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#Gained courage and the ability to take action #Special experiences, precious memories #Opened my eyes to a new world
Although going to Jeju didn''t bring a literal dramatic change to my daily life or to myself before and after the trip,whether I went or not, briefly stepping away from the same everyday routine and having a special experience of my own will become a precious memory and a great source of motivation for me going forward. As I write this and reflect on the past two months, mytime felt like something that might never come around again in my life — a precious period during which I truly never wasted a moment. I want to use this experience as motivation to live earnestly in reality again and to pursue another personal dream! -I want to live there in Jeju. Jeju Gap Year Stay/Yoon Myeongji, gap-year family gapper/An 8-week gap year |
Currently, South Korea is,
each year seeing 60,000 middle and high school students drop out, 346,000 people in their 20s just idling because they have no dreams, and a turnover rate entering the 40% range within one year after employment,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and over 80% of office workers reportedly do not feel happiness.Many people tell others to dream, but to address this problem that lacks realistic methods and support, we want to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea.
*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, and education to discover one''s dreams and aptitudes.
*What is a gap-year stay?
It''s a project where, for a small fee, you stay at a guesthouse, meet various people, and try staff activities. The biggest advantage of this project is that participants can come into contact with diverse people and receive new stimulation.
#I was confused, wondering if I had simply followed what others do.
Before applying for the Jeju gap-year stay, I didn''t have a grand goal like ''I will definitely accomplish this!!!'' I just wanted time for myself because I was a senior about to enter society, feeling overwhelmed and scared, and I wanted to do something for myself.
Then I accidentally found the gap-year website, and the moment I saw the Jeju gap-year stay, I impulsively signed up. Normally I would think back and forth when deciding something, but for some reason I applied immediately, and within just two days I was accepted and bought a plane ticket. Once it was certain I was going to Jeju, worries came flooding in: ''Can I really do well for two months? Shouldn''t I be preparing for employment instead of wasting two months?''
But it was already irreversible! Since it had come to this, I decided to take the two months entirely for myself, thinking when else would I have such an experience if not now.
Using the two-month vacation in July and August wouldn''t interfere with the semester, and choosing Jeju, being domestic, wasn''t a big burden. I applied for several precious reasons: ''to briefly escape daily life before getting a job'', ''before marriage, before having children'', ''to have a travel experience entirely my own'', ''to stay at a guesthouse and hear various people''s life stories'', ''to try a new job as guesthouse staff'', and so on.
Until now I thought I had been living diligently and meaningfully, but I found myself wondering what I had been running toward and what I should move toward in the future. I always felt I had to do something now for the future and lived restlessly, but I was uncertain whether this was right or if I had simply followed what others do.
So when I asked seniors and elders about these concerns, they told me it''s okay if it takes some time, and to truly find what I like and want to do. Alsothey said it''s important to have one''s own firm values and philosophy. But in daily life, we have to return to daily tasks, so there wasn''t enough uninterrupted time to reflect on myself.
So, even though it''s about two months, I wanted to have my own time — a gap year — where I could live each day fully without being anxious or depressed about achieving something.
#Just realizing that there is another world I hadn''t experienced was a valuable lesson and an opportunity to gain a broader perspective.
I liked being in an unfamiliar environment and being with diverse people during the gap-year stay. They didn''t necessarily give me clear lessons, but by sharing their experiences and thoughts, just realizing there was another world I hadn''t experienced was a valuable lesson and an opportunity to broaden my perspective.
Also, during the two months traveling in Jeju, I learned how to travel with leisure. Instead of just rushing to tick off destinations, I stayed fully in one place for a day, feeling its changing faces as the sun rose and set, and by observing people enjoying the place, I realized that this way of traveling is also a good way to enjoy a destination.
# What really got me hooked on Jeju were the ''festivals''!
When I first arrived in Jeju, settling into the guesthouse where I would be staying for two months was my priority more than the excitement of being in Jeju. I had to get close to the people I was with, and after all, it wasn''t just play—I also had staff duties to do.
At first everything felt unfamiliar and awkward and I didn’t know what to do, but as I became friendly with people, gradually got used to the guesthouse, and got the hang of the staff duties, I finally relaxed and really felt like I was in Jeju. When I had morning shifts I would get up early and rush to finish so I could go out and have fun, and when I had afternoon shifts I would prepare early, go out and wander around, then return to the accommodation.
