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#More smiles; became more relaxed #Confidence in independent travel; experience of communal living #Pride in adapting to a new environment; the value of 'we before me'
I decided to take a trip of my own. The primary goal of the gap year was, first and foremost, to regain a sense of ease of mind. Furthermore, through many conversations with myself I wanted to take a step closer to honesty and fully enjoy the pleasures of travel.
-A Greek village-community internship full of leisure and joy / Shin Hyun-hee, gap-year participant (gapper) / 6-week gap year |
Currently, South Korea is,
Each year 60,000 middle and high school students drop out of school; 346,000 people in their twenties are just idle because they have no dreams; the turnover rate within one year after employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with campus life, and more than 80% of workers report not feeling happy.
Many people tell them to dream, but without practical methods or support to solve this problem,we aim to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea as well.
''Gap year (Gapyear)''refers to taking time to either combine or temporarily pause studies and work and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and startups,use that time to set a direction for the future; it is a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
#Realizing I needed time of my own
I worked for 15 years at an IT software company and had been yearning for peace of mind due to frequent business trips and projects. Recently I realized my own limits at work and found myself bound by work, clinging to it without time to reflect on myself. Over the past year I kept asking myself questions and wandered aimlessly in search of vague solutions...After those questions, I felt that above all I needed time that was purely my own.
The first step toward that was to quit my job. And I decided to take my own trip. If there is a goal for the gap year,first of all, regaining a sense of ease of mind was the biggest goal. Furthermore, through many conversations with myself,I wanted to take one step closer to honesty and to fully enjoy the pleasures of travel.
#Finding a gap year that matched my disposition
After deciding to quit my job and while collecting travel-related materials, I found Korea Gap Year on the internet and received a one-on-one consulting session.1st: self-assessment; 2nd: travel direction tailored to my dispositionin two stages,through consultations, I joined this program.
I had little personal time because I had to prepare for departure while also handing over my work for resignation.
I prepared based on the travel supplies and checklist that Korea Gap Year provided in advance.
Through this program I learned not only confidence in independent travel but also a sense of ease.
#A day-to-day routine in Greece
I worked as a community management intern and lived as an assistant in a self-sufficient setup across different areas (cooking, gardening, cleaning). Each week I was assigned roles for each area and carried them out.
A typical day was: yoga → preparing breakfast→staff meeting→Lunch preparation / other roles→Beach time→Dinner preparation / other roles→Community / healing time→BedtimeThat was it.
#Finding myself adapting to a new environment
Before joining this program, I participated in a two-month language study in the Philippines. Even so, at firstWhen I came here, I was really taken aback by the different English accents from each country.For about a week I really felt like Alice in Wonderland.I was very flustered by the sudden change in environment, but I tried to adapt with a positive attitude.
Through the self-sufficient style of role sharing I could feel a sense of belonging, and through healing/community sessions I was able to encounter new experiences. The community activities weren''t limited to conversation but included games, dancing, and singing. Especially during beach time, swimming, listening to music, sunbathing, or reading a book — you can truly feel the healing. Through this projectI discovered myself adapting to a new environment and felt proud and came to appreciate the preciousness of everyday life.
#Feeling a community of ''we'' and ''each other'' rather than ''me''
Thanks to a mentor who supported me emotionally and physically like a mother even though I couldn''t speak English, Iwas able to overcome it. Through themed community time there were many opportunities to speak, which was burdensome at the time, but I felt myself getting closer to the members.Once, on the topic of “the most precious thing,” when I talked about my family history and my mother, they even teared up and comforted me.
During beach time someone taught me how to swim when I couldn''t, and there was someone who went out to eat with me when I was craving meat.Although we didn''t have many deep conversations, I could feel a community of ''we'' and ''each other'' rather than ''me''.It was also a precious time living together with people from various countries (USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Denmark...) for the first time. Also, frequent physical contact like hugs or cheek kisses when greeting brought people closer and felt like the start of communication, and I too really liked the natural physical affection.
