I felt like life became a little more enjoyable. Like anything in life, there are many pros and cons, but if you want to have a really good time in Seoul, make foreign friends, or are interested in guesthouses, I recommend this project.
- Seoul Gap Year Stay / Kim Yoo-jung gap-year family gapper / 8-week gap year |
#I felt that my life became richer.
Hello, I''m a 25-year-old job seeker. Over three months every day felt new and I experienced a range of emotions.
After my internship ended, I decided to continue job hunting in Seoul. But the financial burden from rent and food was heavy, and while worrying about this I found this project. Since I wanted to prepare for employment in a fun way, staying at a guesthouse seemed like a good idea.
Through this gap year,I wanted to prepare for employment enjoyably by meeting people rather than being stressed and depressed doing it alone.
At first I only worked twice a week and spent the rest studying for job preparation. But as time passed I became close with the staff and it was so much fun partying with guests in the evenings that I started going out frequently.
But I absolutely do not regret it! I was able to make many memories and use a lot of English.Eating a variety of foods, drinking, and having many conversations, I felt my life became richer.
I became really close with friends from Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, France, and Mexico. They were friends who stayed for more than two weeks and knew a lot about Korea. If you approach long-term guests first, they can become really good friends! Short-term guests tend to leave when you try to get close, so it''s hard to maintain deep relationships.
On weekends I worked part-time and was able to build other connections, and through various study groups I met many college students to study with. However, on days off I was always studying and doing part-time work in Gangnam, so between transportation costs and how much I went out... I spent a lot of money.. haha
#You need not only English but also a proactive attitude in approaching people.
Another advantage is the location. It''s in Hongdae, which has many restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, cosmetics shops—everything you need for daily life. At the same time, the guesthouse is located behind an elementary school, so it''s not noisy. It''s a very good location for long-term living.
Since chit‑chatting in the guesthouse living room is even prohibited after 11, you have to go out, and there are many great places to have fun.There are so many delicious places that I regret not being able to try them all.
When working, the day''s routine starts with cleaning and ends with cleaning. It starts at 8 AM by going up to the living room and emptying the trash bins. After emptying the bins on the 3rd and 4th floors and cleaning the toilets and sinks, we prepare breakfast. From 9 to 10 we eat breakfast with the guests and check today''s check-ins and check-outs. At 10 we finish breakfast, tidy the kitchen, and see off all the check-out guests by 11.
From 11, we completely straighten the bedding of the check-out guests and also prepare the beds for incoming check-ins. All towels and bedding are washed. Because there''s only one washer and one dryer, washing and drying one set of bedding takes about three hours... (it''s hell).
Once the bedding is done, vacuuming and mopping the floors brings it to around 1 to 2 PM. You make lunch in 30 minutes and then clean windows, clean the toilets, clean the bathrooms, tidy the kitchen, and clean the rooftop, etc. You keep cleaning, accept check-in guests, run the laundry, and then clean the trash bins again.
You also have to post content to the blog and Facebook. We finish all tasks by 9:30. Our next staff say they also take Yeongshim for walks morning and evening. It seems to take about 40 minutes... You can see how the guesthouse operates firsthand~!
Some foreigners'' accents were very easy to understand, but others were really hard to understand. I constantly felt the need to study English and was motivated. You don''t have to be extremely good, but if you can''t handle daily conversational English it might be a problem. When I first started working, a foreigner asked a question and I didn''t understand well, so I had to ask three times.
As a staff member, basic English skills are necessary to respond properly. Thankfully, aside from that guest, I could understand all the questions. To become more than staff and become friends, you need to have many more conversations, so English is more important than you might think.
At first foreigners will talk with you, but if you hit a limit you can''t have deeper and more conversations, so you won''t be able to stay in contact.You need not only English but also a proactive attitude in approaching people.
#My gap year tips
(Language)
Although the project description emphasized enthusiasm so much that English ability was rated only one star, it seems you need fairly good English to work at a guesthouse. Accommodation payments are handled through agencies and via various methods such as cash and card, and you need to make these payment options clear to foreign guests.
Also, guests make various requests and ask questions, and since staff have to handle them alone, you need to be able to listen and understand. Because guests come from many countries, their English doesn’t always sound like CNN—so listening and speaking skills are necessary. If there’s a manual you could probably just memorize it, but to become friends with foreigners at a guesthouse you need a certain level of listening and speaking ability.
(Accommodation)
If there’s no room available, sometimes you might sleep in the same room as a male guest. This may be no problem if you have overseas experience or are open-minded, but if this makes you uncomfortable you should clearly express that to the owner.
(Meals)
Since you have to buy everything from rice to meat, be sure to discuss purchases with the other staff you live with.
(What to bring)
If your stay isn’t long, storage won’t be a big problem. In winter coats are heavy and many, and because there was no separate hanger or wardrobe I hung them on the bed rail, but this seems likely to improve.
(For prospective participants)
This is an ideal place to make foreign friends. Highly recommended if you really want to make global friends.
Meals and lodging are provided, but because you work for them and spend a lot of time eating and hanging out with foreigners, you’ll need personal spending money for leisure.
# My Seoul travel spots
I spent most of my time around Hongdae (Hapjeong, Sangsu, Yeonnam-dong) and Gangnam. Both areas are so commercially developed that there are many great places to eat. Go out and eat a lot~!!!
# I felt my life became a bit more enjoyable.
I was able to make more foreign friends in three months here than in six months abroad.Before and after participating, I discovered that I enjoy hanging out with people much more than I thought.I felt life became more enjoyable.
As with anything, there are many pros and cons, but if you want to have a great time in Seoul, make foreign friends, or are very interested in guesthouses, I recommend this project!
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
It makes you reflect on relationships and lets you make many foreign friends.
Learning★★☆☆☆
There''s not much to learn. Maybe just cooking skills.
Environment★★★☆☆
A bed that''s comfortable for sleeping, the big advantage of being in Hongdae; minus 2 points because of household items and strict rules.
Safety★★★★☆
The owner frequently checks the CCTV, but since there''s no separate key for each room, it sometimes feels uneasy.
Leisure★★★☆☆
Twice a week you have to stay inside all day, and sometimes they call meetings even on days you are not scheduled to work.
