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나답게, 단단하게, 즐겁게
After finishing my gap year activities, what I ultimately gained seems to be a sense of ease. While working in Korea I lived busily and faster than anyone else, but coming here I think I learned the aesthetics of slowness and leisure.
-Paris, France, Gap Year Stay / Kim Na-rae · Gap-year traveler (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 because they have no dreams, and the one-year turnover rate after employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with campus life, and more than 80% of workers say they do not feel happy.Many people tell them to dream, but to solve this problem that lacks practical methods and support, we aim to bring the ''gap year'' to South Korea as well.
''Gap Year (Gapyear)''is a time to either combine or temporarily pause studies and work and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and starting a business,it is a period to set the direction for the future, a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
# My goal during this gap year was to have time to recharge.
After completing a short first teaching experience of one year and one month and awaiting my official appointment, I planned a trip with the money I had saved.
I had been to Asian countries several times and had volunteered teaching Korean for a year, so I wanted to visit a cultural sphere other than Asia. Going to a place I''d never been before, backpacking felt scary, and package tours were too short and didn''t appeal to me because they followed a set itinerary.
AndI wanted, more than travel, to stay there for a long time and experience the culture.I wanted to learn the language and volunteer, so at first I looked into overseas volunteer programs and by chance learned about the gap year program and applied.
My goal with this gap year was to have time to recharge.
#Living in France for two months became a time to experience European culture.
When I landed at the French airport, my first thought was, ''This is a city within nature.''
The road to Incheon Airport was like a wasteland with nothing but sea, but in France I liked the long rows of street trees, the rapeseed flowers, and the cool breeze. I also spent about three weeks traveling in Paris, and everywhere I went was simply beautiful. I could hear live music on the subway, and there were parks everywhere, which I liked.It was a relaxed place where it was nice to look up at the sky.
Living in France for two months was a time to experience European culture.
I ate expensive fruits and dairy products until I was full, and at times it was hard because the food was too salty and mainly made of flour. Still,watching people greet each other frequently, lie in parks to relax, and enjoy arts and culture, I too regained a sense of ease.
What I regretted was not having learned French well enough to sing a song once on the street.
#Working at the guesthouse seemed to be a great experience for making a variety of connections.
Guesthouse work was during the low season, so it was less busy. Because of that I think I was able to become closer with the guests.
As a traveler who arrived earlier, I introduced various places, traveled around here and there with other travelers, and over wine and snacks we shared worries and confided in one another. I heard ''see you again in Korea'' many times.This was my first time working at a guesthouse, and I don''t think I''ll do this work in the future, but it felt like a great experience for making various connections.
# My personal travel recommendations!
Paris: Montmartre, around the Eiffel Tower + Bois de Boulogne, Musée d''Orsay / Musée de l''Orangerie, Le Marais, etc.Paris is all about museums and parks. It''s also nice to visit various dessert shops.
Near Paris: Palace of Versailles, Étretat, Mont Saint-Michel, Honfleur (northern coast of France)You should definitely visit the Palace of Versailles. The gardens are beautiful, and it''s great to ride a bike there.
The northern coast of France is better visited at a leisurely pace over 2 nights and 3 days rather than as a day trip.(Because transportation to the northern coast is inconvenient, I used a day-trip tour package, but it was rushed.)If you have time, it''s nice to go to Giverny – Étretat – Honfleur – Mont Saint-Michel.
Western France: Strasbourg, Colmar, Riquewihr (small towns around Colmar)Personally, it was quaint and lovely. It''s the place that served as the inspiration for the setting of Howl''s Moving Castle.I enjoyed being able to try Alsatian cuisine (German-style food).
Southern France: It was my favorite destination. I visited Nice, Menton, and towns near Nice.It felt safe, and the night sea and weather were nice. However, the food is quite salty.In February–March there''s the Menton festival, and in May there''s the Cannes Film Festival, so it''s nice to go during those times if you''re interested.
Also, when traveling from southern France up toward Paris, stop by Lyon to learn about its history, take a boat and go paragliding at Lake Annecy, and if you''re more interested, I recommend visiting Chamonix-Mont-Blanc to see the Alps.
Traveling across France was a time to deeply experience the beauty of nature. Any photo looked like a computer wallpaper. It felt like a time to regain peace in nature.The place I really recommend is the south of France. I prefer nature to flashy city nightscapes, so the Mediterranean was the best destination. Buying gelato in the small town of Menton and sitting on the sand felt like paradise. It was a time when I could set down all worries, responsibilities, and headaches and just rest.
#After finishing the gap year activities, what I ultimately gained seems to be a sense of ease.
I enjoyed using my free time to travel throughout France, seeing paintings I''d only seen in textbooks in person, and experiencing a new culture. It was also a time to think about how to live as a teacher.I was grateful to be with various guests, the staff, and the two owners.It was nice to become close with various people and spend time with peers and older mentors thinking about the future.
It became a time to understand European culture. Traveling also became a time to reflect on myself and relax.It also made me want to challenge myself with more countries. Europe was my first time, so I was worried, but I realized that everywhere is just towns where people live, and I think I can recommend others to take the challenge and travel.
After finishing the gap year activities, what I ultimately gained seems to be a sense of ease. While working a job in Korea I lived busily and faster than anyone, but coming here I learned the aesthetics of slowness and ease.I''ll really miss this place when I start working again. Even in Korea I''ll sit in a park with bread and a cup of coffee and look at the sky.
Traveling abroad helped me understand what "better" is. I want to participate in a gap year program in another cultural region next time. I thank the gap year staff and the guesthouse owners who kindly did their best to help me experience many things.
# My tips
Two months in Europe is longer than you might think. Also, because I participated during the off-season and had a lot of free time, you can make good use of it by planning trips around France or to neighboring countries.
Also, if you come to France, it would be good to attend a French language school while you''re here. Since only French is used here in France, knowing French will let you have more varied experiences and enjoy learning the language locally.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
I had the experience of meeting various people while working as guesthouse staff.
Learning★★★☆☆
Since I was staying in France for two months, it would have been better if I had learned French.
Environment★★★★☆
The guesthouse facilities were good, and the working environment was decent.
Safety★★★☆☆
The area where our guesthouse was located was unsafe, and there were many incidents of pickpocketing.
Other parts of France, aside from Paris, are very safe. It''s not a problem for a woman to view the nighttime scenery alone.
Leisure★★★★★
There was a lot of free time, so I spent it productively.