#Meeting lovely and wonderful people
First, Vikton from Denmark, my mentor. Someone who was always a reliable ally.Susan from the UK, lovely and worked very hard on the gardening.Vikton and Susan were sometimes my roommates, and on days off we enjoyed hiking together; they always took care of me.
Then participants Renata and Pet. They shared pleasures like friends, like parents, in gardening, hiking, and meals. Also the Italian Mirko and English Claire, a couple—the most beautiful and admirable couple I''ve ever seen. The two knew how to enjoy healing and community with their whole selves, and especially Claire taught me to swim even though I''m afraid of water. Through the program I was able to meet other lovely, wonderful friends.
#I smile more now
In short, I started smiling more.My smile turned into a relaxed ease that made me reach out to others first.I discovered that about myself.After completing this program and later traveling independently, it became the driving force that allowed me to interact with strangers in unfamiliar places safely and enjoyably. The more gruff someone looked, the more warmly they responded when I spoke with a smile, and I felt an even greater sense of welcome.
#My personal travel route discovered during my gap year
Volos has many very clean beaches. Damohari Beach, which was a filming location for the movie Mamma Mia. About a 10-minute drive from the Kalikarlos institute are Papanero Beach and another beach on either side. Clean, quiet beaches can be the perfect place to relax.
After this program, I traveled independently for five months.
Greek islands (Crete, Santorini, Mykonos)→Turkey (Selçuk, Fethiye, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Istanbul)→Italy (Rome, Florence, Assisi)→France (Nice)→Monaco→Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, San Sebastián)→France (Paris)→UK (London)→Ireland (Dublin)→United States (L.A., San Diego, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco)→Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, San Cristóbal, Cancún)→Cuba (Havana, Varadero, Santa Clara, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Viñales - Havana)→Peru (Lima, Ica, Cajamarca, Chachapoyas, Cusco, Machu Picchu)→Bolivia (Titicaca, La Paz, Uyuni)→Argentina (Salta, Buenos Aires, Iguazu)→Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
Every destination was my first time, which made it even more precious, and it was a joyful, whirlwind adventure.From the best hike in Santorini to the village of Oia; thrilling paragliding in Fethiye; Florence overflowing with beautiful architecture and street musicians; Barcelona, where I fell head over heels for architect Gaudí and flamenco; a tapas tour in gastronomic heaven San Sebastián; Paris like a painting; in London I experienced the most luxurious jazz performance of my life and met wonderful friends; the Grand Canyon, which I could hardly believe even seeing in person; a wild party tour in the glitziest Las Vegas; Guadalajara overflowing every night with tequila and mariachi; the Malecón that I could stare at for hours without getting bored and Havana where salsa rings out from morning; Varadero for fully enjoying the Caribbean; Cajamarca in the highlands — my condition wasn’t great but I saw an incredibly clear sky; Machu Picchu, where the Inca civilization humbled me; Buenos Aires with tango, wine, and a certain aloof charm; and Rio de Janeiro, the most dazzling city of my life, with the whole city filled with the fever of the Samba festival.
In Europe I mainly traveled alone and met locals or people through local tours; in the U.S. I joined a Western U.S. tour package and traveled with about 12 younger friends from various countries; in Cuba, which I went to on a whim, I met a Singaporean couple, Laifen and Chen, and traveled with them in a mix of companionship and independent travel.
From Peru to Brazil I met Korean friends my age, Myeong-hee and Seon-mi, and we had endless chats and laughter and sometimes shared the hardships of travel. I was lucky to have both solo travel and travel with companions on this trip. I’m proud of myself and give myself a little pat on the back for being able to travel safely and happily until the end.
My gap year was...
Experience★★★★★
Meeting people from across Europe and experiencing diverse communities provided an incredible experience.
Learning★★★★☆
Through communities I learned a sense of calm and the beauty of leading by example.
Environment★★★★☆
The inconveniences of communal living made me more diligent.
Safety★★★★☆
All aspects of life were open, so it felt safer.
