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#Discovered my true self; reflected on what happiness means #Appreciation for the value of time; interesting encounters #A new world opens when you find the courage
Before leaving, I asked myself: Could I really be free? To answer that question, I think I still have a long way to travel. My gap year is not over yet.
- France, Paris, Gap Year Stay / Son Boram, gapyear tribe gapper / 8-week gap year |
Currently, South Korea is,
60,000 middle and high school students drop out each year, 346,000 people in their twenties are just idling 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 college life, and more than 80% of workers say they do not feel happy.Many people tell them to dream, but to address this problem that lacks practical methods and support, we aim to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea.
''Gapyear (Gap Year)''refers to pausing or balancing study and work and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and starting a business,being a time to set the direction for moving forward — a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere.
#A routine consumed by time with not a single pause.
I was afraid the moment I felt myself becoming gradually accustomed to these monotonous days. I felt that someday, as time passed, I might become afraid of change. If I didn''t have the strength within me to change myself, I had to change the situation by any means."Right, let''s just leave here!" So I arrived in Paris. There I gained the ''time'' that had been out of reach for so long. Along with it came interesting encounters.
Although I wasn''t particularly interested in traveling Europe, Paris was a place I absolutely wanted to visit. It''s a place that embraced many artists — full of leisure, romance, and love! I majored in sculpture and had always been interested in the lives of culture and artists,Paris itself was a living, breathing work of art.
"When you think of Paris, isn''t jazz part of it? Well, it actually began in 1929 when, during the economic depression,African-American jazz musicians from the U.S., who were struggling to make a living, came to France and were treated as musicians rather than being subjected to racial discrimination."
"Have you seen the movie Midnight in Paris? The hangouts of Picasso, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and others depicted there were in Montmartre. And when you think of Montmartre, you can''t leave out the Moulin Rouge, right!?""Suzanne Valadon, who was the muse of many artists associated with the Moulin Rouge, was even called Montmartre''s beloved..."
Whenever I had time I started studying Paris, and the times I went to the places filled with stories and explained them to people are what I remember most. If, while telling those stories, we happened upon a street musician, it felt like stepping into a time machine — a magical moment when you could truly feel Paris.
# When in life would you get the chance to meet so many people in such a short time?!
The charm of gap year stays is that they are places where travelers stay.The people I met there unpacked their lives like opening suitcases, each revealing their own world. The variety of life stories I briefly tasted among many encounters made me reflect on my own life.I began to see the real ''me'' more and more.I had time to slowly find and reclaim, or newly discover, the pieces of myself I had lost to boredom. And the gap year was the first step.
I began to think about ''happiness'', which I had not deeply considered until then.An elderly couple holding hands tightly and caring for each other; people who consider time with family more important than anything; a sense of self that isn''t given up even with age; young people who, given wine and a place to sit, gather in small groups to enjoy leisure.
The generous exchange of love between couples — briefly stealing a glimpse of their culture in Paris, so full of leisure, love, and romance,the gap year''s ''long leisure'' made me ponder what kind of life I want. Unlike before, if there''s one thing that''s changed about me now, it''s this: ''If you want to do something, don''t put it off — just do it! Worries and concerns can wait; enjoy the present moment! Let''s live the life I want!.''
# There''s nothing special about my recommended travel destination. First, "Get lost."
Get lost! Then you''ll be able to see the real Paris in its alleys. The only thing you need to bring before taking a step is curiosity! If you walk as your heart leads, that path will become your own route.
# ''Which path should my life follow?''
Through my gap year I thought a lot about ''happiness'', something I hadn''t deeply considered before.In France''s Paris, full of leisure, love, and romance, I caught a glimpse of their culture for a moment and felt truly envious, and I realized that life didn''t need to be so hard.
It became an opportunity to view the value of ''happiness'' from a broader perspective. Before participating in the gap year, I didn''t really know what made me happy, but during the gap year, with relaxed time, I began doing things I had postponed with the excuse ''I don''t have time'', and as I did them one by one I started to discover that these things made me increasingly happy. It taught me what I truly wanted, what makes me happy, and what kind of life I should live in the future to be happy.
The staff I worked with will probably remain the people I''ll never forget. The two months we spent living and working together brought us as close as family. The times we cooked together, laughed, and enjoyed ourselves will be the most memorable when I look back on Paris after time has passed.
Perhaps great courage is needed to have the will to live the life you want.I once dreamed of a ''life on the road'' too. A life like the romantic word ''bohemian'', adapting to time and circumstances and embracing the new connections you meet there.Before leaving, I asked myself: Can I really be free too? To answer this question I think I still have a long way to travel. My gap year is not over yet.
# If you take a ''gap year'' simply as a time to rest, I think you will have a lot of difficulty doing the work.
If you take a ''gap year'' simply as a time to rest, I think you will have a lot of difficulty doing the work. Work at a guesthouse — a place where travelers stay — can be difficult or very easy depending on the person.
Rather than physical hardship, surprisingly more mental fatigue can follow, but if you think ''I am also a traveler'', I believe you can adapt quickly to the tasks you have to do.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
Working at a guesthouse, meeting many people and making connections, was an unparalleled experience for someone who loves people like me.
Learning★★★★☆
While guests were staying, it was a time when I learned a lot about having a responsible attitude toward work and not doing anything carelessly so that they could be as comfortable as possible, like in their own home.
Environment★★★★☆
The guesthouse itself was a detached house with a lawn in front, and it was such a peaceful and relaxing place.
Safety★★★★★
It was a bit away from the center of Paris, so it actually felt safer. The neighborhood was quiet, and best of all, the accommodation was a one-minute walk from the subway.
Leisure★★★★★
I made good use of the personal time I had outside working hours. I mainly spent it studying Parisian culture and history, watching films related to Paris, or, since I like cooking, cooking and enjoying delicious meals with others.
