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Gap Year Review: Recharging Warm Love with Children in Hanoi, Vietnam

#Restored self-esteem; greater understanding of interpersonal relationships #Love for the children; learning to cherish myself #I began living a life like a sitcom

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    Above all, I liked that I didn''t feel lonely while the project was ongoing. I was touched and grateful that the children liked me. Also, life in Hanoi felt like a sitcom. I had fun with my roommates and got along well with foreign friends and traveled together.

    [Overseas Volunteer/Extracurricular] Recharging Warm Love with Children in Hanoi, Vietnam

    Kim Ha-ryeong, gap year participant (21 years old, before entering university) / 8-week gap year

     

     

     

     

     

     


    # Gap year goals: restoring self-esteem, understanding relationships, learning how to be loved by children, cherishing myself

     

     

     

     

    Hello, my name is Kim Ha-ryeong, and I went to Hanoi, Vietnam when I was 21–22. At first I really didn''t want to go, but now I have no regrets.I think it''s an experience you can''t get anywhere else, because I feel that I myself changed to the extent that I can notice it.

     

    I know I was a person with many lacks. I disliked people and preferred animals. But while doing one-on-one gap year consulting with CEO An Si-jun, he told me to go to volunteer in Vietnam to fill those gaps. I didn''t want to go, but I trusted him and went.

     

     

     

    I was worried about staying abroad for a long time, but once I arrived on site the time passed quickly. Playing, learning, eating delicious food, traveling every day. It was a precious time. Two months seems appropriate. For pre-departure preparation I packed everything I had—cosmetics, shoes, etc. But that wasn''t really necessary. I somewhat regretted having so much luggage.

     

    The goals I wanted to change through the gap year were restoring self-esteem, understanding relationships, learning how to be loved by children, how to give love, understanding everything, and cherishing myself.






    # Life in Hanoi like a sitcom: fun memories with roommates and foreign friends


    A typical day in the local project was waking up early to go to the kindergarten; when the morning activities finished at 10:30 I would return to the accommodation to rest, have lunch (some days we ate lunch out), then go back to the kindergarten at 2:30 when the afternoon activities started to feed the children or play with them. After kindergarten ended we exercised, went out, and relaxed. I taught dance, art, and English at the kindergarten.

    Above all, during the projectI was glad I wasn''t lonely. I was touched and grateful that the children liked me. And while in Hanoi life felt like a sitcom. I had fun with my roommates and got along well with foreign friends and traveled together.



    What I realized through the project is that I wanted understanding from people while I wasn''t giving it myself. I''m gradually coming to understand people.





    # After the gap year, I changed a lot, so life is a bit easier now!


    During the project I traveled with three Korean older sisters and a British friend. I also plan to meet other friends. Advice I want to give to prospective participants of this project is to keep a proper distance from the staff and get along well with your roommates. Don''t stick only with Koreans.

    However, there were also difficult parts while doing the project. I definitely went to help, and I tried to understand their ways and bring about change, but they seemed to have such strong pride/self-esteem that they didn''t want to change.



    Comparing before and after participating in the gap year project, needless to say I haven''t changed completely, but I have changed a lot and life is a bit easier now.





    # My gap year tips



    (Language)
    It''s good to study a lot of English beforehand. It''s not strictly necessary, but if you can communicate with people you''ll talk more and become closer.


    (Accommodation)
    Honestly, it''s dirty. The bathroom is messy and cold. But I didn''t think it was that bad. If I say it''s not bad, then it''s bearable.


    (Meals)
    It''s tasty but the same every day.


    (What to bring)
    You''ll regret bringing a lot of luggage. Don''t only bring clothes for volunteering—also pack clothes to wear to parties.




    My gap year is


    an experience★★★★★
    Honestly, I really didn''t want to go. But I''ve traveled a lot until now and I didn''t expect to have such a valuable experience.


    Learning★★★★★
    We live in the same era, but I was surprised at how different things are. However, I learned a lot from that surprise; at first I couldn''t understand, but after learning a bit of history I think I do now. I also learned a lot from the children — that we''re all similar.


    Environment★★★★☆
    It was really bad. The air was poor and there were rats in the accommodation. At the time I felt like I was going crazy, but thinking back now it''s a memory.


    Safety★★★☆☆
    It''s safe, but it''s a bit scary at night. Once you get to know Hanoi''s ins and outs, you should be careful. There are taxi overcharges, so always be cautious. Vietnamese people generally don''t follow traffic rules.


    Leisure★★★★★
    In Vietnam you can feel like a millionaire, but if you spend recklessly you''ll end up broke.




Why This Project

What makes this project special

#Self-Esteem & Confidence#Love & Relationships#Rekindling Motivation#Discovering a New Me#Gaining Confidence#Combining Travel and Volunteering#Improving Expressiveness#Loving More#Boosting Self-Esteem#Becoming a Teacher#Everyday English#Volunteer Trip#Being Happy#Expressing Yourself#Time for Relaxation and Peace#Trying to Plan It Yourself#Growing Relationships#Improving Communication

Take just one brave step.
GapYear will take care of the rest.

Korea GapYear Certification
| Hanoi,Vietnam | Campus

Recharging with Warm Love with Kids in Hanoi, Vietnam

#Discovering a New Me #Gaining Confidence
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