Leisure★★★☆☆
During free time we went to the beach or hiked. Because life was community-centered, there was less leisure time than expected.
I decided to take a trip of my own. The primary goal of the gap year was, first and foremost, to regain a sense of ease of mind. Furthermore, through many conversations with myself I wanted to take a step closer to honesty and fully enjoy the pleasures of travel.
-A Greek village-community internship full of leisure and joy / Shin Hyun-hee, gap-year participant (gapper) / 6-week gap year |
Currently, South Korea is,
Each year 60,000 middle and high school students drop out of school; 346,000 people in their twenties are just idle because they have no dreams; the turnover rate within one year after employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with campus life, and more than 80% of workers report not feeling happy.
Many people tell them to dream, but without practical methods or support to solve this problem,we aim to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea as well.
''Gap year (Gapyear)''refers to taking time to either combine or temporarily pause studies and work and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and startups,use that time to set a direction for the future; it is a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
#Realizing I needed time of my own
I worked for 15 years at an IT software company and had been yearning for peace of mind due to frequent business trips and projects. Recently I realized my own limits at work and found myself bound by work, clinging to it without time to reflect on myself. Over the past year I kept asking myself questions and wandered aimlessly in search of vague solutions...After those questions, I felt that above all I needed time that was purely my own.
The first step toward that was to quit my job. And I decided to take my own trip. If there is a goal for the gap year,first of all, regaining a sense of ease of mind was the biggest goal. Furthermore, through many conversations with myself,I wanted to take one step closer to honesty and to fully enjoy the pleasures of travel.
#Finding a gap year that matched my disposition
After deciding to quit my job and while collecting travel-related materials, I found Korea Gap Year on the internet and received a one-on-one consulting session.1st: self-assessment; 2nd: travel direction tailored to my dispositionin two stages,through consultations, I joined this program.
I had little personal time because I had to prepare for departure while also handing over my work for resignation.
I prepared based on the travel supplies and checklist that Korea Gap Year provided in advance.
Through this program I learned not only confidence in independent travel but also a sense of ease.
#A day-to-day routine in Greece
I worked as a community management intern and lived as an assistant in a self-sufficient setup across different areas (cooking, gardening, cleaning). Each week I was assigned roles for each area and carried them out.
A typical day was: yoga → preparing breakfast→staff meeting→Lunch preparation / other roles→Beach time→Dinner preparation / other roles→Community / healing time→BedtimeThat was it.
#Finding myself adapting to a new environment
Before joining this program, I participated in a two-month language study in the Philippines. Even so, at firstWhen I came here, I was really taken aback by the different English accents from each country.For about a week I really felt like Alice in Wonderland.I was very flustered by the sudden change in environment, but I tried to adapt with a positive attitude.
Through the self-sufficient style of role sharing I could feel a sense of belonging, and through healing/community sessions I was able to encounter new experiences. The community activities weren''t limited to conversation but included games, dancing, and singing. Especially during beach time, swimming, listening to music, sunbathing, or reading a book — you can truly feel the healing. Through this projectI discovered myself adapting to a new environment and felt proud and came to appreciate the preciousness of everyday life.
#Feeling a community of ''we'' and ''each other'' rather than ''me''
Thanks to a mentor who supported me emotionally and physically like a mother even though I couldn''t speak English, Iwas able to overcome it. Through themed community time there were many opportunities to speak, which was burdensome at the time, but I felt myself getting closer to the members.Once, on the topic of “the most precious thing,” when I talked about my family history and my mother, they even teared up and comforted me.
During beach time someone taught me how to swim when I couldn''t, and there was someone who went out to eat with me when I was craving meat.Although we didn''t have many deep conversations, I could feel a community of ''we'' and ''each other'' rather than ''me''.It was also a precious time living together with people from various countries (USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Denmark...) for the first time. Also, frequent physical contact like hugs or cheek kisses when greeting brought people closer and felt like the start of communication, and I too really liked the natural physical affection.
