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#Broadened horizons, developed thinking #Experience of communal living #Felt the joy of new interactions
-Living one month at a Danish folk high school in Denmark, ranked #1 on the World Happiness Index Kim Jin-young, gap-year traveller/gapper / 4-week gap year
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# It was a place I definitely wanted to visit at least once.
I majored in Political Science and Diplomacy at university and am very interested in community and democracy. This interest led me to be curious about the social systems of the Nordic countries, and the project appealed to me for that reason.
Folk high schools are educational institutions mainly found in the Nordics, and when they first appeared in Denmark their goal was to enlighten rural children and educate them about democratic values—teaching the values of being Danish and how to live together in a community. The fact that they still fulfill this role excellently made it a place I definitely wanted to visit.It was.
From my perspective, folk high schools seem to contribute greatly to maintaining these values in the Nordics and in Denmark, and because I wanted to experience this firsthand I applied for this project.
My goal for the gap year was to experience the folk high school''s methods of operation and the principles of community management with my whole body. Therefore, for one month I participated in as many events and activities at the folk high school as possible, naturally becoming part of the community and
by becoming part of this community I wanted to find out what sense of belonging I would feel and what feelings I could gain from it.
And I feel I was somewhat successful in that.
# I was able to experience ways of getting close to and interacting with people without alcohol.
The folk high school I attended is somewhat unusual among such schools. Most folk high schools in Denmark are made up of 70–90% Danish students, and only a few are recognized as international folk high schools and therefore have higher proportions of foreign students than others.
The students at the folk high school are mostly foreigners, and they are called not students but volunteers
(Development Instructors). Their education doesn''t stop at learning inside the school; they are dispatched to countries such as Malawi in Africa and India to gain experience carrying out projects directly related to improving water supply and educational volunteering.
During the month I spent at the folk high school as a short-term volunteer (Work-Away), I worked in the promotion office promoting the school to Koreans.
Because it had not been long since the folk high school began accepting Koreans into its short-term and long-term volunteer programs, I introduced the school''s programs and overall way of life through a blog and promoted the programs of the folk high school where I stayed via Facebook and other social media.
The folk high school I attended is a beautiful place located in the middle of nature. A 30–40 minute bike ride will get you to a small town, but within at least a 1 km radius of the school there are more cows than people.
This peaceful place has its advantages, but if you''re not careful it can be so lonely you might feel like trying to talk to the cows. Still, I had no time to be lonely during my stay here. (This doesn''t mean I was working overtime all the time.)
The folk high school runs various activities every day to maintain the community, and these activities include necessary tasks for the upkeep of the school such as group work and deep cleaning, as well as events like cultural nights, sports days, and the People''s Café that strengthen community bonds and promote cultural exchangeThere are many such activities.
By taking part in these activities every week, a month flew by and I was able to experience ways of getting to know and interact with people without alcohol.
# They make accommodations so that, even if a process takes a little longer, everyone can participate.
Although I only stayed here for one month, by doing my best to become part of the community during that time I was able to experience the school''s methods of operation and community principles firsthand.
This place At the folk high school, people acknowledge that no one is perfect and always cooperate to accomplish things; if mistakes occur in the process, they encourage one another rather than point them out and work together to think of ways to improve.It is.
Regardless of the activity, they accommodate so that everyone can participate even if the process is somewhat slow. I felt that because this atmosphere is commonly practiced in the community''s daily life, such a self-sustaining community can be maintained without major trouble.
Personally, by visiting other folk high schools I was able to meet many different schools and people with similar interests. Through them I could reflect on the meaning of education, the problems in our society, and the differences between us and the Nordic countries, but it seems I will have to keep pondering clear solutions to these issues.
My gap year
Experience★★★★★
Above all, the experience of living in the community unique to the citizen university was incredibly refreshing, and I also enjoyed other experiences I had after arriving here (participating in an alternative party''s activities, visiting other civic schools, attending Korean church gatherings, etc.).
Learning★★★★★
Since I went as a short-term volunteer, I didn''t really learn anything new in practical terms. However, I think I was able to develop the basic mindset, values, and consideration needed to live in such a community.
Environment★★★★☆
The area is surrounded by nature, so the air is clean and beautiful, but supermarkets and other modern conveniences are located quite far away. Still, that was fine because life in this community was very fulfilling.
Safety★★★★★
All the dorm rooms here are generally given keys, but in my case I hardly ever locked my room. It''s very safe because there aren''t many people living near the campus grounds and there is an atmosphere of mutual consideration.
Leisure★★★★★
Twenty-five hours per week feels shorter than I expected. Since there is a lot of free time, how you use it is also important.
