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#Overcame fear of doing things alone; increased patriotism #French friends; diverse connections #The truth that what you give comes back; a new experience in Paris
Meeting French friends and having various conversations in simple English made me really feel like a local. One friend even once sent a long KakaoTalk message personally apologizing about a TV audition program that had recently caused controversy for belittling Koreans.
- Paris, France, Gap Year Stay / Kim Hyun-seop, gap-year tribe gapper / 8-week gap year |
Currently, South Korea is,
Each year, 60,000 middle and high school students drop out, 346,000 people in their twenties are idle with no dreams, and the one-year turnover rate after employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with university life, and more than 80% of office workers do not feel happy.Many people tell them to dream, but without practical methods and support to solve this problem, we want to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea.
''Gap year'' (Gapyear)is a time to either combine study and work or pause for a while and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and startups,set the direction to move forward; it is a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and other places.
# Ordinary, and again ordinary life
I felt that my life was just too ordinary.As a teenager I studied normally and got along with friends, and in college I partied and studied normally; it seemed that everything in my life proceeded in an ordinary and smooth way. Of course, after entering university I often took on roles like club president and department president, but that didn''t change things much.
One day, when I thought carefully about my future, I realized that if I graduated and got a job in the usual way, my life would become endlessly ordinary. That isn''t necessarily bad, butI always wanted to do something new, something beyond the ordinary that I hadn''t experienced.I applied for a gap year because I wanted to let go of everything in Korea and experience a new life in Paris.
# I can''t do it alone
I generally hated doing things alone. I liked being alone at home, but when I went out I rarely did things by myself.Even when meeting people, meeting someone one-on-one by myself was very difficult and frightening.During the gap year, I made a lot of effort to change this aspect of my personality. Of course, I spent more days with guests and staff I had grown close to here, but there were also many days when I wandered around and traveled by myself.As I spent more time alone like this, I did a lot of thinking and learned how to go around by myself.
# Making French friends
During the gap year I had one goal: I really wanted to make French friends.I got close to people through a language exchange app by teaching Korean and learning French. Surprisingly, many people were interested in Korea or were majoring in Korean, so I was able to become close with them quickly. Of course, my French was terrible and my English wasn''t great either, butI thought, when else would I have the chance to make French friends, so I gave it a try.
Meeting French friends and having various conversations in simple English made me really feel like a local.One friend even once sent a long KakaoTalk message personally apologizing about a TV audition program that had recently been an issue for belittling Koreans.
# Bonds that will continue
I met many different people and guests, and while all of them are precious memories, there were guests who became as close as the staff.
Jain noona & Suhyun hyung, who I followed around every day and personally navigated for!
Baek Seung-hwa, whose dialect I kept imitating,Hyukjin and Taewoong, who I became close to from being together every day!! etc.
As soon as I return to Korea I have to meet them, so all my plans are already set!
We met in distant Paris and our connection will continue even in Korea, so it feels that much more precious and amazing.
# What you give comes back.
The biggest thing I felt during my gap year is that if I make the effort and give first, things greater than that return to me.I told guests detailed routes and, as I got closer to them, I stepped up and took care of what they needed.When I showed this side first, the guests really liked it, and I was very moved to see them bring something to eat for me on their way back to the accommodation.
# TIP for participants joining the gap year program
Depending on how you handle it, your gap year life can be enjoyable or it can become depressing.
Don''t just think of it as coming on a trip; think of it as coming to experience new things different from Korea.Work hard and also really play hard when it''s time to have fun. Since this involves a lot of contact with people, you may encounter people who...may not suit you. Rather than disliking or hating them, try to open your heart even more to those people...If you make that effort, you can create a better gap year.
The time I live today keeps renewing my life.Don''t regret the past or fear the future; during the gap year I hope you can enjoy and have fun with the present time you''re living as much as possible!
My gap year is..
Experience★★★★★
I was able to experience living in Paris, France and meeting many people.
Learning★★★★☆
I was able to learn about French culture and language, and learn how to relate to people.
Environment★★★★☆
Board and lodging were provided and the basic environment was very good.
Safety★★★★☆
Although I did feel uneasy after the terrorist attacks, Paris had increased security measures, so it felt safe.
Leisure★★★☆☆
Because you have to work to some extent, not every part can be leisure. You need to consciously make your non-working time into leisure.You have to create it yourself.
▼▼▼ Want to see more diverse projects? ▼▼▼
▼▼▼ If you''re wondering what kind of gap year would be best for you? ▼▼▼
<Clean Comment Campaign>
We at GapYear love people who are taking a gap year!
Even if the activities or experiences of gappers during their gap year differ from your own thoughts,malicious comments are not allowed.!:(
To protect the dignity and rights of gappers,indiscriminate malicious comments toward gappers
will not only be managed and deleted internally,but will also be actively and strongly responded toWe will do so.
