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#Became more tolerant and less anxious #Respect for opinions, free thinking, leatherworking #Took time to reflect on myself
"I was so, so excited that my opinions were respected and my free thinking wasn''t restrained by restrictions. Thanks to that, I learned leathercraft skills and how to adapt them in the direction I wanted. I also met people of various nationalities and ages, heard their stories, and feel like I was able to let go of a lot of anxieties about life."
- Making a luxury handbag in Florence, where luxury goods were born Lee Ji-eun, gap-year participant / 12-week gap year
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# I wanted to broaden my horizons and look for different career opportunities.
I am a 39-year-old woman who worked as a patternmaker (technical department) in the fashion industry for about 12 years. It was a field I wanted to learn about, and Florence, which had a leather workshop, was a city I wanted to live in. I had some experience traveling independently abroad and I''m not particularly afraid of going overseas. For that reason, I was even more eager to try staying for a long period.
Because it was my first long-term stay abroad, I was worried and booked accommodation in advance, but if I had found it locally I probably could have gotten something cheaper. Still, living with locals in a local home was a good experience.
Through this gap year I wanted to broaden my horizons and look for different career opportunities. I was also very tired of working in Korea, and I wanted to take time to recharge by experiencing local life rather than just traveling.
# Daily routine
Work in the workshop from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, a 30-minute lunch, then work in the workshop from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. After that was free time.
I would start the day simply with a piece of brioche (a type of pastry) and an espresso or a cappuccino.
Lunch was usually a panini (sandwich). During the three-month project, the last month was a bit
There were more days when I could take a relaxed lunch, even if it was later.
It was fun to share the dolce (sweet pastry) that an American lady named Karen, who took classes with us, would buy every Friday, and on weekends we traveled to nearby towns. Wherever we went, it was enjoyable to look at the bags displayed in small shops and think about the design for the next bag to make.
# I was so excited that my opinions were respected and my free thinking wasn''t restrained by restrictions.
Since I originally like working with my hands, I enjoyed working freely with leather in the workshop all day .The instructors didn''t force a particular working method and told us to try whatever we wanted; they only explained the results of choosing a certain method and the processes needed to achieve the expressions we wanted.
I was so excited that my opinions were respected and my free thinking wasn''t restrained by restrictions. Thanks to that, I learned leathercraft skills and how to apply them in the direction I wanted.
I also met people of various nationalities and ages, heard their stories, and feel like I was able to let go of a lot of anxieties about life. There are so many that I can''t name just a few, but I was able to hear stories of people who simply live their own lives rather than lives with predetermined ''right answers.''
# My personal gap-year tips
(Language)
Language is just a means of communication, so if you approach with an open mind it shouldn''t hinder the project. Don''t be afraid; reach out first.
(Accommodation)
You don''t have to book everything from Korea; you can easily find out locally how to get inexpensive accommodation,Don''t worry too much; it''s fine to just arrange accommodation for about a week and go.
(Meals)
You should also try experiencing the joy of cooking for yourself using inexpensive local ingredients.Even if you''re someone who doesn''t cook at all, since you started this for a new kind of challenge, this too will be a new experience.
(What to bring)
I don''t think you need to worry too much or go to the trouble of packing a lot. People live there, so basic necessities are available, and even if they''re not the things you used to use, trying local items can also be an interesting experience.
#I think I''ve become a bit more tolerant.
The biggest change during my gap year was that I got one year older. I started last year and finished this year, but my heart doesn''t feel like it aged by only one year. I feel I''ve become a bit more relaxed and a bit more tolerant.
If you''re contemplating a gap year, whatever kind you take will surely be a new and wonderful experience, but I hope you''ll give it some thought and choose a project that suits you and is helpful.
My gap year was
Experience★★★★★
It was a great experience because I learned the things I wanted to learn in the place I wanted to be.
Learning★★★★★
I had time to choose and learn the things I wanted to learn. I am extremely satisfied with the project I chose.
Environment★★★★★
Italy — it couldn''t have been better.
Safety★★★★★
Italy is a relatively safe country.
Leisure★★★★☆
I tried to learn so many things that I felt a bit tired, but after all, that''s what I set out to do on my gap year.
