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#Independence, diligence, academic planning #Japanese language ability, daily living skills #Growth through a regret-free experience
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The gap year project was a time that brought about change in many ways. It allowed me to develop habits of living more independently and diligently, and it helped me establish clear academic plans for my future as I thought about the direction I wanted to take. I am grateful to my parents for making it possible for me to have this time and to Gap Year for their support.
- Japanese Language Study Abroad Woo Hye-eun, Korea GapYear Participant / 12 Weeks of Gap Year |
Currently, in South Korea,
there are 60,000 middle and high school students who drop out each year, 346,000 young people in their 20s who remain idle without a dream, a turnover rate exceeding 40% within a year of employment, and 75% of college students are dissatisfied with their university life. Additionally, more than 80% of working adults report feeling unhappy. Although many people talk about dreaming, there is a lack of practical methods and support to address these issues. This is why we aim to bring the concept of a 'gap year' to South Korea.
'Gap Year' refers to a period where individuals pause their studies or work to engage in various activities such as volunteering, traveling, internships, education, or entrepreneurship to decide their future path. It is a culture encouraged in places like the United States, Europe, and Japan.
# I felt that I would start feeling anxious if I delayed it any further, so I decided to take the bold step and challenge myself.
Hello, my name is Woo Hye-eun, and I’m currently on a leave of absence from university. I love traveling and have a mindset of wanting to try everything I can as a college student! My major is Japanese Language and Literature, which is why I decided to apply for a gap year in Japan. Though I tend to be cautious, my curiosity often pushes me to try new things. I’m active and outgoing, making it easy to connect with both Korean and international friends.
My participation in the gap year project began when I was forced to take a leave of absence. I had participated in an exchange program with another school, but my grades were released late, so I couldn’t secure a dormitory spot. My parents, who wanted me to take some time off and reflect, saw this as an opportunity and told me they wouldn’t support my living alone. Instead, they encouraged me to take a leave and go to Japan. And so, I started considering the idea of a gap year.
I’m someone who actively pursues what I want, but with employment looming, I started questioning what I truly want to do. Naturally, when thinking about jobs, I related it to my major. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say I loved my major, Japanese, which felt more like a love-hate relationship.
After much contemplation, I thought, “If I strengthen my Japanese skills and grow to love Japan more, I might broaden the scope of things I want to do.” This was after completing my second year, and I felt that if I waited longer, I would only grow more anxious. That’s why I decided to take the leap.
# So many things happened in Japan. Most of them were truly happy and fun, but there were many incidents that were more about adapting than unpleasant experiences.
There were really a lot of things in Japan. Most of them were really happy and fun,
but rather than unpleasant experience,there were many things I had to adapt to~
When I first arrived in Japan, my phone battery was completely drained, and I couldn’t even charge it. I was so tired, but I went out with just a piece of paper, drew pictures of what I needed, asked people, bought them, and returned home. I even bought ingredients to cook, but when I put the pot on the stove, the induction cooker wouldn’t work. I was already exhausted, and being hungry made it worse. I felt so miserable. While I was wandering around aimlessly, one of my neighbors saw my distressed face and asked what was wrong.
I explained my situation, feeling resigned. Then, a kind elderly woman gave me a pot and a pack of ramen… I was so touched that I gave her some spicy tuna in return. Later, I found out that only HI pots work with induction stoves.
One day, I was expecting an international mail delivery, but the sender had only given the building name, not the floor or room number. Because of this, the mail never arrived no matter how long I waited. I rushed to the post office by bicycle to explain the situation, and luckily, they checked it for me. It turned out that the mail was about to be sent back due to "unclear delivery address" on the exact day I visited the post office.
It was such a relief! That night, they delivered the package. With the kimchi I received, I made kimchi fried rice for dinner. Haha. (By the way, Japanese kimchi really wasn’t my style—it was like sugary kimchi!)
Another day, I got hit with a huge electricity bill—40,000 won for the month! I asked a classmate where to pay it, and they said I could pay it at the convenience store. Excited, I prepared the exact amount down to the last yen and practiced what I needed to say. However, since it was for the dorm, I actually needed to pay it at the school. Haha, it was a bit of a letdown.
One time, I was riding on the back of my older sister’s bicycle, and a police officer started chasing us!!!! It turns out that riding on the back of a bicycle is illegal in Osaka. Haha, I think I heard about it during traffic safety training at school, but I completely forgot and ended up breaking the law... The police officer understood that we didn’t know and just warned us before leaving. After that, I never rode on the back again.
Oh! And in Osaka, they don’t separate trash, so it’s okay to throw food waste and regular trash together. It’s really easy to dispose of trash, which was nice!~! Then one day, an ENORMOUS cockroach appeared... I cried that day... I was so upset, I cried saying I wanted to go back to Korea... I went to do the dishes and found a cicada there... I panicked and used a dish to block the sink, and when the water started overflowing, I realized it was a cockroach... No, it was actually a cicada... They say Japanese cockroaches are that big... It was the size of a cicada...
I quickly went out wearing rubber gloves and knocked on the door of the neighbor who lived two doors down from us, whom I had just met in the elevator that day. And that person... caught it for me... They were so kind. They told me to let them know if another one appeared, and they caught it for me about two more times afterward. ㅠㅠ They even set up a cockroach trap for me and blocked the vent... I was so grateful, so I bought a lot of food and hung it at the front door for them.
