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#Realized that I am a valuable person #A sense of calm, reduced impatience, confidence #Learning through interaction with international friends
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Through this project I felt and learned a lot. I learned English conversation and Australian culture, saw many buildings and amazing natural environments, but the thing I feel most grateful for among what I learned is I am grateful that I found the leisure to soothe this impatience. In conclusion, I believe this project made me a more valuable person.
-An environmental conservation volunteer project in Australia across a vast continent with foreign friends / Kang Minsu, gap year tribe gapper / 2-week gap year |
Currently, South Korea is,
60,000 middle and high school students drop out of school each year, 346,000 people in their 20s are just idle because they have no dreams, and the turnover rate within one year after employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and more than 80% of office workers do not feel happy.Many people tell others to dream, but to solve this problem — which lacks practical methods and support, I want to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea as well.
''Gap year (Gapyear)''is a time to either combine studies and work or pause temporarily and, through various activities such as volunteering, travel, internships, education, and starting a business,to set the direction for the future; it is a culture encouraged in the United States, Europe, Japan, and other countries.
# To myself, that ''I am a valuable person''.Showing that to myself was my gap year goal.
I''m a 23-year-old student on leave, Kang Minsu. I''m on leave from Hanseo University''s Department of Avionics, and currently, due to personal reasons, I''m taking eight months off after discharge from the military.
At first, I prioritized searching online for volunteer opportunities over going abroad. I wanted to volunteer, but the only time I had was during my leave of absence; since I also thought, ''while I''m away from my studies for this time, I might as well go overseas once,'' I came across an organization called Gap Year, and I chose it because I could go to Australia — which I had so wanted to visit — through their project.
In the social competition, I felt small and developed strong feelings of inadequacy and inferiority.Because I was always so focused on my studies with no time, I had been living while abandoning my identity and values. Therefore, through this project,showing that ''I am a valuable person'' to myself was my gap year goal.
# Daily routine
I wake up at 6:30 AM, wash for 30 minutes, have breakfast from 7:00, and start the workday at 8:30. Among the tasks we did were tree-felling and clearing programs. For lunch, after breakfast in the morning we each packed a sandwich and ate at the logging site, and at 2:30 we return to our accommodation and have free time.
# My travel recommendations
1. South Park, Queen''s Mall (souvenir shopping, city tour)
2. Stradbroke Island
3. Gold Coast
4. Mount Kusa
# My tips
(Language)
You need to know some basic words and be able to catch the general meaning of what foreigners say (even if not exactly) to be able to converse.
(Accommodation)
On weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun) you''ll stay at a guesthouse after the volunteer activities are finished. I enjoyed staying at the guesthouse and making friends with foreigners. Since four people live together, you''ll be able to build good camaraderie. On weekdays we go to a cabin. There''s a large cabin in the mountains where we stay together.
(Meals)
The organization buys various ingredients. They also give us recipe books in English. Because we have to cook by ourselves, it helps develop teamwork.
(Luggage)
Don''t bring too much; prepare items according to the guide. Personally, the extra items I would pack are two sets of tops and bottoms, shoes, a camera, souvenirs, and a little spending money for weekend entertainment.
(Tip)
Many projects take place off-road outside the city, so a sleeping bag, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants are essential. Luggage isn''t a big deal — just come with a willingness to learn.
# In your twentiesAlthough travel can be a burden for students and you may not have the means to go, if you go even once during a break, it will be an experience you can''t buy with money.It will be a great experience.I personally think so.
On the day of departure I left feeling excited, half-expectant and half-worried. There were various worries when leaving, but rather than worrying ''will I be able to find my way in an unfamiliar place,'' the heavier concern was the burden and anxiety of having paused my studies and having to make up the two weeks later.
To make the best use of time, I studied anxiously about my coursework while waiting and on the plane, and arrived in Brisbane. After buying a SIM at the airport, since I couldn''t carry books around, I downloaded related apps and focused on them until the volunteering started.
These worries changed as I met the surroundings and other people during the volunteer work. Communicating with people who had lived in different environments and learning about different cultures and societies made me realize that, in the end, we all think similarly.
However, each country had different social realities and employment situations; the values that twenty-somethings place on success in finding a job — what they fear, hope for, and long for — were different.What I learned from foreign friends and the Australian environment amid such a harsh society was nothing other than a relaxed attitude.Seeing Australians, friends from Milan, Japanese friends, and German friends live with composure and without rushing, I didn''t see them stumble from impatience like I used to.
During the volunteer work I decided to work with a calm mindset, and seeing tasks completed without mistakes,
''I realize now that until now I was climbing while only looking at the rope in front of me and didn''t see the ladder beside me.''
I had that thought. Afterwards, living with those people, I learned various ways of life.
I felt and learned a lot through this project. I learned conversational English and about Australian culture, and I saw many buildings and an impressive natural environment, but the thing I am most grateful for learning is...I am grateful that I found the composure to soothe my impatience.
In conclusion, I think this project made me a more valuable person.
Lastly, I personally think that traveling in your twenties, although it may be a financial burden for students and you may not have the means to go, even going once during a vacation will be an experience you can''t buy with money.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★☆
A variety of experiences; there are many experiences and sights you can''t have in Korea.
Learning★★★★☆
I was definitely able to learn linguistically, and I learned that other foreign friends thought similarly to us.
Environment★★★★★
Cool breezes and warm days, with sights and activities nearby—surfing and kangaroos... it was truly fantastic.
Safety★★★☆☆
It''s fine in the city, but if you go to farmland there are many insects and harmful plants, so be careful (long sleeves and long pants are essential).
Leisure★★★☆☆
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are free. You can return to the city and do whatever you like. However, prices are high, which makes it quite a burden.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