Because I wasn''t just playing but also working, my free time felt even more precious, so I explored even harder. Looking back now, I wonder if I was really that energetic—I went out diligently every single day. Ah! The only day in two months I didn''t leave the accommodation was the day after I reached the summit of Hallasan^^
While in Jeju my recurring thought was ''What should I do tomorrow?'' I visited famous tourist spots that everyone says you must visit when you come to Jeju, browsed markets like a local, and wandered the downtown area. I was a foot-traveling tourist without a car, and since I had to work a few hours each day I couldn’t visit many places in one day.
But because of that I could fully focus on one destination per day. At dusk I would sometimes sit by the sea to feel the breeze and watch the red sunset, other times I’d devote a full day to walking places like Bijarim, Saryeoni Forest Trail, and Hallasan, and sometimes I’d lie down for a nap in a cool pavilion facing Cheonjiyeon Falls while walking. Not being rushed and having a relaxed mindset allowed me to experience those places more deeply. Also, when wandering the city without using public transport, I picked up information about events happening in Jeju from looking around, which made those two months even richer.
What really got me hooked on Jeju were the ''festivals''! Of course the blue sea, forests, and delicious food are Jeju’s charms, but so many festivals were held! There were the Stepping Stone Rock Festival held on the beach, Wheesung’s concert celebrating the 7th anniversary of the Jeju Museum of Art, the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival that lasted about a week, the Tamna Cultural Festival with street DJ performances, the Lindenbaum Festival featuring orchestral performances, the Samda Concert held every Friday, the Midsummer Night Art Festival where people in the audience played train games, a Foreigners’ Festival where foreigners living in Jeju performed, and many other diverse and distinctive performances~
On top of that, all of these were free performances, so I enjoyed them even more! And despite there being so many great shows, short-term tourists often didn’t know about them and the local residents weren''t particularly interested, so the venues weren’t overcrowded and felt relaxed, which I liked.You might say this was the charm of being somewhere between a traveler and a local~Later on, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I went searching for festivals only!
# My Jeju destinations BEST 3
Hallasan
I thought that if you come to Jeju you should climb to the summit of Hallasan at least once. I walked the Seongpanak course to the summit, and the whole way felt like an endless path of stones. As I kept walking,at one point a scene opened up like a heavenly road leading into the clouds far away. It felt like all the effort of the hike was rewarded at once.
Continuing up to the summit and looking at Baekrokdam, at first it was covered in clouds so I couldn''t see it, but suddenly the clouds cleared as if by magic and I could see Baekrokdam, the city beyond, and airplanes flying in the sky all at once—the pride and excitement were indescribable.It’s a feeling that only those who have climbed it can share. It was a precious experience that will remain with me for life.
Songaksan Trail / Songaksan ~ Sanbangsan Coastal Road
I went to Songaksan Trail on a whim because I heard it was pretty. As a traveler without a car I took an intercity bus, got off near Sanbangsan, and had to transfer to get to Songaksan, but the transfer was awkward so I just walked from Sanbangsan to Songaksan. It turned out that this route itself was part of the Olle Trail. The coastal road scenery unfolding as I walked from Sanbangsan was so beautiful that I kept taking photos while walking. It felt like discovering a treasure by chance. The green fields opening up at the entrance to Songaksan were truly a work of art.
Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)
I woke up at 4 a.m. and walked in a daze to Seongsan Ilchulbong to see the sunrise that is said to rise at 5:30. It was dark and I was tired because the sun hadn''t risen yet, but driven by the single determination to see the sunrise, I didn’t feel the hardship and reached the summit. Later, coming back down, I realized how far I had climbed. If the sun had already been up and the path clear, I might not have climbed at all~ When I reached the top a thick sea fog had rolled in, so I couldn''t properly see the rising sun, but that scenery was magnificent in its own right.
Jeju travel TIPs
There are really many performances and festivals in Jeju. While I stayed there there were the International Wind Ensemble Festival, Stepping Stone Festival, Samda Concert, Foreigners’ Festival, Wheesung concert for the Jeju Museum of Art’s 7th anniversary, Ihoteu Festival, Lindenbaum Festival, Tamna Cultural Festival, and so many others that I ended up going to festivals almost exclusively.
You can find all these festivals on the Jeju Culture & Arts Portal or the Jeju Tourism Organization website. Or you can get information from event posters you see while walking around.
If you''re too tired to go far every time, you can still enjoy yourself in Jeju city. Near my accommodation, the Tapdong Beach Performance Hall hosts various performances almost every weekend, and the Film Culture & Arts Center screens free movies every day at 3 p.m. (except Mondays).
