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A vast continent with international friends — Australia & New Zealand environmental conservation volunteer project!

#Improved communication skills; increased physical fitness #Appreciation for the value of nature; positive thinking #Time for self-reflection

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    It feels like just yesterday we were watching silly alpacas and flocks of sheep and running away from an enormous spider, sitting around the living room every night playing card games and teasing each other for being dumb, and having tea time three times a day while chattering, but already it''s been two weeks... There were so many wonderful things that writing them down is hard to organize!!

    -Conservation volunteer work in Australia, the vast continent, with foreign friends

    4-week gap year / Choi Ji-hye, Gap Year Tribe gapper

     

     

     

     

     

     

    #I joined because I wanted to learn more about nature and the environment.

     

     

     

     

    The reason I chose this project — team members in Australia asked me a lot too — the first reason isI wanted to see kangaroos in a place that isn''t a zoo.

    And the second reason was I wanted to resolve the concerns I''d been worrying about through this gap year.
    I was curious about why we should protect nature, so I joined wanting to learn more about nature and the environment, and that seems to have been my gap year goal.

    I didn''t have any worries before leaving the country. Ihad already participated in various projects through Korea Gap Year. I wasn''t worried, but I was a bit concerned about the accommodation.

     
     
     
    # There were so many great things that writing them down is hard to organize!
     

    When I first arrived I had trouble communicating because of my fear of speaking English, but the teammates and leaders I lived with helped me and I got by without difficulty.

    Because of my lack of stamina I couldn''t do the work properly, I got injured along the way, and there wasn''t much I could do well, but the friends and leaders I met there guided me well and helped me a lot.

    When we stayed at the hostel I remember that none of us were good at cooking so we ate curry every day, and while pulling weeds we were so tired we''d put on music and danceWhen it was too hard I''d secretly hide under a tree away from the leaders, and even knowing that they''d laugh it off and tease me, which was really fun.
      
    Leaders Ken and Tom gave me nicknames. "Chicken Team Tom" hahaAnd the people I got close to there — Dauto, Stinky, Orange!! We always called each other by nicknames.

    It felt like just yesterday we were watching silly alpacas and flocks of sheep and running away from an enormous spider, sitting around the living room every night playing card games and teasing each other for being dumb, and having tea time three times a day while chattering, but already it''s been two weeks..There were so many great things that writing them down is hard to organize!!
     
     
     
     
    # I thought that because we were there, things might get a little better.
     

    Work isIt starts at 8 AM and finishes at 2 or 3. TiFor leader Ken, who likes tea time, lunch gets extended so it finishes at 4 or 5. It''s different every day but one dayWe also pull weeds, plant trees, and do simple tasks. But if you do it in the hot summer you really feel roasted.

    A week after I started I injured my leg while digging with a shovel and had to go to the hospital supported while crying.I wondered whether the friends I met there had incredible stamina or I was weak; they went out every weekend and I just couldn''t keep up. I also remember them begging me every night to go to the bar.

    One day, we were at the reserve pulling weeds like crazy to protect the mountain, and in the nearby neighborhood they were burning the mountain and trees to build a new building? factory. Seeing that, I wondered why I had to do this, but still I thought that because we were there, things might get at least a little better.

    Even though I''m not good at English, they waited until I could finish speaking so I could do well — I''m really grateful. And the work wasn''t difficult; it was just that it was really hard because it was summer.

    It was hot and scorching, the weeds were huge, and the rakes were really sharp. Everyone, bring sturdy shoes — mine got ruined and I ended up throwing them away. I thought everyone would cry on the last day, but we still spent it smiling!

    And on the last day the team said our stamina had improved a lot compared to the beginning — could that really be true..? haha

     

     

     

     

    # My gap year tip

     

     

     

     

     
    (Language)
    They understand everything I say even if it''s nonsense lol

    (Meals)
    If you can''t cook, you''ll eat curry all the time haha

    (Packing list)
    Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, sturdy hiking boots, a hat, a raincoat, and just in case a sleeping bag. Sometimes you need a sleeping bag and sometimes you don''t, but they can lend one there if you don''t have one.

    (Insurance)
    I didn''t expect to have to go to the hospital, but I ended up going twice...

    (Pro tip)
    People without much stamina, those who struggle to endure the summer, or people with sensitive skin should be somewhat cautious. Once you go there, you have to give up on your skin... especially in the summer if you''re planning to stay a long time.
     
     

     
     
     
    Mygap year is

    experience★★★★★
    Learning★★★★★
    Environment★★★☆☆
    Safety★★★★☆
    Leisure★★★★☆
     
     


     

Why This Project

What makes this project special

#Freedom & Happiness#Rest & Recovery#Wisdom & Capability#Environmental conservation activities#Living in nature#New Zealand travel#Environmental volunteering#Loving the world#Australia travel#Beautiful nature#Healing in nature#Teamwork experience with international friends#Regaining self-esteem#Experience practicing environmental protection#Developing my assertiveness#Gaining a sense of accomplishment#Recovering myself#Healing emotional wounds

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