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#Overcame lethargy; transformed into an energizer #Overcame fear of travel, regained confidence #Proud to have become someone who wanted to change
Looking back, I think I rested very well through the gap year project. I met good people in a nice place and there were no situations that would cause stress. Perhaps because of that,Now I''m no longer lethargic; I feel energized.I''m proud because I feel like I''ve become the person I wanted to become.As if my lethargy has been cured, daily life is no longer dull; I''m excited and often feel like traveling. This winter break I''m planning a backpacking trip to Russia.
- Time to look at myself while looking at the sea, Busan gap year stay / O Jae-young gap-year family 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 one-year turnover rate after employment has entered 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 others to dream, but to solve this problem—which lacks realistic methods and support, we want to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea.
*What is a gap year?
A gap year is a period during which one suspends or combines academic studies and engages in various activities—such as travel, volunteering, internships, and education—to discover one''s dreams and aptitudes.
*What is a gap year stay?
It''s a project where, for a small fee, participants stay at a guesthouse to meet various people and try staff activities. The biggest advantage of this project is that participants can interact with diverse people and receive new stimulation.
# I had a feeling that if I spent summer break building meaningless credentials, something bad would happen.
Like someone suffering from the ''sophomore slump'', when I became a second-year college student each day felt dull and exhausting. I had a sense that if I spent the summer break stacking meaningless credentials, something bad would happen.
Perhaps because of my lethargy and a desire for a dramatic change in my daily life, I learned about the gap year while talking with a friend and immediately submitted an application. I applied without a sudden or specific plan, so being accepted for two months was a bit tough, but because it was two months I think I could travel around Busan more leisurely, so in the end it was good.
# The place where I did staff activities wasJeong a place with many good people.
What I overcame through the gap year:By participating in the gap year project, my fear of traveling disappeared. Until then, when I actually tried to travel, worries about supplies and trip planning would stop me, but through the gap year I overcame those fears and now feel like I can go anywhere if I set my mind to it. Using my Busan travel experience as a stepping stone, I''m excited about what kinds of trips I''ll take in the future.
A touching memory:While talking with the owner and staff, I once said I wanted to visit Yonggungsa Temple but it was too far and I was afraid to take public transport; the owner remembered that and showed me around Yonggungsa. Not only Yonggungsa, but they also showed me many places like Haeundae and Dalmaji-gil and volunteered as day guides, for which I was grateful.
People I met:The guesthouse auntie initially had such a strong accent that I couldn''t understand what she was saying and I was a bit scared. Once I got to know her, she was very affectionate and warm. It wasn''t until a month and a half later that I understood her completely; she felt like a real grandmother, which I liked.
The owner was truly a kind person. They took care of us in many ways, so my roommate and I used to say that as long as there was an owner like that, anywhere would be great. And my roommate who lived with me for a month, Im Ji-young. Ji-young, who had quit her job to come and heal, was someone I was extremely glad to meet when I felt empty, and she was such a kind person that we traveled together and watched movies,She was the grateful older sister who kept my August from being lonely. I learned a lot from her, so I''m thankful for her.
The place where I worked as a staff member was full of warm, kind people. That''s why I was able to last for two months.Minsu, the owner''s daughter, was a helpful local who gave me lots of travel tips.
# My personal Busan trip
Mipo Railway Track is famous as a great place for taking photos. To document my gap year project in photos, I thoroughly prepared a selfie stick, tripod, and Bluetooth remote before going and went to capture the shot of a lifetime. Mipo Railway Track, one of the most beautiful abandoned railway tracks in the country, is a place where you can walk along the old tracks while looking out at the sea.
Despite the sweltering heat, there were many people. Couples came wearing matching couple outfits, friends wore twin looks, and even before taking photos I keenly felt the loneliness of solo travel. But because of that I posed more confidently with various concepts and even took jump shots. Then I walked about 40 minutes along the Mipo railway to Cheongsapo Beach and saw the twin lighthouses. Though it was lonely, I felt proud of myself for doing it alone — a great success taking photos alone at that spot!!
If Seoul has Namsan Tower, Busan has Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park!!
There is an escalator on Gwangbok-dong Central Street that goes up to Yongdusan. But when I went, the escalator was under construction. After wavering dozens of times I decided to go. I went up. Later I learned that the route I took was the roughest path to Yongdusan Park. Of all days, why did I choose that path...
Yongdusan Park has the Jae-a bell and the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, but what catches the eye most are the many cats. There were so many cats it could be called a cat park. The cats in Yongdusan Park are really friendly. My memory of Yongdusan Park is entirely of playing with the cats and then going back down. If you like cats, it might be nice to visit Yongdusan Park often for walks. (I recommend the Lotte Mall Gwangbok branch observatory over the Yongdusan Park observatory.)
Busan Citizens Park is a popular spot for outings!
Busan Citizens Park is a well-designed space reminiscent of scenery you often see abroad — a lawn where you can spread a mat and relax. Around sunset, apartment residents come out with their pets for walks, and you can see many breeds of dogs, which makes people-watching the dogs fun. There are various facilities in Busan Citizens Park, one of which is an urban beach. It''s been set up so you can feel the atmosphere of Haeundae Beach at Busan Citizens Park, so no further explanation is needed.
There’s a musical fountain, it''s huge and newly developed, so it''s nicely arranged and offers lots to see and do not only for adults but also for children. The first time I went to Busan Citizens Park I went alone. I went into the maze park by myself and couldn’t find my way out, and I felt emotional at the thought of being alone. I vowed that if a friend came to Busan I would definitely go there with them. The second visit was with grateful friends who had come all the way to Busan to hang out. We went to try the large slide that had been closed on my first visit, holding my friends'' hands, but we couldn’t ride it due to age restrictions.