In August, when the heatwave was at its peak, it was hard to go far so I mostly caught films there. Thanks to that, I saw movies I otherwise wouldn’t have encountered and had something to do every day. You can check movie screening information on the Film Culture & Arts Center website. These kinds of tips weren’t told to me by someone at first butare things I discovered by walking around myself! Walk around a lot and pay attention to your surroundings! There are plenty of great tips everywhere~
# My gap year TIPs
(Language)
Although I’m Korean and it’s in Jeju, about 50% of the guests who came to the guesthouse seemed to be Chinese. Since so many Chinese people visit Jeju, being able to speak a bit of Chinese would make participating in a Jeju gap year stay easier.
(Accommodation)
Because we used a staff-only room, there weren’t many conflicts or inconveniences with the guests staying at the guesthouse. However, you share a room with another staff member, so if you become close you can help each other with work and enjoy traveling together!
(Meals)
It’s nice to buy and eat Jeju’s many delicious foods, but buying food every day for two months can be expensive. However, the guesthouse owner (auntie) cooks well and takes good care of us, so I didn’t worry much about meals. I was more worried about gaining weight in Jeju. You don’t need to worry much about meals.
(What to bring)
Of course it’s important to pack thoroughly, but there are many items you won’t end up using and will bring back unchanged. Jeju is domestic, so living there or buying things isn’t much of an inconvenience compared to other regions in Korea. I recommend traveling light with minimal luggage. If you need something, you can buy it in Jeju or have it sent by courier without much trouble.
(Tip)
Having applied for and actually done the gap year program, even if things turn out differently than you thought or unexpected difficulties arise, since you’re doing it anyway I hope you’ll participate enthusiastically with a positive attitude!
# I want to use this experience as motivation to work hard in real life again and to dream another personal dream!
As I write this review now, thinking back to Jeju during July and August feels like a dream — I can’t believe I actually went. There hasn’t been a dramatic change in my daily life or in myself before and after going to Jeju,Whether I had gone or not, taking a break from the everyday routine and having my own special experience will be a precious memory and a great driving force for me going forward.
Writing this and looking back over the past two months, myIt was a precious time that I doubt will ever come again in my life — a time I never wasted. I want to use this experience as motivation to work hard in reality again and to dream another personal dream!I don’t yet know where that place will be or when it will happen,
Through this gap year project I feel like I opened my eyes to a new world. If you take the bold leap when you want to do something, a new dimension of the world unfolds after that choice!
Also, before participating in the gap year program I had lots of enthusiasm and ideas, but when it came to actually doing things I was scared and didn’t put many into action. But after having taken the plunge with the gap year program and doing many satisfying activities, I gained the courage and initiative to just go for it when something I want to do comes up.
During the gap year stay I traveled alone and spent each day without regrets. Among memorable experiences while working at the guesthouse rather than just traveling alone, I remember the letters and gifts given by the Chinese girls who stayed at the guesthouse!
Although our languages were different and communication wasn’t smooth, perhaps my willingness to be kind got through — on their last night at the guesthouse they thanked me with a letter (of course written entirely in Chinese so I couldn’t read it...) and a gift, and we took pictures together! It was a day when I felt working at the guesthouse was rewarding.
*What is a gap year? A gap year is a period during which one suspends or combines studies and engages in various activities such as travel, volunteering, internships, and education to find one’s dreams and aptitudes.
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My gap year was
Experience ★★★★★
I went out every single day without fail. I fully did everything I wanted, including various performances and festivals in Jeju such as rock festivals, the international wind ensemble festival, foreigners’ festivals, paragliding, temple stays, completing the summit of Hallasan Baengnokdam, and Geomunoreum international trekking.
Learning ★★★★☆
I learned how to spend a day meaningfully without regrets, that there are many different kinds of people in the world, and to feel gratitude toward those around me.
Environment ★★★★★
The accommodation I stayed at is close to the intercity bus terminal, so even if you''re traveling on foot you can get around easily. Also, many performances are held at the nearby Tap-dong Performance Hall, so you can enjoy plenty nearby without going far. The lodging is also separate from the hosts'' rooms, so it doesn''t feel intrusive.
Safety★★★★☆
In summer the days are still long, so it wasn''t a problem to be out until about 8:30–9:00. However, once the sun sets there aren''t many building lights and it gets quite dark, so as long as you don''t stay out too late safety wasn''t a major concern.
Leisure★★★★★
For morning work, once I finished the assigned tasks I could immediately enjoy leisure time. So I actually ended up working harder and faster. If you complete the assigned tasks well, you can fully enjoy your leisure time!
