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#Greater independence, personality changes, improved communication with foreigners #Art studies; precious memories #Took time to reflect on myself
''Will something like that happen to me too?'' ''Will I be happy after doing this project?'' It''s not too late to have those thoughts after you''ve finished the project.AndNow that I''ve finished the project, things I could never have imagined happened to me, and I can say I became happier after going.
-Let''s introduce my own Seoul to foreign friends Gap Year Stay Seoul / Jang Sohyun Gap-Year Tribe Gapper / 8-week Gap Year |
#How long can I keep relying on my parents?
Actually, the reason I joined the gap-year project was the same reason I took a leave of absence. I took time off to get away from my major studies and do the ''art studies'' I had always wanted to do, and I chose the ''Seoul Gap Year Stay'' project as a means to pursue that ''art study.''
Because the province I lived in was such a small city, it was difficult to enjoy cultural activities that cultivate artistic sensibility, like theater, museums, and exhibitions, and I judged that learning art in Hongdae — which is famous for art in our country — would be much more efficient than studying in my hometown.
Second, I wanted to try a ''challenge.'' My school was only a 20-minute bus ride from home, so I was like a greenhouse plant who grew up in a warm home eating the meals my mom made my whole life. But then a thought suddenly came to me,''How long can I keep relying on my parents?''That was it.
Clearly, moving to Seoul alone was a scary and frightening decision, but I was sure it was a decision I would make at some point. So I wanted to try this ''challenge'' for my life.
Because my reason for going to Seoul was clear, my goals became more distinct. Since the first reason for moving to Seoul was to study art and cultivate artistic sensibility, the first goal was: let''s cultivate artistic sensibility!
The second was material independence, and the third was to be mentally independent! To become financially independent, I decided not to take the allowance I used to receive from my parents once a month, and to earn my allowance solely through part-time work.Rather than being emotionally dependent, I thought I should take responsibility for the decisions I made.
And at that time, because I had a very anxious personality, I was stressing about my own character. So before taking time off, I even received counseling at school about my personality. SoThrough this gap year, I wanted to change this trait so that I wouldn''t stress myself out!I thought.
Because of my anxious nature, even when I wanted to do something I would worry in advance, thinking ''What if this happens?'' and rely on others'' decisions. So I strongly wanted to break free from being dependent and be mentally independent.
Two months later, I was certain that art was my path, I lived for two months doing part-time work without allowance, and friends and my counselor even said my atmosphere and expressions had changed — so it''s safe to say I achieved all three goals.
#But the longer I stayed, the more grateful I was that the place I was in was a ''guesthouse.''
When I first applied for the project, the city of ''Seoul'' appealed to me the most. I had lived in the provinces my whole life, so the city of Seoul alone was reason enough to apply, and I applied looking only at ''Seoul'' without considering the word ''guesthouse.''
But the more I stayed, the more grateful I was that the place I was in was a ''guesthouse.''The owner once told me to think that I''d see all the foreigners I''d ever meet in my life at the guesthouse, and it was really like that. New guests came every single day without fail.
At first, when I was working, speaking English felt very awkward and I was afraid to use it because I might make mistakes. Each time I watched the senior staff chatting in English, I thought ''Ah, so this is how it''s done'' and learned a lot, and my fear slowly disappeared. Once three Australian girls came as guests.
We had plans to go out at night with those friends, and the Australian friends were so lively that they picked up almost all the guests in the girls'' room. So I remember going to a club with about 11 girlfriends that time.
Also, most were long-term guests so we partied the next day and the day after that — we really hung out a lot,At that time, it really felt like living in a dorm at a foreign school.To be honest, these things were not planned at all, nor could I have imagined them.It''s something that could only happen at a guesthouse.If I had been living in a studio or apartment in Seoul, it would never have happened.
#It was a precious memory I would never have experienced if it weren''t for the guesthouse.
# Jjimjilbang commotion
When I arrived in Seoul in September, it was sometimes warm so I wore short sleeves, but by November the weather got so cold that you needed a padded jacket. So to warm up and to introduce Korean culture to my foreign guest friends, we went to a jjimjilbang as our second tour.