I was disappointed by the playgrounds being mainly for children, but I found a 4D theater which was more fun than I expected and that stuck in my memory. Then I went to Bupyeong Market''s Goraesa fishcake place to grab a meal.
I went to see the Hwangnyeongsan beacon but...I was frustrated at the mountain entrance.
I think Busan has the most beautiful night view in Korea. If Seoul''s night view is cold, Busan''s is warm. After reading a blog post saying the Hwangnyeongsan beacon offers a view straight over Seomyeon and that the Busan Harbor Bridge makes it even more beautiful, I made up my mind, tied my sneakers tight, and set off for the Hwangnyeongsan beacon.
I was very tired from buses and subways and the long distance to Hwangnyeong Mountain, but captivated by the night view photos I pushed myself through the heat. I searched on the Naver Maps app to find it, but a problem arose. The map app showed the shortest route, leading me to a steep hiking trail instead of a flat promenade. Since it directed me to the hiking trail entrance, I couldn''t reach the Hwangnyeongsan beacon and gave up and returned.
When going to Hwangnyeongsan beacon, refer to blog map instructions instead of the maps app!!!
Come visit Songdo Beach~
There are many sights like the Cloud Promenade, diving board, and dolphin sculptures. Songdo Beach, less crowded than Gwangalli or Haeundae, with cleaner water and a modest shore, is the ideal place for someone who wants to walk the beach quietly.If you take a barefoot stroll along the beach before bed, you can feel your body and mind cleanse and become healthier.
# The places I most want to recommend in Busan are Gijang''s Jukseong Church and Yeongdo''s Huinnyeoul-gil.
Gijang County is a place that takes two hours by public transport from Songdo, but it''s one of the most memorable places because of the effort.It isn''t a real church but a drama set that was left behind; however, set against the blue sky and sea it has become a landmark. The sound of waves crashing on the rocks refreshes you and gives a different feeling from the beach.
If you''ve taken lots of photos at Jukseong Church and finished sightseeing, eating seafood ramen and chatting at a One Piece (manga) cafe will feel healing. (It would be great to also visit nearby Haedong Yonggungsa. However, I recommend using a car rather than public transport.)
Yeongdo''s Huinnyeoul-gil also boasts truly beautiful scenery. This past summer had brutal heatwave warnings with daily alert messages. The day I went to Huinnyeoul-gil was also under a heatwave warning, but it was a strange place where cool sea breezes blew. I think only people who''ve been can feel it, so I recommend everyone go. (The sea breeze was as cool as air conditioning. It would be nicer to go after watching the movie "The Attorney".)
# My gap year tips
(Staff activities)
Do your assigned tasks to the best of your ability. Rather than dividing work strictly into equal shares, it''s better to help each other while working.
(Meals)
I think you should be able to cook to some extent. It''s good to look up recipes from time to time and learn them slowly. Improve your cooking skills a lot before you go. Choosing a menu every day was also one of the worries.
(Luggage)
I think trying to live with what you have—or without what you don''t—can be very helpful for travel.If you buy items you forgot to bring, you''ll end up with too much luggage when you return.Try living with the bare minimum of luggage.
(Pro tip)
Be sure to write a diary. It will become a great asset. If writing a diary is difficult, at least keep a household ledger (expense book)!My original plan to keep a diary ended after three days. So I don''t remember my last July and August in detail,but it''s great that I can track my activities through my expense book. Looking at it brings back memories.
#I''m proud of myself for not being afraid of new environments and trying things, when I used to seek stability.
I used to only take familiar routes and didn''t have a wide range of activity. But now I''m curious about what''s on other roads and how long it would take to go a different way. Last semester I always took the same bus to the terminal, but after participating in the gap year project...I tried transferring buses to get to the terminal, and I even rode only city buses from Daejeon to Cheongju.It''s been a big change for me. I''m proud that I, who always took the same path and sought stability, am now trying new environments without fear.
I got lost many times while traveling around Busan. Map apps are good these days, but being directionally challenged in a place I''ve never been, I often read the map and went the wrong way. But if I didn''t give up and kept searching and walking, I could arrive safely at my destination. I think this experience changed me.Even if I went the wrong way, there was always, fortunately, something to see there, even if it wasn''t my destination.
Looking back, I think I rested very well during the gap year project. I met good people in good places and had no stressful situations. Maybe because of that,now I''m not lethargic—I feel energized.I''m proud that I''ve become the person I wanted to change into.As if my lethargy has been cured, daily life is no longer boring; it''s exciting, and I often want to travel. I''m planning a backpacking trip to Russia this winter break.
*What is a gap year? A gap year refers to a period when one suspends or combines studies while engaging in various activities such as travel, volunteering, internships, or education to find one''s dreams and aptitudes.
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My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
I''m a homebody and lazy person, but I visited about 90% of Busan''s attractions, so 5 out of 5!I think that simply deciding to take a gap year and following through allowed me to break away from ordinary life and gain many experiences.
Learning★★★★★
Living in a guesthouse, I was inspired by travelers, and spending time with the staff I learned and felt many things in various ways.
Environment★★★★☆
Having an open beach right in front of me — what a great environment! For two months I was able to heal both my body and mind in such a wonderful setting.
Safety★★★★☆
Since I was traveling alone, I had to be extra careful.
Leisure★★★★★
Needless to say, having plenty of leisure time is a basic part of a gap year.
