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#Became a bolder, more courageous person #Conversations with international friends and childcare volunteer experience #A positive attitude of 'I'm young, it's fine — say Yes to anything!'
I was frustrated and really hated myself for being so timid and passive. By chance I had the opportunity to take a leave of absence, and ''don''t just think—do something...'' ''Let''s try anything!'' I impulsively applied to the gap year program I had heard about.
- Childcare volunteer work in Cambodia |
Q. Please give a brief self-introduction :)
Hello! I am an ordinary college student majoring in early childhood education, currently a third-year on leave.
Q. What made you choose the gap year project you participated in?
I have always had many things I wanted to learn and many experiences I wanted besides my major in early childhood education. I''m especially interested in photography, so I''m very unsure about my future career. But I was always just thinking; I used financial, time, and personality reasons as excuses and put things off, living by whatever situation I was given. I was frustrated and really hated myself for being so timid and passive. By chance I had the opportunity to take a leave of absence, and...''Don''t just think—let''s try doing something!''I impulsively applied to the gap year program I had heard about. I just wanted to try anything. When choosing a gap year program, as a student I prioritized lower cost and selected a ''teacher'' program similar to my major.
Q. Weren''t you worried about staying abroad for an extended period?
Actually, the people around me were more worried than I was. I''m particularly small in stature compared to others, and they were concerned I was going alone to a country with poor security. I had quite a bit of travel experience, but the longest I''d stayed anywhere was two weeks, and I had always been with people I relied on, so I was a bit anxious about going ''alone''.
Q. How did you prepare before departure?
1. Before leaving, I felt burdened about using English. So that I could keep conversations going...I practiced turning sentences into question form...and that practice helped me quite a bit on site.
2. During the gap year orientation, I talked with the organizer about various things and mentioned my interest in ''photography,'' and we agreed I would choose a photography project. I...''Taking photos of all the children at the childcare center.''I decided on that and bought photography books to study. (I plan to print those photos now and send them to Cambodia!)
Q. What did you want to change through the gap year, or what were your goals for the gap year?
1. I wanted to have long conversations with foreign friends from different cultures.
2. I wanted to have as many experiences as possible. I also wanted to enjoy the process.
3. I wanted to become a bold and courageous person.
Q. I''m curious about the structure of the local project. Can you tell us the daily routine?
8:15 Take a tuk-tuk to the center – 9:00 Children arrive; short songs and worship – 9:15 Shower & snack – 9:45 Morning classes (Khmer, English, art, math, etc.; classes vary freely) – 11:00 Lunch – 11:45 Brush teeth & nap time – 12:15 Volunteers & teachers eat – 2:00 Children wake up & shower time & snack – 2:45 Afternoon class (free activities) – 4:00 Children & volunteers leave / Free time at the accommodation.
Q. Through the gap year project you participated in: what were the good points, what touched you, what did you learn or realize, etc.
Actually, before coming to Cambodia I read almost all the gap year program reviews. The common points seemed to be that the first one or two weeks were tough because of English, but foreign friends still took good care of you. So I thought it wouldn''t be much different for me and started the program, but the situation was very different. English, which was fairly manageable at first, wore me down as time went on, and the people at the center and guesthouse I worked at seemed not very keen to become close. I had to approach them first before they''d respond even with a single word.Of course, I thought I would adapt easily as I always had, but when things didn''t go as planned I became very withdrawn.
At that time, I became friends with ''Carlos,'' an older man from Spain who was staying at the same guesthouse and working at the center, and my situation took a new turn.When I was struggling, he bought me a glass of apple juice and advised, ''You''re young, it''s okay; life is short, so answer "Yes!" to everything!''His words resonated with me because he wasn''t just talk—he was someone who put thoughts into action and practiced them himself.
When asked if I would try teaching an English class at the childcare center, I previously lacked confidence and answered ‘No thanks,’ but later said ‘Of course!’ and tried as much as I could. Meeting the new kind friends, I suggested to them that we go on trips and spoke to travelers I met for the first time to ask about each other’s countries. Of course, it wasn’t easy. Starting to speak was so difficult, and I sometimes became lazy after forgetting my initial purpose. HoweverI realized that my mindset turned into action and made it possible for me to gradually enjoy those moments.
Also, staying for a long time allowed me to personally experience other countries’ cultures and reflect on ‘difference’ versus ‘wrongness.’ While spending time with the childcare center children, I unconsciously gave and received affection, got hurt, and felt overflowing happiness. I lay in a hammock on a quiet beach where the waves lapped and read a book, waved glow sticks excitedly at a Jesse J concert, and felt awe at the vast nature and Angkor Wat. There were so many things I experienced and felt that it’s hard to list them all, but the new experiences came as happiness.
Q. Were there people you met or spent time with through the gap year project?
During the two-month period, there were over 50 people with whom I asked names and exchanged greetings. Among them I think of the roommates I was closest to. We traveled together, went around eating delicious food here and there, and promised to be sure to contact each other if we visit each other’s countries. I especially remember Carlos mentioned above and the very dedicated Cambodian teacher Sharon.
Q. What advice would you give to those who will participate in the gap year project in the future?
I think it’s important to act without forgetting your original heart and purpose.
Q. How would you compare yourself before and after participating in the gap year project?
Broadly, I felt that my attitude toward life changed.My life in Korea after returning in two months was really the same, but I personally learned that you have to experience things to realize them, and having felt things that were ‘hard but happy,’ I developed the will to put them into action.
I can’t say that everything got better through this gap year. HoweverI feel it has clearly become a stepping stone for my future life.
So I’ll challenge myself again. Whether it’s another gap year program or photography that I love, I will definitely give it a try.
''You’re young, it’s okay—life is short, so answer Yes! to anything!'' - Grandpa’s friend Carlos
Q. During the gap year, tell us your personal travel route you discovered (recommended places, schedule, route, etc.)
Siem Reap: 1 night 2 days is too short; 2 nights 3 days is appropriate!
Kep: 2 nights 3 days; I recommend the quiet and beautiful Rabbit Island; Kimly Restaurant - pepper crab,
Phnom Penh: Tuol Sleng Museum, Killing Fields—definitely visit; National Museum; Royal Palace—not recommended,
The riverside is pretty in the evening. There’s a shopping mall (movie theater) near the accommodation.
My gap year is..
Experience★★★★★
To me, everything was a new experience and a challenge.
Learning ★★★☆☆
There was more inner/personal learning than practical, usable learning.
Environment★★★☆☆
Since the country itself is not a very clean country... maybe that’s something you have to accept :)
Safety ★★★★☆
It''s a fairly safe environment as long as you avoid risky behavior.
Leisure ★★★★☆
There''s more free time and freedom than you might expect. If you plan carefully, you can do a lot during this time!
(travel, studying English, etc.)
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