Patrick, Sean, Kimi, staff member Minyoung, and I went, and a lot of funny things happened at the jjimjilbang. At first we took the subway and arrived at Yongsan Station where the jjimjilbang was supposed to be, but when we used Naver Maps to find it, it kept saying that our current location was the jjimjilbang.
But all we could see around us were roads with cars, so we kept wandering. We asked some passersby but they said they didn''t know either. While we were wondering what to do, I casually turned my head to the right and there it was with a huge sign. So everyone burst out laughing and we went into the jjimjilbang.
To be honest, I expected there would be many obstacles from that point on. After we arrived and tried to go in, my friends walked into the area where you should take off your shoes while still wearing them. So we said, "No no no no no, take off your shoes," and they apologized with "oh sorry" and went in. But when we put the shoes in the shoe lockers, our American friend''s shoes were so big they wouldn’t fit in the locker.
I remember all of us teaming up to stuff the shoes into the locker. After we finally got our jjimjilbang clothes and towels and were about to split up to the baths, our German friend kept asking seriously whether everyone there would be taking off all their clothes. So we said, "Yes, naked," and I explained that the jjimjilbang is a mixed space for both men and women.
They looked shocked, and we didn''t know what was wrong so we had a neutral expression, but it turned out they thought everyone was naked together. So we said, "No no no no no, separated," and safely changed clothes and met again in the jjimjilbang.
After buying eggs, we were about to sit on the jjimjilbang floor and eat them, but my friends scolded us saying, "There are many tables there, why are you sitting on the floor to eat?" Since it was hard to explain with our limited English, we said "Korean tradition," and everyone agreed and sat on the floor to peel and eat the eggs.
It turned out my foreign friends weren''t used to the floor-sitting culture and felt uncomfortable. After we finished the eggs, we started the jjimjilbang tour in earnest. First we went into the nearest salt room. Inside the salt room, I wrapped a towel like a sheep''s head and wore it, and the other friends seemed to look on with envy.
So I said "Sheep, sheep" and put my towel ''hat'' on them. The German friend liked it so much they kept wearing it the whole time at the jjimjilbang. The salt room was so hot that they wanted to go to the ice room, so we said "ice, ice" and moved there.
When we entered the ice room it was freezing. So we decided to play a game. The loser of rock-paper-scissors had to press their face against the ice for five seconds. I''m really bad at rock-paper-scissors so I was worried, and sure enough I lost and had to press my face against the ice for five seconds.
We planned to eat at the jjimjilbang, but the food was very expensive, so we left, ate ramen, and headed home. When we got back, instead of feeling less tired from the jjimjilbang, we were more exhausted, and Minyoung immediately fell asleep. It was also one of the most recent things.This brought us closer to the friends, so we went out to have more fun the next day as well,It was a precious memory I would never have experienced if it weren''t for the guesthouse.
#My personal Seoul travel spots
Because it was my first time living in Seoul, every corner felt new and wonderful. For those who don''t like to travel far, I recommend nearby spots from Hongdae: the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Hongdae playground, Sinchon, Ewha area, Itaewon, Yeongdeungpo Times Square, the Han River, Samcheong-dong, DDP, Naksan Park, and Insadong.
I personally liked going to Itaewon, the Han River, and the Gyeongui Line Forest Park at night. Especially Itaewon has a completely different nighttime vibe from Hongdae. For people living in Seoul it might be everyday, but for me even these small picnics, when I look back,have all become precious memories. So please feel and enjoy them a lot!
And Samcheong-dong and Insadong give a similar feel yet are completely different. When I first went to Samcheong-dong I thought it was similar to Jeonju Hanok Village, but the more I explored the more Samcheong-dong''s unique charm revealed itself.
Before moving to Seoul I had vowed to enjoy cultural activities that I couldn''t in my hometown, so while in Seoul I tried to visit as many museums and exhibitions as possible. Even in Hongdae there are really many museums hidden in the alleys, so if you like museums walk through the lanes and check out the free exhibitions too.
