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#Realized the importance of attitude; developed flexible thinking #Meeting a variety of people and experiencing everyday life in Paris #Discovered that there is something I can do in any situation
In the past I focused on where and what I was doing, but at some point I deeply realized that no matter where I am or what situation I find myself in, what matters is my attitude. Even if a situation feels bad, if I look inward I realize there are certainly things I can do within it. Approaching everyday life with this mindset left virtually no time to be bored.
- Paris, France, GapYear Stay / Kim Jinhyang, 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 just idling because they have no dreams, and the turnover rate within one year after employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and more than 80% of office workers say they do not feel happy.Many people tell others to dream, but to solve this problem, which lacks realistic methods and support, we want to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea.
''Gap year''refers to a period to either combine studies and work or to pause briefly and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, or starting a business,set the direction for the future; it is a culture encouraged in the United States, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
# It''s still a time to take on challenges and experience new things rather than to live a stable life
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I was too old to take a gap year, but I thought it was necessary to take some time to reflect and check whether I was following the path I truly wanted while doing what I wanted. While working at a French restaurant my curiosity about France grew, and I happened to learn about the GapYearStay program; I thought it would be an opportunity to satisfy my personal curiosity about France while working directly in the unique field of a guesthouse and meeting various people.
And although I liked cooking and had been living busily and diligently, I secretly worried that I had fallen into a rut and that my curiosity and interest in other things might be dulling.However, I believed this was still a time to challenge myself and experience new things rather than settle into a stable life, so I wanted to try it and take time to more broadly and deeply recalibrate the direction of my life.
# No matter where or what situation I am in, what''s important is my attitude
Because of the nature of guesthouse activities you have to pay attention to guests'' convenience, which requires carefulness and consideration, and you must communicate well with the staff you work with for life here to be more enjoyable; therefore, proactiveness, a positive attitude, and a sense of responsibility were necessary. While I was working I was the eldest sister, but I lived with mature and considerate younger colleagues, so we always smiled and enjoyed ourselves and the guests'' satisfaction was high. This place is also a microcosm of society, so there were many occasions to think and reflect on how to lead relationships well within it and, by helping each other, how to solve new tasks and problems day by day.
In the past I focused on where and what I was doing, but at some point I deeply realized that no matter where I am or what situation I find myself in, what matters is my attitude.Even if a situation feels bad, if you look at yourself you realize there are definitely things you can do within it. Approaching each day with that mindset left virtually no room for boredom.Even in what seems like ordinary daily life, various things happen, and as you deal with them yourself you discover new sides of yourself you hadn''t known; sometimes you may also feel disappointed, regretful, and reflective.
# The wine parties where, regardless of where you came from, your age, or what you''ve done, people could mix without prejudice
Clearly, the intent of the GapYearStay program is that a participant who wants to take a gap year resides at a guesthouse in a specific city and receives room and board in exchange for their activities, but I want to emphasize again that how valuably you use that time depends on your own plans and will.The tasks to be done here are laid out in manuals, and if you basically learn them there is no great difficulty in doing the work. However, various variables arise each day, and how you respond to and handle them depends on your own ability to cope with situations and your flexibility.
You may solve things well or you may make mistakes. You learn, feel, regret, and reflect within that process and thereby grow. However, if you come here focusing only on securing your personal time, the duties may start to feel like mere work and become boring.If you work with responsibility and enjoyment, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, and you will also acquire ways of being considerate, understanding, and communicating among staff.
My gap year coincided with Fashion Week here in Paris, and I spent a long time with model friends staying at the guesthouse, having many conversations. Rather than the fantasies I had about the modeling profession, seeing firsthand how much effort they put in to achieve their goals taught me a lot and gave me a good opportunity to reflect on myself.Also, two long-time friends of my mother''s generation came on an extended trip to Europe; they always communicated with us with a girlish heart, smiling and offering generous advice and life stories. They later left for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, and by keeping in touch and sharing our thoughts and photos we learned a lot.
So if I were to name the most memorable and enjoyable experience during my GapYearStay, it would be the many days when all the guests staying at the guesthouse gathered together, laughing, chatting, and drinking. Regardless of where people came from, their age, or what they had done, everyone gathered without prejudice to share their journeys, worries, and plans,and it was a precious time to share together.
Meeting good people is important, but I also think it is necessary for oneself to be a good person to others in order to form harmonious relationships. You will meet a variety of people of all ages, and if you treat people sincerely you will gain indirect experiences through their attitudes and life stories and have time to reflect on yourself. If you truly desire it, you can grow and develop as you wish. Even if that growth is slow, you need time to look back, encourage yourself, and draw out your potential so you don''t fall behind, so please make good use of your gap year time.
# Paris of romance — their freedom and warmth, enjoying life while preserving their culture
Living in a foreign country makes you keenly appreciate things you never fully considered in Korea.During the heat wave that rose to 40 degrees, I was surprised that nowhere—neither cafés nor the subway—had the air conditioning on. It was also so frustrating that tasks that should take only a few minutes could take all day.
Accustomed to life in Korea where cutting-edge technologies pour in relentlessly before you can adapt, I clicked my tongue at their inefficiencies and couldn’t understand them at first. I had to reflect on myself—despite many technologies and media developed for convenience, I had been full of complaints about still lacking personal time.
I thought many times that there must be reasons why they steadfastly preserve their culture and willingly endure inconveniences, and gradually I came to understand: fast and new isn’t always better.Their freedom and warmth—treasuring the environment and culture they grew up with, keeping it close and enjoying it in daily life—are worth that value. It’s not a city that talks about romance for nothing.
While staying in Paris I often went for walks around the Canal Saint-Martin rather than visiting famous tourist sites. When I wanted to feel Paris’s unique lively energy, I would get energy from the République area, andsince the neighborhood had restaurants, cafés, shops, and the Canal Saint-Martin nearby, I could fully and enjoyably experience Paris.
Before joining the program, it helps a lot to study basic French greetings, numbers, asking for directions, and some adjectives.English doesn’t work as well with locals as you might think, but in shops that cater to tourists, even only speaking English...you can communicate. Also, the meals the house auntie prepares here are so delicious at every meal that you don’t need to worry about food!
# A valuable two-month experience in an interesting city where multiculturalism coexists
Personally, it was a great experience where I could test myself through the gap year program and meet many good people.Because you’re expected to work responsibly as guesthouse staff for two months, those who haven’t actually experienced working life may find the tasks harder and more burdensome than expected. A positive and proactive attitude matters more than extensive experience, and you need the flexibility to socialize happily with many people while also managing yourself well.
