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#Courageous challenges, growth #Warm memories, new resolutions, broadened perspective #Had time for self-reflection
Sometimes I think you really just need the courage to try it once. Because you won''t know where that courage will take you until you try.
Because I also went through that process, the trip became a valuable experience, and I think it was an opportunity for me to grow.
A cross-country trip across America with young people from around the world! Yang Ye-jin, gap-year gapper (24, college student) / 4-week gap year
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I participated in the ''Cross-country trip across America with young people from around the world'' for about a month.
In December 2018 I took part in the ''Cross-country trip across America with young people from around the world'' for about a month. For me,since it was my first trip abroad, excitement and anticipation were greater than fear and worry.However, once the trip started there were quite a lot of difficulties, and at times it was so hard that I really wanted to give up. Even so, I was sure it would be a precious time in which I would feel, think, learn, and make new resolutions.
* For Yang Ye-jin, who wanted new challenges and to find out who she is, missions that challenged her existing thinking and personalized 1:1 tasks for new experiences and emotional recovery were provided daily, and a gap-year notebook was also provided to reflect on herself and make plans.
I felt the need to seriously think about who I am.
Ithink I wandered mentally for about three years after graduating high school.I went without any real self-reflection, simply trying to follow the direction others were going so I wouldn''t fall out of line. But at some point, the repetitive days without a clear purpose or will left me listless and made me view everything negatively.
The time came when I felt the need to seriously consider who I am. Meanwhile, a vague image I had of America and a fascination with foreigners made me interested in this trip.Imagining a life that was free, unconcerned with others'' opinions, energetic and dynamic—perhaps the exact opposite of my current self—I applied hoping that I might feel something through that experience.So I signed up.
And to get straight to the conclusion, Ithink it was a trip like a gift that gave me many unexpected things beyond what I had expected.
While traveling in the U.S., I was with almost 40 foreign friends!
I left the country alone, but during the cross-country trip in the U.S. I was with almost 40 foreign friends. Even though it was a month-long trip, around New Orleans about half of the foreign friends left and about half new ones joined, so in a month I ended up meeting nearly 60 foreign friends.
There were no friends from Asian countries like me; most were from Australia. Occasionally there were friends from Ireland and South Africa, butthe participants in the program, though of different nationalities, shared English as a common language, so communication didn''t seem to be a big problem.
I remember more who I was with and what we did than the destinations themselves!
During this trip I visited many places across the United States, but rather than memories of ''where I went,'' I remember more ''who I was with and what we did.''
Friends dressing up stylishly and beautifully for parties every night, their drinking culture, people openly lying down to sleep in the bus aisle, the poses they strike when taking photos, songs everyone sings together on the bus, cheering when a car honks, gestures when they speak, and so on.
Those small but truly different things that amazed and surprised me every day still remain as pleasant memories!
Among them, the most unforgettable warm memory was the last night of the trip. The last night was December 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve, and we played a Secret Santa game, giving each other gifts.
The person I had to give a gift to was a foreign friend named Jack, who was soon to be a father.I worried a lot about what to give him, but nothing special came to mind, so I justgifted a diffuser (a common/safe present in Korea) and a letterI did.
But Jack read the letter aloud in front of all the foreign friends gathered there, andthe friends who heard the letter all rushed up to me at once, hugged me and said I was sweet. I remember being so moved I nearly cried.
I was also given a teddy bear, marshmallows, a lottery ticket, etc., and every time I see the teddy bear after returning home, memories of the trip come to mind.
The friends I traveled withalways spoke slowly and repeated themselves in case I couldn''t understand, listened attentively to my halting speech, kept helping me participate when I felt left out, and told me they understood some of the difficulties I was going through and encouraged me.
Maybe it was simply courtesy they showed because I was a foreigner, but I still can''t forget their warm kindness and hearts.
# Based on the feelings and thoughts I experienced during the trip, I made many new resolutions!
After returning from the trip, for a while from the moment I woke up until right before I fell asleep, I could think of nothing but the joyful moments from that time. Good memories became nostalgia, bad memories became experience—every memory was precious. Based on the feelings and thoughts I had then, I made many new resolutions!
