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#Resolved to overcome challenges and persevere on my own #The joy of travel and the emotional impact of volunteering #Gained confidence that I could do it
Everyone joined the gap year with the same concerns and worries as I did, and in the endseeing others overcome and get through things on their own during the gap year made me feel that I could do it too. -Experience both the fun of travel and the moving experience of volunteering! Enjoying a volunteer trip in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam / Choi Da-young, gap-year gapper |
>View Choi Da-young''s daily routine and reasons for taking a gap year<
# My personal gap year tips
(Language)
Since most volunteers are from Europe, their accents were different from what I was used to, so it was difficult to adapt at first. Preparing to get used to various accents will help a lot, but above all I think it''s important to keep making the effort to speak!
Also, the better you are at English, the more fun you''ll have hanging out with the other volunteers, so it''s good to keep studying conversation and English consistently.
(Accommodation)
The shared facilities have a computer and TV; the bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper; the kitchen has dishes and utensils; and basic things like a washing machine and detergent are provided, so as long as you bring your personal toiletries and a towel you shouldn''t have much inconvenience. There''s an outlet next to the bed and you can use Korean plugs without an adapter!
Pillows and thin blankets are provided, but the accommodation runs the air conditioning all night, so it can feel a bit chilly—bringing a thin long-sleeved layer will help.
There are many long-term volunteers, so on weekdays everyone tends to rest at the accommodation individually, while on weekends volunteers go into town or out for beers.
So at first it can feel awkward and a bit boring, but you can relax and wind down during weekdays and then make the most of your time by going into town or traveling with other volunteers on the weekends.
(Meals)
The manager at the accommodation made different Vietnamese dishes each time, so I got to taste authentic local Vietnamese food! The flavors aren''t hugely different from what I used to eat in Korea, and they''re not overly spicy with lots of strong spices, so it was really tasty!
For breakfast there are always cereal and milk, yogurt, bread and jam, so you can eat what you want at the time you want. In the kitchen there''s a meal sheet where you can note whether you''ll have lunch and dinner, and if you have other plans and come back late you can ask them to save a meal for you or mark that you won''t eat, which is convenient. At first I ate in the kitchen, but once I got a bit used to it I went out to find popular local restaurants alone or went out to eat with nearby friends!
(Packing list)
Most of what you need is provided at the accommodation, and if you need clothes you can buy them cheaply at local markets, so it''s best not to bring a lot of luggage.
There are local markets and big supermarkets nearby, so you can buy things as needed, and because you''ll likely bring back souvenirs and local purchases when you return, pack light! And for volunteering, really comfortable clothes! It''s best to bring clothes that you can wear comfortably there and possibly throw away when you leave.
# A message to prospective participants
It''s on a whole different level from regular English listening, haha—it''s like watching US/UK dramas without subtitles. Still, even with my elementary-level English (I can say things like ''Hi~ How are you? I''m fine, and you?'') I did fine, so you will too! Don''t be discouraged if you''re not good at English. They''re native speakers and we are not, after all!At first it can be really hard to adapt. Volunteering itself doesn''t require much English so that''s fine, but as I said most volunteers are from Europe or native English speakers, so the speed of conversation is really fast and accents vary, making it hard to get used to.
There were friends who, when I couldn''t answer and spaced out after being asked something several times, kindly repeated it very slowly and clearly, so I could stammer through and use every word I knew to keep the conversation going. There were occasionally volunteers who looked down on you for not being good at English, but I ignored them too. You don''t have to be friends with every volunteer, right? Haha.
Also, due to Europeans'' tendencies toward individualism and independence, unlike in Korea, they won''t necessarily look after a new volunteer, so that can be surprising.It can feel a bit like being left to your own devicesIf you follow the cues—joining when volunteers have parties or go into the city—and gradually increase the time you spend together, you''ll slowly adapt.
Don''t try to adapt too quickly from the very beginning; think of time as the answer and try not to be too impatient. Don''t throw yourself into volunteer work too intensely like a ''Korean-style'' approach.Enjoy some leisure, don''t just run forward with your eyes fixed ahead; pay attention to your surroundings too.Keep in mind that volunteering is not the goal itself, but that you came here to spend a gap year.
That''s why, personally, I recommend doing this volunteer program for more than four weeks! When I went for a short term, I had only just started getting to know and become close with the kids, and I felt like I returned before I could become really close and have more fun with them.
