Busan — A Place I'd Like to Live in at Least Once! Gap Year Stay Review

Author: Jeong Daun
Country / City: Asia/South Korea/Seoul
Views : 2217

#Reduced tendency to compare myself to others; stress relieved #Met great people #Felt calm and that my thoughts became organized

During the one month I was away briefly, small changes occurred.I stopped trying to compare myself to others over every little thing, and the habit of worrying excessively in advance also diminished. Also, streI learned how to relieve stress.To meThe one-month gap year stay emptied my mind, reduced my stress, and broadened the direction and scope of my thinking.

-OneBusan — a place I''d like to live in at least once! Gap-year stay / friendly gap-year tribe gapper / 8 weeks of gap year

# I thought that to live a life I can be satisfied with, I need to know ''myself''.

The gap year stay was an escape and refuge for me, tired from two years of preparing for employment. I had prepared for employment for a long time and became deeply self-critical as I grew discouraged. I thought I had been doing well, but the results weren''t good and I thought it had been wrong from the start. The situation of needing to get a job didn''t change and somewhat more I thought that in order to live a life I can be satisfied with, I must know ''myself''.

At that time I remembered a friend who had experienced a gap year stay. The friend I saw had become someone who challenged themselves without fear, different from before, so I decided to participate in a gap year stay to empty my weary heart for a while and make a new resolution.

For one month I wanted to completely get away from my surroundings and go to a new environment.I worried about how much I could change in a short time and how much I could feel and return with, but I was actually too tired to accomplish anything more, so It didn''t take me long to decide to take a gap year.

Through this gap year I wanted to change my negative thoughts and my hurried, anxious mind. My goal was to have time alone and to adopt a broader, more positive attitude.

# "Neomura"

First of all, my greatest worry was my relationship with the guesthouse staff. At first, my shy personality made me feel very awkward, which was a problem. But I was able to put that worry aside immediately. From the first day, the manager (older sister) told various anecdotes, eased my tension, and helped me adapt well to the guesthouse.

The older brother who worked during the evening helped break the awkwardness by watching variety shows and eating dinner together, and the friend who worked on weekends I didn''t see often, but they were the same age and always greeted me cheerfully so it wasn''t awkward. The father, mother, and aunt who worked with me during cleaning time were all good people.

The father had a strong dialect so there were many times I couldn''t understand him and would just get past it with an awkward ''he..h'' laugh, but after spending some time, even if I couldn''t catch the dialect nuances, I could understand what he meant from context. Also,I found it amusing that I was trying to guess the dialect.

After I finished cleaning the downstairs that I was in charge of, I would go to help the father and mother upstairs, but they always refused, so I wondered if they disliked me. However, I think the father was also being awkward. As time passed, every morning he would make iced coffee and wear a bright smile, saying ''Just coming here makes me sleepy.'' On the last day — which I didn''t realize would be the last — the father nonchalantly He said ''neo mura'' and gave me five instant mix coffees; I was really grateful and touched.

I wanted to buy something delicious for them even if it was small, but I had to rush back the next day so I was very disappointed. The aunt always showed consideration by saying ''You''re tired, I''ll do this'' and didn''t hesitate to compliment me, saying ''Do you know you really work well?''

I think I worked harder to look good in the eyes of the aunt who saw me favorably.Although it was a short period of less than a month, I grew fond of them, and it hurt my heart that I couldn''t see everyone''s faces and say goodbye. I''ll go back to Busan later and stay as a guest for a day to properly say goodbye.

# I think the gap year made me calmer and able to think more broadly.

Looking back on the gap year stay, the best part was meeting good people. I learned a lot from the manager sister, whose personality was very different from mine, and having a lot of time alone was good for organizing my thoughts.

Also, I like taking photos, so every night before falling asleep I picked the next day''s travel destination, enjoyed it slowly, and was glad to be able to take many photos I liked.My always hurried and anxious mind became calmer and I gained an attitude that can think more broadly through the gap year.

# I was so happy just wandering around with only my camera bag and two tripods.

I decided to put aside my constant thoughts about getting a job for a while and travel while taking photos I love.The staff activity hours were only a few hours in the morning, so there was plenty of time to roam around Busan. I went alone to a cafe in the crowded Seomyeon, ate at Haeundae Market, and fell asleep every night searching for the next day''s destinations.

I was so happy just wandering around with only my camera bag and two tripods.It was also fun to set a timer and run around. Over the month I visited Seomyeon, Jeonpo, Gwangalli, Haeundae, Dadaepo, Mipo railway, Dalmaji-gil, Oryukdo Skywalk, Oryukdo Sunrise Park, Choryang Ibagu-gil, Gamcheon Culture Village, and Daegu (Kim Gwang-seok-gil, E-World, Seomun Market).

When I wasn''t out exploring, I would take walks at Haeundae right in front or work on my laptop in cafes. There were many other places I wanted to visit but couldn''t because I left in a hurry. I''ll jot down the places I want to go for later. Anyway, while traveling I put my earphones away to enjoy the places as they were and feel them slowly without worrying about what others thought.

After returning from trips I would look through the photos I took, post them on my blog, and organize them neatly. I''m currently making a photobook from the photos. I think photos let you recall and feel the situation again. I may not be a photographer, but I love taking pictures!

# My gap year TIP

(Language)
There are many foreign guests at guesthouses, so it would be good to have a decent level of English to socialize with them. Maybe basic conversational skills?

(Accommodation)
Due to the nature of guesthouses, soundproofing is poor. Lights-out time is set, but some guests come back late, so earplugs are essential. Also, living with other guests can be uncomfortable.

(Meals)
Meals are eaten together with guesthouse staff or alone. Since we sometimes cook together, it''s good to know some basic cooking, but if you don''t, you can help out and do it together. ^.^

(What to bring)
Most guesthouses have lounges open until 10 pm and lights-out at midnight. It''s good to bring a laptop, books, or things to pass the time. A bath basket is convenient because you have to carry things to and from the shower. Towels were provided by the guesthouse, but they became a bit fuzzy after washing and were somewhat uncomfortable. It''s good to bring two towels separately.

(For prospective participants)
It may vary by guesthouse, but some places have only one gap year staff member. My friend had many fellow gap year staff and they went around together, but I had a lot of time alone. I think you''ll adapt faster if you learn the guesthouse''s atmosphere and characteristics.

# My Busan spots

During my gap year I visited Busan areas such as Haeundae, Gwangalli, Dadaepo, Gamcheon Culture Village, Choryang Ibagu-gil, Oryukdo Skywalk, Dalmaji-gil, Mipo railway, Seomyeon, Jeonpo cafe street, and Kyungsung University area. One day I took an express bus and went to Daegu as well, where I toured E-World, Kim Gwang-seok-gil, and Seomun Market.

Daegu takes about an hour and a half from Sasang intercity bus terminal, so it''s a good destination for a day trip. My top recommendations are Dadaepo Beach and Oryukdo. Dadaepo Beach is also famous for its sunsets. You don''t actually go onto Oryukdo; you can view it from the Skywalk or the nearby Sunrise Park. You can see a breathtaking scene where the wide sea, islands, and trees harmoniously create a magnificent view.

# A small change happened during the month I was away.

A small change happened during the month I was away.I stopped comparing myself to others one by one, and my habit of worrying too much in advance decreased. I also learned ways to relieve stress.

Actually, the manager sister played the biggest role in making me feel this way. Her values or personality were very different from mine, and I learned a lot from that. I was too shy to say this, but anyway, that''s how it was for me.The one-month gap year stay cleared my head, reduced my stress, and broadened and expanded the direction and scope of my thinking.