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#Overcame hypersensitivity, eased shyness, improved health #Broadened perspective, new experiences #Improved physical and mental health
I wanted to try an unfamiliar experience I hadn''t had in my life. I''m naturally sensitive and tend to be picky about eating and sleeping with others, but I wanted to confront that side of myself head-on.
-Anyone Can Go: Australian Orchard Farm Experience / Kim Narae, Gap-Year Traveler / 8-Week Gap Year |
Q. Please give a brief introduction.
I''m Kim Narae; I took a leave of absence from school and participated in Korea Gap Year’s Australian orchard program. I study economics,3I''ve completed up to my third year, and I spent two months in Australia.
Q.What made you choose this program?
When I first considered programs, the specific content didn''t matter much to me.But if I was going to do it,an unfamiliar experienceI wanted to try..I''m naturally sensitive and tend to be picky about eating and sleeping with others, but I wanted to confront that side of myself head-on.
Q. Was there a reason the program content didn''t matter to you?
At that time, it had been6months since I''d taken a leave of absence, so I felt impatient..And I had planned to go abroad alone to gain experience and rest, then I learned about Korea Gap Year. So rather than what kind of activity it was,I wanted to have an experience that would help me..
Q. Was preparing to leave difficult since you had no overseas experience??
From the day I decided to go, I was extremely busy preparing..And since I planned to travel after the program ended, I had to be busy preparing for the trip..I searched online, bought an Australia travel guide to see where would be good to go, and also asked people I know who had been to Australia..
But when I actually went,it was very different from my plans..Rather than the places I planned by reading books and gathering information from acquaintances in Korea, I mostly visited places recommended by local friends I became close to while living there..
Q. During your gap year at an orchard in Australia, was there anything you wanted to change about yourself or any goals you wanted to achieve?
It depends on who you meet,, II''m very shy.
I''m cautious and tend to be hard on myself, so I often felt exhausted.. Even when I traveled,I would be anxious all day if I didn''t prepare thoroughly, and Iwanted to let go of those traits of mine..I wanted to be able to eat anything, sleep in unfamiliar places, and be like that..
Q. ThenWas the goal of the gap year to change your personality?
Personality-related aspects andcareerconcerns.
During my leave of absence, I kept doing the things I thought I wanted to do..Finance/Accounting,I worked in a marketing-related department..However, it was the job I wanted, and I thought gaining practical experience would give me the answer, but it didn''t..I kept wondering whether this job was really right for me.
So I felt I needed a break..I took a leave of absence and continued working.On this occasion, not only to change my personality, but compared to having only done the things I wanted during my break,things I hadn''t triedif I did,I thought I might find the answer to what I really wanted..
Q. When you went to Australia with that goal in mind, what was different?
I told myself not to be shy.So I think I made a lot of friends..When someone approached me first, I opened up,welcomed them, and I also approached others first,‘Ah, you can do it like this’—those kinds of things I learned..
And by talking with the friends I made and going around to various places, ‘So there''s work like this, too’ I was able to see such a variety of jobs that made me think, ‘There''s also a way of living like this’ and I felt I was able to broaden my thinking and perspective. Also, I could accept and enjoy my own work as a novel experience.
Q. What kind of activities did you do at the orchard?
There was a cafe in the orchard, so many tourists came. I helped make coffee at the cafe or serve simple food, but I mainly worked outside. I did tasks like pruning the apricot, plum, and peach trees as they grew, and repairing the installed sprinklers.
Q. Can you tell me about your daily routine?
Monday from until Friday, I mainly worked outside. In the morning 8o''clock to the afternoon 5o''clock, I mainly pruned and tended the trees, or harvested fruit. And when work finished, I rested at home.
Q. Is the work something anyone can do easily without professional knowledge?
The work itself isn''t difficult, but it''s physically tough at first. I had been someone who had lived in the city until now. I had never participated in agricultural volunteering.But as I got used to life at the orchard, it got better.
Q. How did you spend your free time after work or on weekends??
At first I stayed at home, but later I went out to nearby areas by car with friends or visited nearby attractions..
I also often visited the homes of friends I made there..
I remember going to a mountain where you can see the night view like Namsan in my country, and I also remember the zoo I visited a lot on weekends.
Q.Living in AustraliaPlease also tell stories about the people you met while living there.
I became very close with the chef at the cafe inside the orchard.. They were one year older than me; when I had no friends at first, they taught me a lot about the work, and I became close to them while learning English expressions I didn''t know.So we went fishing a lot and became friends I could talk to a lot..I also happened to have the opportunity to attend a party, where I made many friends as well..
And there was a Thai girl who came to the orchard on a working holiday.She spoke English better than I did and was capable, so she taught me English and also told me tips on how to do well in Australia and about Australian culture. Not only must-visit places and great restaurants, but also small things—she told me what to be careful about in Australia, which was really helpful.
Q. Was communicating in English a problem?
Before going to Australia, I had a few foreign friends, but I could only manage basic communication with them.It improved a lot after I went to Australia..At first they spoke too fast and their intonation was Australian, so it was hard to understand, but when I asked them to speak slowly and said I couldn''t understand, they spoke slowly and explained things in detail. I also became aware of commonly used expressions.
At first I was often puzzled because there were differences between English words and Australian expressions.. TeaIn the U.S., ''tea'' means the beverage (tea), but in Australia it means the evening meal (dinner)..So the orchard grandmother said, ''You tea When they said, ''Will you come before eating?'' I once didn''t understand and thought, ''What tea are you talking about? I drink coffee...'' (laughs). I later found out when a Thai friend I lived with told me.
Q. What was the most difficult thing?
At first, because of the workphysicallyI was exhausted. So after work I mostly slept..
And the farm owner grandfather only knew about work.He worked so much that I was a little scared at first..But when I took the initiative to ask him about things I didn''t know and tried to talk to him, he seemed to like it..So when the program ended and we parted, I was able to say goodbye happily..
Q. On the other hand, what was the best thing?
I was able to change the parts of myself that bothered me and that I wanted to change.. To be more precise,that wayan environment that made it possible to changeit provided..''When else would I experience something like this and make so many friends?'' I thought that a lot. I met so many good friends, and the orchard work that was hard at first became enjoyable over time.
Q.Taking a gap yearHave you noticed any changes when comparing before and after taking a gap year?
Both my body and mind became healthier..
BodyThis improvement in my health is literally because I did a lot of physical work. So I feel much healthier than before I took a gap year in Australia.
Mindhas become more independent and more sociable..I used to care too much about what others think and wanted to break free from that, and it helped a lot..And I also began to let go of my impatience about career choices and started to think about them more calmly.
Q. To me, a gap year is?
A great opportunity to try something you''ve never done before in your life..
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