The mansion manager came and said it seemed like they were coming from other houses and gave me a cockroach-killing tool. It was a device that shot to kill. I guess the cockroach laid eggs because baby cockroaches kept appearing. And I became invincible with that cockroach tool, killing them all until the very last day. Hoho.
One day, I was riding my bike home, and it started pouring rain! It felt like the sky had a hole in it. So, I wrapped my Adidas jacket around my head like a woman from the Joseon Dynasty and rushed home... When the weather is cloudy... I learned the lesson not to ride my bike..
There are so many more stories, but there’s just too much to write! I only jotted down the ones that came to mind~
# It was a time to learn about various cultures.
In short, my schedule in Japan was like this: I would wake up in the morning and either go shopping, do housework, or study. Then, I attended the academy that the gap year team connected me with. After class, I would visit famous restaurants or walk around the neighborhood to enjoy Japan. It was such a happy time. On days when I didn’t go out, I would ride my bike through the lively shopping streets or stay home trying out new recipes.
One of the best parts of the gap year project was not only making Korean friends but also meeting people from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and other countries. Although I was initially surprised because there were only three Koreans, including myself, in the class, it turned out to be a great opportunity to use more Japanese and learn about different cultures.
My closest friend was Chinese, and she would always give me delicious food. We also had a cooking contest with my classmates, where I made tteokbokki. It was quite a challenge to find the tteokbokki rice cakes, haha. By the way, you can find them at Ion Mall!! My friends loved the tteokbokki, saying it was super delicious, and it became the most popular dish. I felt really proud! Hehe.
# My Recommended Places!
Hmm, I spent most of my time in Osaka, walking around the alleys of Honmachi and Namba and visiting cafes. As for special tourist spots, I only visited Kobe, Kyoto, and Hyogo Prefecture, and spent most of my time in Osaka~
There is a great spot near Namba, not far from Dotonbori, that has an amazing atmosphere. It's across from a café-restaurant called Blue. They play music, and the vibe is so good that you'll feel the pure joy of being there. I prefer more peaceful and quiet trips, so I enjoyed exploring small local shops rather than visiting popular tourist spots or restaurants.
# Tips for Future Gap Year Participants
Although the cost might make you hesitate, I believe it's a great opportunity. The class hours aren't too long, so you'll likely have time to try all the activities you want. Also, I recommend getting a Working Holiday Visa. It allows you to work part-time and gives you flexibility on when to return home, without the pressure of having to set a return date.
I traveled using a tourist visa, so that was something I regretted. Also, for those who want to improve their language skills, I strongly recommend studying the basics before you go. You need a solid foundation to improve, and it’s not easy to build that foundation once you’re there, especially since we’re not children anymore. ㅠㅠ
# My goal for the gap year was to experience as much of Japan as I could and fall in love with it.
My gap year goal was to fall in love with Japan. I wanted to immerse myself in the Japanese language and culture, not as a tourist, but by living it. I believed that this would provide the motivation I needed for studying. I also hoped to improve my language skills as much as possible. I realized that there is a difference between the language used for certification exams and the expressions used in real life. My goal for the gap year was to experience as much of Japan as I could and fall in love with it.
This is my first time living alone in Japan. Even when I went to university, I had only ever lived in dorms, so this is the first time I’ve had to solve everything on my own. Through this experience, my cooking skills and ability to manage my daily life have improved a lot. I was actually famous for not being able to cook, haha. But after coming here and trying out various dishes, I’ve really improved my cooking skills.
I've also greatly improved in managing daily tasks like shopping rationally, taking out the trash, and cleaning the room, bathroom, and kitchen. I’ve had many moments where I thought my mom was amazing for being able to handle all of this so easily.
It’s embarrassing, but honestly, at first, I cried alone at night. It was difficult to prepare for living alone, and it made me feel weak, so I cried to myself. But whenever I felt sad, I told myself not to be weak! And living abroad, I’ve thought about wanting to go back to Korea, but I never really felt lonely. However, after living completely alone, I sometimes did feel lonely.
At first, I was sad, but as it happened more often, I started to spend time reflecting on my own. I thought about my different sides and the things I want to do. Since I always lived with friends in the dorm, I hadn’t really had much time alone. I feel like I’ve used my time alone more meaningfully, rather than feeling lonely.
The unique atmosphere of Japan, which is both quiet and lively, made me happy every day. Also, as someone who loves riding bikes, it was a big pleasure for me to ride a bike every day. While the reason for riding was the high cost of transportation, I was able to go to the places I wanted quickly, and it was convenient to park, so I rode my bike for at least 40 minutes every day.
I came back and I really, really, really fell in love with Japan. I got so captivated by Japan's charm that I even considered working overseas. It might be because I was in a big city, but I love the unique atmosphere of Japan. I really enjoy the feeling of it being both bustling and peaceful at the same time. And the food, of course! I gained a lot of weight and am currently on a diet, but back then, every day was so happy eating delicious food.
Another memory is meeting close foreign and Korean friends. Actually, I didn’t come through a study abroad agency, so I didn’t know anyone at first. But over time, I met a lot of foreign and Korean friends and created many memories together. I still keep in touch with them regularly. I feel reassured because it feels like I left many people behind.
Oh, and I also got some useful tips about living in Japan. If I ever come back, I feel like I could adapt quickly. I learned things like how to receive packages, how to pay utility bills, and other things you can learn just by living here. I’ll definitely return to Osaka.
The gap year project was a time when I could change in many ways. I became more independent and developed the habit of living diligently, and I also thought about the direction I want to take and made a clear plan for my future academic studies. I’m thankful to my parents and the gap year program for helping me have this time.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
