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#Listening to myself; becoming more spontaneous #New experiences; learning to love myself #Felt the happiness of fully enjoying youth
I''m much more willful and brazen than I was two months ago — more spontaneous, with a stronger ''just do it'' mindset. I don''t know whether this personality will be a help or a hindrance in life, but at least it''s a sign that I''m listening to my own voice rather than other people''s, so I decided to consider it a positive change.
- Paris, France, Gap Year Stay / Bang Min-kyung, Gap Year Tribe Gapper / 8-week gap year |
Currently in South Korea,
Each year 60,000 middle and high school students drop out, 346,000 people in their 20s are just idling because they have no dreams, and the one-year job turnover rate after employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and over 80% of office 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 want to bring the ''gap year'' to South Korea as well.
''Gap year''refers to a period of pausing or balancing study and work to engage in various activities such as volunteering, traveling, internships, education, or starting a business,a time to set the direction for the future — a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
# I hoped to enjoy change and find pleasure in a new place, not in the situations I always experienced.
To be honest, I had never even considered France as a travel destination. For me, France was a distant country that only appeared in volume two of a ''neighboring countries'' book, and I never dreamed of ''going to France before I die!''. Two months ago my days were so dull, and I wanted to have fun days. So I applied for the gap year.
Of course, I didn''t have the delusion that two months of living there would make me a completely different person.I simply hoped to enjoy change and have fun in a new place rather than in the situations I was used to.
# The staff work wasn''t as much as I expected, so I was able to invest more time in myself.
To conclude, the two months in France were enjoyable. It wasn''t that something new happened every day or that I visited different places every time. Simply waking up in a new place was itself a joy.
The staff work wasn''t as much as I expected, so I could invest more time in myself. At first I had an obsession that on days off I absolutely had to go out and do something, but after a month that all disappeared. So there were many days when I did nothing and just lazed around at home. Going out was enjoyable when I went out, and staying home was enjoyable when I stayed home. I felt relieved when I realized I didn''t have to tick off every Paris spot.
During my time in France I visited several tourist sites, but I can''t forget the impression of my first visit to the Musée d''Orsay. If I turned my head there were works by artists I had only seen in textbooks. Of course the works themselves were moving, but I was also amazed by the museum''s dedication to preserving pieces that are centuries old.
Seeing Monet''s Rouen Cathedral series, I think I reached the peak of emotion. It wasn''t a work I usually liked, but that day I felt overwhelmed by the pieces for the first time. I rediscovered why masterpieces are masterpieces.
Since I was already in France I thought I should visit nearby places, but I only thought about it. Luckily, the day I was looking at train tickets happened to be Thalys''s 20th anniversary promotion. Before I knew it I was at Paris''s Gare de l''Est buying tickets on the spot, and that''s how I went to Belgium and the Netherlands.
I went with just a small backpack and no particular plans, but I had a great time. I decided what to do on the spot, sat down anywhere to eat and rest. I don''t remember doing anything famously notable, but I thought it was fine as long as I enjoyed myself.I lived like that in France too. I just went with the flow. And that was enjoyable.
# My recommended travel spots!
If you have even a slight interest in art, I recommend the Centre Pompidou. Contemporary art can be the kind of thing only the artist knows the meaning of, but there are many works by artists whose names you''ll likely recognize, so many familiar pieces. You''ll see how much of a genius Marcel Duchamp was, and you''ll also discover that Fernand Léger made impressive video works in addition to oil paintings.
When traveling around France, if you go to Strasbourg I recommend stopping by Colmar. It''s like a miniature version of all the charming bits of Strasbourg gathered in one town. It''s small, so about three hours is enough to see it.
And I really hope you visit Saint-Malo. The sea seen from the old fortress and the sunset embracing that sea are truly beautiful.
# I''m much more willful and brazen than I was two months ago — more spontaneous, with a stronger ''just do it'' attitude.
I managed fine on my own, but thanks to the people I met in France I think I had an even more enjoyable two months. They told me lots of information I knew nothing about regarding Paris, and we would go together to nice places. Being alone was fun, but going together was also enjoyable.I used to just nod when people recommended things, but by the end I was the one telling guests about transportation and tourist spots. I was oddly happy.
In France, the only thing people cared about was their own belongings. Whether I wore coal-colored lipstick or went sleeveless without an umbrella on a rainy day, nobody cared.
Of course, I also didn''t pay much attention to others when I was in Korea. But seeing that people truly didn''t seem to care how others dressed or acted, and that I attracted less attention than I did in Korea, I think I got really excited.
Through the two-month gap year, I changed dramatically and came to know myself 200%. I became able to look at the world warmly and resolved to stand on the side of justice and be a virtuous adult who only does good deeds. In fact, that ending didn''t happen. I still don''t know what kind of person I am, what I like, or what I''ll do in the future.
But I''m far more willful and brazen than I was two months ago, more spontaneous, and I have a stronger ''just do it'' mentality. I don''t know whether this personality will be an advantage or a disadvantage in life, but at least it''s a sign that I listen to myself more than to others, so I decided to call it a positive change.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
Living for two months away from home is a wonderful thing.
Learning★★★★★
Listening to the diverse thoughts of many people makes me realize something new every time.
Environment★★★★☆
People are the same wherever they live.
Safety★★☆☆☆
I never went out after dark. Seeing a local resident adjust their bag warily as I followed behind, I thought, ''This place isn''t safe for anyone.''
Leisure★★★★☆
Except for the scheduled times, everything was my free time.