I visited almost every museum and gallery in Hongdae by myself, and there are really so many, so be sure to go. If you want to enjoy artworks even more, definitely visit the Seoul Arts Center too! Admission is expensive but many exhibitions are worth more than the price.
#My gap year tips
(Staff advice)
Once the owner asked me, "If you''re going out at night anyway, could you go meet and guide a guest who''s arriving late at night?" It wasn''t really a difficult request, but it was after my staff hours had ended and I was about to go out with friends, so I asked my friends for understanding and then went out.
And I was once scolded by the owner for taking a shower during staff activity time and was told to be punctual.Working hours are a sensitive issue for both the owner and the gappers, so everyone should be considerate and try to stick to them!
(Language)
You don''t need to worry about language (English) at all.I had only been memorizing English grammar during school, and even before participating in the project I couldn''t utter a single conversational sentence.I joined, and somehow I squeezed out the English words I knew and used gestures and everything to keep conversations going with foreign friends, and naturally my everyday English improved.
I also learned a lot of swear words... ''holy shit'', etc. I remember once using ''holy shit'' and the foreign friends beside me were surprised and told me that the word has a bad meaning and to never use it lol. Also, when receiving and guiding guests, I didn''t know how to say ''Will you pay now?'' in English, so I always said ''pay..?'' but the owner saw and told me to say ''Could you pay now?''
And when I felt frustrated because my English wasn''t good and complained to foreign friends that I wanted to be good at English, they encouraged me and said I was already doing well! So don''t worry — many people around you will help! (Because I was very worried about my English before I went too. But it was no problem!)
Of course, learning basic conversation helps more. I had picked up the expression ''Have you ever~?'' and knew it, and I used it very usefully when talking with friends.
(Accommodation)
The accommodation was not inconvenient at all for living; it was really as comfortable as home.Shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer, hair iron, etc. Almost all daily necessities were provided, so I had less to bring, and it was convenient not to have to carry them every time I washed. (Ah! But there''s no toothpaste or foam cleanser ㅠㅠ)
Also, the beds were so good that all the staff sisters praised them. I wanted to take the comforter home... When you lie down it''s so comfortable you fall asleep immediately..! My advice... just bring toothpaste and foam cleanser!
#There were really countless memorable and enjoyable experiences.
There were really countless memorable experiences: going out with the staff sisters, going out together with foreign guest friends, and so on. The most recent was when I became a guide and went on a ''Jogyesa temple tour, jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) tour'' with guest friends. I became very close with the friends who went on the tour and we still message each other.
Before I left, I was actually so gripped by the fear of living alone that I didn''t really fear working at the guesthouse. When I thought of cleaning, I just thought it would be sweeping and wiping, and went up to Seoul. So the first three days of participation were honestly hard.
At that time I was so afraid of getting close to foreign guests and using English, and the staff sisters had to go to work or school so I was alone cleaning and waxing the shower room until evening in an empty guesthouse and really wanted to go home so badly. Of course, from the third day I started to adapt quickly while having fun.
At first, the work may be much harder than you expected. But if I had gone home then, I would never have experienced many of the things I had during those two months.
You may expect the work to be hard, but if you have a goal, if you have a purpose, take the challenge! Never look back.After I applied to participate, I started to regret it a week before going to Seoul. ''Why did I do something so reckless?'', ''How will I live on my own?'', ''What if I can''t adapt?'' etc. Especially the day before and the day of going, the excitement disappeared and I felt nothing but regret.
My head was full of ''I want to go home.'' But don''t be deceived by the thought ''I want to go home.'' While staying at the Seoul guesthouse for two months, my thoughts changed to ''I don''t want to go home.''
Before participating in the project, I read other people''s reviews and often wondered, ''Will that happen to me too?'' ''Will I really be happier after doing this project?''
There was an older sister I know who had traveled to Europe a lot. Since European travel was something I only dreamed about, I once asked her if life really changes after traveling. Her answer was,''It''s the difference of a sheet of paper. When you return, your life will go back to the way it was, but your thinking will change like the two sides of a sheet of paper, and that will change your way of living.''