The same goes for the foreign volunteers. At first, because I spent weekends traveling here and there according to my own plans, I couldn''t get very close with the foreign volunteers. I heard foreign volunteers stay for about 6 to 9 months, so they''d already done many things and traveled around; their schedules didn''t match well with mine, who found everything novel at first. (I had to visit all the places I wanted within two weeks.) Other volunteers usually spent their time like locals—casually drinking beer in the city or going to the pool and relaxing. So I thought that if I had gone long-term from the start, I could have adjusted my personal schedule and maybe had more fun with the other volunteers like the locals.
Of course you''d also be forced to keep hearing English, and to survive you''d have to keep speaking English, so I think your English would probably improve more lol. Right now it feels like I only got used to the accents. In fact, until the day I left, some European volunteers with strong accents spoke so quickly that I couldn''t tell whether they were speaking English or their own language (there were volunteers from the same country), which was frustrating.
I took a weekend trip to Mui Ne by myself and it was really great!! A completely different place from Ho Chi Minh—quiet, clean, and relaxing!!! If you stay in Ho Chi Minh, you must visit Mui Ne at least once!!!!!
It took about 6 hours by bus one way from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne (I hesitated at first because it was far, but I would have really regretted not going!!). The bus fare was super cheap, around 6,000 won, and for accommodation I prefer a single room so I budgeted around 10,000 won, but if you use a guest room it''s about 3,000–4,000 won per night which is really cheap! Even if you go to the best restaurant there and order a bunch of dishes until you''re full, you can eat plenty of seafood and fruit juice for less than 10,000 won!
After returning from my gap year I''m still a working person dealing with the same reality, but mentally I feel much more at ease. And I was able to once again awaken the passion and adventurous spirit of my youth!
And through this,I think the biggest change is that my life gained a bit of breathing room and I made unforgettable, truly precious experiences and memories.
It was a time to rediscover the truly precious things I had forgotten while being worn down by reality: about myself, about the people around me, and about the work I''m doing.
And one more thing: I really need to study English harder lol. In Korea I didn''t have many occasions to use English, so I always wanted to but put it off because I was lazy or tired. I thought that if I had been a bit better at English, I could have spent time in a bigger world doing more and having more fun.
When I used to travel I thought ''this is fine'', but going abroad as something other than a tourist gave me a different experience and feeling!! For a while I plan to take vacations or go abroad more for projects and various activities rather than just travel. I''m still young!! Today is the youngest day of the life I''ll live from now on, so I want to take on many challenges and broaden my horizons while I''m still young, even if only for one more day :)
My gap year is
Experience ★★★★★
Since it was my first time doing volunteer work overseas and living with foreign friends, every single day was a new experience. When else in my life will I ever have an experience like this? I really think deciding to do it when I did was the best decision of my life!!!!
Learning★★★★☆
I volunteered at a center for children with disabilities. Most of the activities were playing with the kids or feeding them, so there wasn’t anything hugely educational, but I liked that I could learn how facilities for children with disabilities are run and how international NGO operations work.
I also had some preconceived notions about disabilities, but seeing the children always smiling brightly, enjoying people, and approaching others without hesitation made me rethink that.
Environment★★★★☆
The dorm was very clean and comfortable, fully equipped with everything needed, and they provided delicious meals, so there was no discomfort staying there! I deducted one star because the dorm is a bit far from the city ^^;
Safety★★★☆☆
When I visited Vietnam before, there were so many pickpockets that I couldn’t take out my phone on the street, but it seems like public safety has improved a lot since then!
Still, you should always be careful when crossing the street or using your phone on the road, and keep your bag worn in front of you at all times! Local organizations and volunteers who have been here longer always warn about pickpockets.
Also, there are so many motorbikes in Vietnam and the traffic signal system isn’t well organized, so always be careful when crossing the road. If you don’t do risky things yourself, you shouldn’t run into major problems.
Leisure★★★★★
Morning and afternoon activities each last between 1.5 and 2 hours, so the daily schedule isn’t too tight. If you stick to the activity times, the rest of the time is free to relax. A weekly schedule is announced, and if you want a day off or a longer vacation, you can talk with the local staff and adjust the schedule freely, so you can fully enjoy your leisure time.