I still, as a university student, have to study a lot during the semester, take exams, try to do something resume-building during vacations, and work part-time whenever I can to earn pocket money. However,What feels changed to me is not my daily routine but my mindset and attitude toward that routine, and my new ability to think about and prepare for the future.
Now I know why I need to study, and I can clearly explain to myself what I want to gain from that study and which direction I want to go.And even the small things I thought I wanted to try have now turned into a determination to definitely try them. Previously, when I said I wanted to do something but didn''t, I made many excuses, but nowI''ve learned how important it is to just try it once.
Finally, I thought I want to become a better person. I don''t yet have a clear set of values and beliefs, so I waver easily at others'' words. So after this gap year trip, I''m trying to change myself little by little to become an independent, solid, wise person. In the endthis transcontinental trip across America ultimately became an opportunity to sketch out what kind of person I want to be and what kind of life I want to live.
# Travel itinerary!
Because it was a trip crossing the vast continent of the United States, we moved almost every day. We usually got on the bus around 8 o''clock and departed for the next destination, and we traveled on average about 5–7 hours per day.
Places considered to have a lot to see and enjoy—like Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Miami, and Washington—were sometimes given an extra day of free time so we could enjoy them at leisure, and we could also sign up for various additional activities during the trip.I made the trip more colorful by watching a circus in Las Vegas, taking a helicopter ride at the Grand Canyon, and enjoying a party cruise in Miami.
# To friends hesitating about a cross-country trip in the U.S.!
If anyone is hesitating about this trip or, like me, struggles during travel, I''d like to say the following. The reasons for hesitating can be time, cost, one''s personality, language, or a vague fear of different cultures and people.
I understand that there can be many reasons to hesitate, and I think it''s naturally important to think things through carefully. However,sometimes you really just need the courage to try it once. You won''t know where that courage might lead you unless you try.
If you have tough moments during the trip, they can certainly be times that help you grow in some way. So it''s okay to struggle. However, it''s clear that you should comfort yourself and try to move forward with a positive attitude. Because I went through that process myself,I think the trip became a valuable experience and an opportunity for me to grow.
# My gap year preparation tips!
- Language
: Even if you can''t speak English well, I think if you approach people with courage, it can be an enjoyable experience.If you''re not good at English and somewhat introverted (like me, haha), it can be a bit... difficult. But each time, I was so grateful for the foreign friends who helped me complete the trip, and it became a great experience.
- Accommodation
: The accommodations were all good. Although the climate varied by state during the time I participated, we generally needed to use heaters and they worked well so it was warm. All the accommodations were spacious and comfortable, the bathrooms were clean, and the lodgings themselves were really nice!
- Meals
: Meals: breakfast and dinner were mostly included in the fee and provided, and you should consider extra costs for lunches, snacks, and drinking parties after dinner. Interestingly, people drank almost every day. If you want to socialize actively, I strongly recommend joining drinking gatherings! :)
- What to pack
: Travel insurance is essentialand the restas long as you prepare only according to the list sent during the pre-gap year orientation,I don''t think you''ll have any major problems!
My gapNext is
Experience★★★★★
: There were so many new things I experienced while traveling that it felt as if Pandora''s box had been opened. My monotonous daily life felt like fireworks popping. There were so many fun and fascinating experiences!
Learning★★★★
: As for learning English, results will vary by individual, but since you’re in situations where you have no choice but to use English more than usual, I think you’ll improve at least a little, or your fear of speaking English will decrease.
Also, if we’re talking about the growth and learning that comes through travel, in my case I felt a lot and made many new resolutions, so I think I was able to learn a great deal.
Environment★★★★
: If you mean an environment for learning English, it’s certainly good — it’s a situation where you have to use English. And if you’re simply referring to nearby amenities, most places are generally well-equipped.
Safety★★★★
: There are many times spent moving together, so it’s generally safe. However, there can be dangerous moments during free time, so please be cautious.
Leisure★★★
: Because this is a cross-country type of trip, travel times can be long. If your travel style is to visit every famous spot, it might feel somewhat lacking. But if that’s not necessary, you may even find it adequate.
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