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#Let go of lingering attachment to becoming a civil servant; increased independence #Motivation for foreign language study; self-reflection #Had time to reflect on myself
The owner likes to throw things away,I once read in a book that getting rid of things you don''t use is the start of tidying up.Before I knew it, I too began to boldly throw things away.
- Seoul Gap Year Stay / Kang Seong-hyun, gap-year participant / 8-week gap year |
# Above all, I want to take time to reflect on myself, who has usually been indifferent.
After being discharged from the military, I studied English to go to Australia on a working holiday as planned, but at my parents'' and brother''s urging I prepared for the civil service in the little time left.
Of course I failed by an unfortunate margin, but after taking the exam and finding myself with extra time, I began to think about being a civil servant.Thinking about it, being a civil servant appealed to me only for its stability; above all, I didn''t think I''d be happy even if I passed.So currently I''m thinking about what to do next.
I thought that by taking a leave of absence to prepare for the civil service I was falling behind others, butwhen looking at life in the long term, the present time is relatively short, and I realized it''s not right to judge ''too late'' or ''too early'' by comparing myself to others.
Through this gap year, I recognized that in middle and high school I couldn''t have various experiences because I was preparing for entrance exams,and because I don''t really know what I want to do, I thought I should first accumulate experiences.
Since I''m on leave and stay at home, I sometimes become lazy, and studying English and Japanese conversation by myself doesn''t motivate me well, soI wanted to meet foreign friends to communicate a lot and also to be stimulated.
Above all, I wanted to take time to look back on and understand myself, who had been indifferent.The above was the reason I wrote on the gap year project application two months ago. Looking back now, thanks to the project I was able to let go of my lingering desire to try the civil service again.Because a remark the owner made at the beginning stuck in my memory.
''If not now, I probably won''t be able to do it.''
# ''You hear as much as you know; if you don''t know it, you won''t hear it.''
There were many foreigners at the guesthouse, so I had many opportunities to use foreign languages. I had many chances to use English and Japanese, but, as the saying ''opportunity comes to the prepared'' goes, there were more times when I wanted to say many things but couldn''t. Especially with Japanese, I didn''t know it at all, so although there were many chances to learn, I missed them all.
Of course, thanks to that environment I was greatly motivated and kept encountering foreign languages.When I couldn''t think of a word to express myself, I''d look it up on my laptop or phone, and those words didn''t fade from memory as easily as when I''d just memorized them.I finished the project with ''you hear as much as you know; if you don''t know it, you won''t hear it'' in mind. So now I''m working to learn.
At lights-out, two desk lamps were on at the guesthouse, so I turned off one of them and left, but two guests were using it. I thought, ''The desk lamps those two guests are using won''t be turned off, so it should be okay; the owner is sensitive about electricity costs and it''s lights-out, so turning off that light should be fine,'' and turned it off, butthat action upset the guests and even led to a complaint.
Even if I had been the guest, I would have felt bad if they turned their back and left without saying anything.If they had simply asked, "Is it okay to turn off this light?", the guests wouldn''t have felt bad.
# My personal Seoul travel spots
Gyeongbokgung is of course nice during the day, but it''s more beautiful at night. There are lots to see nearby, like Cheonggyecheon Plaza, so it''s nice to explore on foot.
# My gap year tips
(Language)
It''ll be easier if you strengthen your basic English beforehand or learn some conversational phrases.
(Accommodation)
Since foreigners'' culture and ours can be different, it would be more fun if you try to understand their culture while living together.
(Meals)
It might not be a bad idea to learn some simple dishes from your mother before coming. It would also be good to know small cooking tips.
(Items to bring)
Because the staff are always doing their own activities, you could call the guesthouse and ask which items would be convenient to have.
(Pro tip)
Set a specific goal for what you want to get out of this. I also forgot my goal midway, so try to remind yourself of it from time to time. Two months really go by quickly.
# Some classmates are saying it''s too late, but I did not agree with that.
I''m currently thinking about returning to school for my degree, and when classmates heard I''d be re-enrolling this term as a second-year, second-semester student, they said it was too late, but I didn''t agree with that.Because during my leave of absence I reflected on myself and reset my direction, so I didn''t completely waste that time.(Of course, not to the point of being 100% satisfied...)
It''s just a difference in timing—eventually my classmates will also take time to look back, whether by taking a leave of absence or, even if they don''t, by keeping that kind of time in mind while preparing for jobs. In first year, everyone tended to pursue the same general goal and work hard, so similar races are imagined in their heads.
The environment is important.
I became financially independent before starting the project. Because I will eventually have to be independent from my parents and manage on my own, I deliberately created that environment. Since I had no immediate income, there were many times I had to resist buying what I wanted, but I learned to appreciate the allowance my parents gave me and thought about the value of that money.
Also, the owner liked to throw things away.I read in a book that getting rid of things you don''t use is the start of tidying up.
Before I knew it, I too began to boldly throw things away.
My gap year is
Experience ★★★☆☆
I think it depends on the person.I saw staff doing other part-time jobs at different hours because they were short on money, but I think it would be better to try something else you can do here. Seoul definitely has more opportunities than the provinces.
Learning★★★☆☆
Same as above. I believe learning follows experience.
Environment★★★★☆
Because it''s Hongdae, there are many other temptations, so I deducted one point from 5. If you came for nightlife/entertainment, it''s 5 points.
Safety★★★☆☆
The door lock password has been leaked before. You need to pay attention to even seemingly minor things like this.
Leisure★★★★★
5 points. Within a 5-minute walk of Hongdae Entrance Station.
