!
A gap year — motivation for another dream
Through the gap year project I became friends with people from around the world, exchanged cultures, and quenched my thirst for living abroad and traveling.
More than anything I achieved while doing the gap year,the biggest outcome is that I alsostarted to have various things I wanted to do.And the gap year project motivated me to prepare for teacher certification even when I was somewhat exhausted.
to decide more independently about my own lifeI became able to,take a leading role in my lifeI think I have gained.
The first thing I want to do is''Study my own country''.Seeing my European friends who had great pride in their countries made me want to take pride in my own country and study our country more.
Second, wanting to be better at English,motivation to study EnglishI gained.
I think I wanted to meet more friends and have closer relationships with more people.
And,I wanted to prepare for the teacher exam in a more enjoyable wayI wanted to.
To someone else who will take on the same challenge as me.
I remember myself when I first prepared for the gap year. I was afraid to do something alone. So I prepared by asking about everything one by one, worrying about every little thing and relying on others. But while carrying out the gap year project,At some point I realized I was solving things on my own as much as possible and that my vague fear of travel had disappeared. Now, rather than fear, there''s a desire to find and see more placeshas arisen.
Of course, it still takes time to act recklessly. However, if there''s something I want to do, just myinner voiceI became convinced that following it, not putting things off, and doing those things is the right choice for me.
To other young people who will take on a challenge like mine, I want to offer a few words that might help. Even if you''re not good at English, it would be good to go with some confidence that you can speak and understand English to some degree.This is because it''s volunteer work where you have to teach English, and you also need to converse in English at the volunteer site.
However, confidenceIf you don''t have it, seeing other volunteers who speak English as well as native speakers can make you feel isolated. And because you still lack enough cultural understanding to have basic communication with them, it can be frustrating. But if you find yourself having to leave even though you''re not prepared, I strongly recommend that you just dive in for now!
Whether your words make sense or not, boldly approach them first, try talking, go on trips together, and throw yourself into it and grow—I suggest enjoying the situation as you watch yourself grow. If you enjoy it like this, when you return from the trip you''ll suddenly find that English comes to you before Korean at some point :)!
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