#Meeting lovely and wonderful people
First, Vikton from Denmark, my mentor. Someone who was always a reliable ally.Susan from the UK, lovely and worked very hard on the gardening.Vikton and Susan were sometimes my roommates, and on days off we enjoyed hiking together; they always took care of me.
Then participants Renata and Pet. They shared pleasures like friends, like parents, in gardening, hiking, and meals. Also the Italian Mirko and English Claire, a couple—the most beautiful and admirable couple I''ve ever seen. The two knew how to enjoy healing and community with their whole selves, and especially Claire taught me to swim even though I''m afraid of water. Through the program I was able to meet other lovely, wonderful friends.
#I smile more now
In short, I started smiling more.My smile turned into a relaxed ease that made me reach out to others first.I discovered that about myself.After completing this program and later traveling independently, it became the driving force that allowed me to interact with strangers in unfamiliar places safely and enjoyably. The more gruff someone looked, the more warmly they responded when I spoke with a smile, and I felt an even greater sense of welcome.
#My personal travel route discovered during my gap year
Volos has many very clean beaches. Damohari Beach, which was a filming location for the movie Mamma Mia. About a 10-minute drive from the Kalikarlos institute are Papanero Beach and another beach on either side. Clean, quiet beaches can be the perfect place to relax.
After this program, I traveled independently for five months.
Greek islands (Crete, Santorini, Mykonos)→Turkey (Selçuk, Fethiye, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Istanbul)→Italy (Rome, Florence, Assisi)→France (Nice)→Monaco→Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, San Sebastián)→France (Paris)→UK (London)→Ireland (Dublin)→United States (L.A., San Diego, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco)→Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, San Cristóbal, Cancún)→Cuba (Havana, Varadero, Santa Clara, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Viñales - Havana)→Peru (Lima, Ica, Cajamarca, Chachapoyas, Cusco, Machu Picchu)→Bolivia (Titicaca, La Paz, Uyuni)→Argentina (Salta, Buenos Aires, Iguazu)→Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
Every destination was my first time, which made it even more precious, and it was a joyful, whirlwind adventure.From the best hike in Santorini to the village of Oia; thrilling paragliding in Fethiye; Florence overflowing with beautiful architecture and street musicians; Barcelona, where I fell head over heels for architect Gaudí and flamenco; a tapas tour in gastronomic heaven San Sebastián; Paris like a painting; in London I experienced the most luxurious jazz performance of my life and met wonderful friends; the Grand Canyon, which I could hardly believe even seeing in person; a wild party tour in the glitziest Las Vegas; Guadalajara overflowing every night with tequila and mariachi; the Malecón that I could stare at for hours without getting bored and Havana where salsa rings out from morning; Varadero for fully enjoying the Caribbean; Cajamarca in the highlands — my condition wasn’t great but I saw an incredibly clear sky; Machu Picchu, where the Inca civilization humbled me; Buenos Aires with tango, wine, and a certain aloof charm; and Rio de Janeiro, the most dazzling city of my life, with the whole city filled with the fever of the Samba festival.
In Europe I mainly traveled alone and met locals or people through local tours; in the U.S. I joined a Western U.S. tour package and traveled with about 12 younger friends from various countries; in Cuba, which I went to on a whim, I met a Singaporean couple, Laifen and Chen, and traveled with them in a mix of companionship and independent travel.
From Peru to Brazil I met Korean friends my age, Myeong-hee and Seon-mi, and we had endless chats and laughter and sometimes shared the hardships of travel. I was lucky to have both solo travel and travel with companions on this trip. I’m proud of myself and give myself a little pat on the back for being able to travel safely and happily until the end.
My gap year was...
Experience★★★★★
Meeting people from across Europe and experiencing diverse communities provided an incredible experience.
Learning★★★★☆
Through communities I learned a sense of calm and the beauty of leading by example.
Environment★★★★☆
The inconveniences of communal living made me more diligent.
Safety★★★★☆
All aspects of life were open, so it felt safer.
Leisure★★★☆☆
During free time we went to the beach or hiked. Because life was community-centered, there was less leisure time than expected.
What makes this project special