Also, because the cost of living is so low, you can do many different activities during your free time that you might not be able to do in Korea!
Everyone joined the gap year with the same concerns and worries as I did, and in the endseeing others overcome and get through things on their own during the gap year made me feel that I could do it too. -Experience both the fun of travel and the moving experience of volunteering! Enjoying a volunteer trip in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam / Choi Da-young, gap-year gapper |
>View Choi Da-young''s daily routine and reasons for taking a gap year<
# My personal gap year tips
(Language)
Since most volunteers are from Europe, their accents were different from what I was used to, so it was difficult to adapt at first. Preparing to get used to various accents will help a lot, but above all I think it''s important to keep making the effort to speak!
Also, the better you are at English, the more fun you''ll have hanging out with the other volunteers, so it''s good to keep studying conversation and English consistently.
(Accommodation)
The shared facilities have a computer and TV; the bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper; the kitchen has dishes and utensils; and basic things like a washing machine and detergent are provided, so as long as you bring your personal toiletries and a towel you shouldn''t have much inconvenience. There''s an outlet next to the bed and you can use Korean plugs without an adapter!
Pillows and thin blankets are provided, but the accommodation runs the air conditioning all night, so it can feel a bit chilly—bringing a thin long-sleeved layer will help.
There are many long-term volunteers, so on weekdays everyone tends to rest at the accommodation individually, while on weekends volunteers go into town or out for beers.
So at first it can feel awkward and a bit boring, but you can relax and wind down during weekdays and then make the most of your time by going into town or traveling with other volunteers on the weekends.
(Meals)
The manager at the accommodation made different Vietnamese dishes each time, so I got to taste authentic local Vietnamese food! The flavors aren''t hugely different from what I used to eat in Korea, and they''re not overly spicy with lots of strong spices, so it was really tasty!
For breakfast there are always cereal and milk, yogurt, bread and jam, so you can eat what you want at the time you want. In the kitchen there''s a meal sheet where you can note whether you''ll have lunch and dinner, and if you have other plans and come back late you can ask them to save a meal for you or mark that you won''t eat, which is convenient. At first I ate in the kitchen, but once I got a bit used to it I went out to find popular local restaurants alone or went out to eat with nearby friends!
(Packing list)
Most of what you need is provided at the accommodation, and if you need clothes you can buy them cheaply at local markets, so it''s best not to bring a lot of luggage.
There are local markets and big supermarkets nearby, so you can buy things as needed, and because you''ll likely bring back souvenirs and local purchases when you return, pack light! And for volunteering, really comfortable clothes! It''s best to bring clothes that you can wear comfortably there and possibly throw away when you leave.
# A message to prospective participants
It''s on a whole different level from regular English listening, haha—it''s like watching US/UK dramas without subtitles. Still, even with my elementary-level English (I can say things like ''Hi~ How are you? I''m fine, and you?'') I did fine, so you will too! Don''t be discouraged if you''re not good at English. They''re native speakers and we are not, after all!At first it can be really hard to adapt. Volunteering itself doesn''t require much English so that''s fine, but as I said most volunteers are from Europe or native English speakers, so the speed of conversation is really fast and accents vary, making it hard to get used to.
There were friends who, when I couldn''t answer and spaced out after being asked something several times, kindly repeated it very slowly and clearly, so I could stammer through and use every word I knew to keep the conversation going. There were occasionally volunteers who looked down on you for not being good at English, but I ignored them too. You don''t have to be friends with every volunteer, right? Haha.
Also, due to Europeans'' tendencies toward individualism and independence, unlike in Korea, they won''t necessarily look after a new volunteer, so that can be surprising.It can feel a bit like being left to your own devicesIf you follow the cues—joining when volunteers have parties or go into the city—and gradually increase the time you spend together, you''ll slowly adapt.
Don''t try to adapt too quickly from the very beginning; think of time as the answer and try not to be too impatient. Don''t throw yourself into volunteer work too intensely like a ''Korean-style'' approach.Enjoy some leisure, don''t just run forward with your eyes fixed ahead; pay attention to your surroundings too.Keep in mind that volunteering is not the goal itself, but that you came here to spend a gap year.
That''s why, personally, I recommend doing this volunteer program for more than four weeks! When I went for a short term, I had only just started getting to know and become close with the kids, and I felt like I returned before I could become really close and have more fun with them.
