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#Overcame impatience; eased fear of traveling #New connections and confidence #Made meaningful use of time alone
If I had to name the change I discovered through this gap-year program, which I joined near the end of a one-year journey, it would be that the thought of this being a ''first-and-last trip'' was completely shattered.I realized that, just as beginnings are always the hardest and starting is the scariest, travel is the same.What used to feel like some kind of luxury, travel, I now firmly believe will become a source of vitality in my life.
- France, Paris, Gap Year Stay / Jeong Kyung-su, gap-year member (gapper) / 8 weeks of 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 job turnover rate within one year enters the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and over 80% of office workers reportedly do not feel happy.Many people tell them to dream, but to solve this problem that lacks practical methods and support, we aim to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea.
''Gap Year (Gapyear)''refers to taking a break from or combining studies and work and spending time on various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, or starting a business,to set the direction for the future — a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
#While going through the program, I wanted to overcome shrinking inward from impatience or anxiety.
Above all, I felt I could stay in one place for a while and try many different things. Moreover, being at a guesthouse where I could meet and talk with many people was a major advantage.
After abruptly taking a leave of absence and starting to prepare for the trip, I wanted to change the impatience that steadily grew from that moment.Of course, I thought it would be wonderful to find something I could truly commit to and do happily, but before that I wanted to overcome becoming small (withdrawn) due to impatience while following the process.
#Before this trip, there was one modest goal!I thought it would be great if I could just shake off my impatience.
I set off with an 80-liter backpack thinking, ''If not now, when will I go again?'' and now I want to look back on this Paris gap-year stay I encountered at the end of that journey. Before that, I want to thank Korean Gap Year, Mr. Yoo (the owner/manager), and everyone I met in Paris for helping me complete it safely from start to finish. ^^
After being discharged, I impulsively decided to travel and began preparing the very next day I became a civilian. I did every kind of part-time job—from cockle farming in the waters off Yeosu to driving large refrigerated trucks—and in five months I had saved just over 1,500 in expenses; even then I was very excited and nervous, and now, after finishing the trip and about to return to school, I feel excited and fluttery in a different way.
Many people around me asked,"Kyung-su, what do you want to see on your trip? What do you want to gain?" And they always added, "Go and learn a lot. Man, I''m really jealous of you."Nevertheless,Ahead of this trip, there was one modest goal!I thought it would be great if I could just shake off my impatience.
The first face of Europe I arrived at, Paris in France, was really cold. Seriously.If you''re going to Paris in April, pack a puffer jacket before your spring clothes — summer arrives very late there.
#There is no doubt that staying in one place away from home and meeting someone there was truly another kind of joy.
The biggest charm of a gap-year stay, and something you can''t feel on an independent trip, is that various connections come your way. Although all other travels also involve meetings and farewells, staying in one place away from home and meeting someone was certainly another kind of joy.
As I felt during staff activities in Jeju Island and Laos, programs like this are somewhat... I especially want to say that people who are proactive, those who take the initiative in problem-solving, and above all, those with a strong sense of responsibility should definitely try participating at least once.
If there was one major change in myself after spending the roughly 60-day program plus about six months of travel before and after,it''s that I gained a bit of the courage to let go of my impatience.
Even I would sometimes think, when it seemed like others were moving ahead quickly, ''Ah... am I really supposed to be traveling right now?'' and ''What could I possibly gain from going?'' But what was certainly clear was that there is never a reason for me to be too late in whatever I do, andthat Ithis If you already knew what every place in the world is like, would there be any need to travel? Therefore, whether I will learn something by going on the trip is something you won''t know until you actually go, right?
When I was hesitating whether to go or not, I told myself to go. OtherI hope others also gain confidence through a gap year.
# My travel during the project
I can roughly split the roughly two-month period into three-week segments: the beginning when I slowly toured Paris; the middle when I visited the Netherlands and Belgium; the mid-late period when I toured central and northwestern France; the latter part when I went to northern Italy; and the time after the program when I became closer to people I met while traveling.
# What I consider most precious is that I met so many wonderful people, and I want to say how grateful I am for those connections.
Above all, it was a joyful experience to meet people of many different kinds.Of course, when traveling you can meet friends from various countries and encounter people, but the biggest advantage of meeting through this program is that, since you stay there for a period of time, you can have a unique experience of encountering travelers or locals.
I felt many different things. Those roughly two months were truly short yet full; there were times when, even right before sleeping, I would suddenly wake up fearing I might forget it the next day and jot my thoughts in my diary. Among them, stillWhat I consider most precious is that I met so many wonderful people, and I want to say how grateful I am for those connections.
More than anyone, I am grateful to have met Director Yoo who was in charge of this program and the three staff members including myself.And, Guide Han Ju-young from Euro Bicycle Country and Guide Jung Hee-tae, who made life in Paris more enjoyable.Mr. Jeong In-young, the owner of ''Antique'', who introduced me to its charm. If I had traveled alone it would have been really boring and exhausting, so I am always grateful to have met so many wonderful people.
If I were to name the change I found through this gap-year program that I joined near the end of my year-long journey, it''s that the idea of a ''first and last trip'' was decisively shattered.I felt that, just as beginnings are always hard and starting is the scariest part, the same applies to travel.I have no doubt that what once felt like an inexplicable luxury — travel — will become a vitality for my life from now on.
# My tips
On work days, if you need to eat, try to cook as much as possible yourself. Even if you don''t have much talent for cooking, going to buy ingredients locally and sharing meals with many people is truly enjoyable.
There''s no need to schedule your itinerary too tightly; how about taking it easy and enjoying it at your own pace?Even so, for times when you''re not working, I strongly recommend deciding in advance where you want to go. If you plan about five short routes, you can make the program period very productive.Take your time, but I hope you also use your days off wisely.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★☆
It was a progressive opportunity that allowed me to overcome the fear of traveling.
Learning★★★★☆
Where one sets the standard for ''learning'' may be subjective, but in the sense that it brought much inspiration and awakening, it was certainly encouraging.
Environment★★★★★
I had especially thought of my hometown and country as the whole of where I lived, but when you encounter places that are hot year-round like Southeast Asia, where boats can serve as buses like in Venice, and cities like Paris that attract more visitors annually than South Korea''s population, five stars aren''t enough.
Safety★★★☆☆
As for both public security and personal safety, I feel it largely depends on the individual.
Leisure★★☆☆☆
Even after arriving there, there were times I sat at my computer wondering how to make the trip more worthwhile, but I eventually (a little late) realized that spending an afternoon writing in a journal at a café in front of my accommodation also lets you truly feel Paris.