The same goes for the foreign volunteers. At first, because I spent weekends traveling here and there according to my own plans, I couldn''t get very close with the foreign volunteers. I heard foreign volunteers stay for about 6 to 9 months, so they''d already done many things and traveled around; their schedules didn''t match well with mine, who found everything novel at first. (I had to visit all the places I wanted within two weeks.) Other volunteers usually spent their time like locals—casually drinking beer in the city or going to the pool and relaxing. So I thought that if I had gone long-term from the start, I could have adjusted my personal schedule and maybe had more fun with the other volunteers like the locals.
Of course you''d also be forced to keep hearing English, and to survive you''d have to keep speaking English, so I think your English would probably improve more lol. Right now it feels like I only got used to the accents. In fact, until the day I left, some European volunteers with strong accents spoke so quickly that I couldn''t tell whether they were speaking English or their own language (there were volunteers from the same country), which was frustrating.
I took a weekend trip to Mui Ne by myself and it was really great!! A completely different place from Ho Chi Minh—quiet, clean, and relaxing!!! If you stay in Ho Chi Minh, you must visit Mui Ne at least once!!!!!
It took about 6 hours by bus one way from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne (I hesitated at first because it was far, but I would have really regretted not going!!). The bus fare was super cheap, around 6,000 won, and for accommodation I prefer a single room so I budgeted around 10,000 won, but if you use a guest room it''s about 3,000–4,000 won per night which is really cheap! Even if you go to the best restaurant there and order a bunch of dishes until you''re full, you can eat plenty of seafood and fruit juice for less than 10,000 won!
After returning from my gap year I''m still a working person dealing with the same reality, but mentally I feel much more at ease. And I was able to once again awaken the passion and adventurous spirit of my youth!
And through this,I think the biggest change is that my life gained a bit of breathing room and I made unforgettable, truly precious experiences and memories.
It was a time to rediscover the truly precious things I had forgotten while being worn down by reality: about myself, about the people around me, and about the work I''m doing.
And one more thing: I really need to study English harder lol. In Korea I didn''t have many occasions to use English, so I always wanted to but put it off because I was lazy or tired. I thought that if I had been a bit better at English, I could have spent time in a bigger world doing more and having more fun.
When I used to travel I thought ''this is fine'', but going abroad as something other than a tourist gave me a different experience and feeling!! For a while I plan to take vacations or go abroad more for projects and various activities rather than just travel. I''m still young!! Today is the youngest day of the life I''ll live from now on, so I want to take on many challenges and broaden my horizons while I''m still young, even if only for one more day :)
My gap year is
Experience ★★★★★
Since it was my first time doing volunteer work overseas and living with foreign friends, every single day was a new experience. When else in my life will I ever have an experience like this? I really think deciding to do it when I did was the best decision of my life!!!!
Learning★★★★☆
I volunteered at a center for children with disabilities. Most of the activities were playing with the kids or feeding them, so there wasn’t anything hugely educational, but I liked that I could learn how facilities for children with disabilities are run and how international NGO operations work.
I also had some preconceived notions about disabilities, but seeing the children always smiling brightly, enjoying people, and approaching others without hesitation made me rethink that.
Environment★★★★☆
The dorm was very clean and comfortable, fully equipped with everything needed, and they provided delicious meals, so there was no discomfort staying there! I deducted one star because the dorm is a bit far from the city ^^;
Safety★★★☆☆
When I visited Vietnam before, there were so many pickpockets that I couldn’t take out my phone on the street, but it seems like public safety has improved a lot since then!
Still, you should always be careful when crossing the street or using your phone on the road, and keep your bag worn in front of you at all times! Local organizations and volunteers who have been here longer always warn about pickpockets.
Also, there are so many motorbikes in Vietnam and the traffic signal system isn’t well organized, so always be careful when crossing the road. If you don’t do risky things yourself, you shouldn’t run into major problems.
Leisure★★★★★
Morning and afternoon activities each last between 1.5 and 2 hours, so the daily schedule isn’t too tight. If you stick to the activity times, the rest of the time is free to relax. A weekly schedule is announced, and if you want a day off or a longer vacation, you can talk with the local staff and adjust the schedule freely, so you can fully enjoy your leisure time.
Also, because the cost of living is so low, you can do many different activities during your free time that you might not be able to do in Korea!
What makes this project special
