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#Experienced Jeju Island more deeply #Formed relationships with various people #Realized the value of effort
They say leaving home brings hardships — some inconvenience is natural wherever you go, so consider that part of the experience. I recommend this to those who want to live in Jeju.It''s not two months, it''s just one month~You can see, hear, and feel as much as you put effort into. -Jeju! I want to live there — gap year stay / Jeungeun-ah gap-year group/gapper / 8-week gap year |
I was able to feel Jeju deeply.
I wanted to live for a certain period rather than just travel. So through this gap year I wanted to fully experience Jeju in my own way. Looking back now...Above all, as with any trip,I met many different people (similar and different), and by forming relationships with the locals I was able to feel Jeju more deeply.
There are so many places to go in Jeju~
I planned to some extent in advance and went around busily, revising my plans every night! I read information about traveling in Jeju over and over, and when I asked myself, ''They say this is good, but would I like it too?'' it helped me decide where to go.
Since there are so many places in Jeju~ start with the spots you absolutely must visit this time!You can wander aimlessly and still have a good time, but since time is limited, the more you research, the more experiences you''ll get. Personally I strongly recommend Munseom scuba diving, climbing Hallasan, and night squid boat fishing.
These are things you can only do in Jeju! Also, island tours, horseback riding on the beach, and attending beach music festivals were fun.I was so excited that I wandered around so much at the start that I nearly wore myself out.By the last week I was counting the days until returning home and practically hopping between cafés..
A day in Jeju
When I did staff work alone, I mostly worked in the morning, and once others arrived we adjusted between mornings and afternoons. When there was a lot to do in the morning, the owner helped. There were days when guests arrived all at once and it was tough, but mostly it was manageable. Check-out is at 11, but guests usually left early, so I started work at 8 or 9 and finished early to go out.
In the morning it was cleaning checked-out rooms/bathrooms, changing bedding/towels and doing laundry/drying, vacuuming, and mopping the floor. In the afternoon, according to the day of the week, taking out recyclables, disposing of paid garbage bags and food waste, informing guests of guidelines when they arrive, and turning off the lights at 10.
Work is easier in the afternoon, but you have to wait around for a long time.Cleaning itself wasn''t particularly difficult, but mold was the most bothersome. Perhaps because Jeju is humid, there was mold in many places and it smelled (you stop noticing it once you get used to it). Maybe because there was no ventilation fan, you have to spray a lot of bleach when cleaning the bathroom, and mold even grew inside the closet, which was hard to remove...
RustThere are also many rusty spots, and I think a large-scale cleaning is needed. Dust the blinds, wash all the curtains... It''s definitely not an easy task!
Impression of the guesthouse owner!
They''re cool-natured and considerate, trying not to give you too much work.You can also get travel tips. They''ll let you take vacation on the days you want. If you time it right for lunch and dinner you can save on food costs and try Jeju home-cooked meals. We ate out a few times too. There are two elementary-school boys and one girl, and all three are cute.
They pay a lot of attention to the older siblings, so you can become close quickly. I didn''t play with them much, using tiredness as an excuse... (sorry)
Impression of the accommodation!
This was the most unsatisfactory part. My room was right next to the shoe rack and entrance, so I was sometimes awakened by people moving around, and even with the door locked I was afraid someone might open it and come in during the first few days because the entrance was always open. You could hear car noise loudly outside the window and the blinds didn''t block the light well, so I slept every day wearing earplugs and an eye mask. In general the rooms'' windows don''t open well, making ventilation difficult, and my room was like that too.
But leaving the door open wasn’t an option because too many mosquitoes would come in (the mosquitoes in Jeju really seem to love me haha), so I just lived with the mindset of ''I''ll hang on a bit.'' Also, I used the shared bathroom/shower and it was inconvenient. Maybe I''m being too tidy, but there were cobwebs with spiders crawling on them here and there, mold was common, and people kept using the toilet without flushing... They had shampoo, conditioner, body cleanser, soap, and facial foam cleanser, but there was no hair dryer.
It was a hassle to have to bring one from the guest room, so I just didn''t dry my hair. The room had everything needed — a two-tier metal bed, hangers, drawers, and an air conditioner — but it felt like a cramped inner room. The bed was uncomfortable... So on days I wanted to rest I felt claustrophobic and went out to relax at a café.
# My personal gap-year TIP
(Language)
There weren''t many foreign guests. A few groups who spoke English came, but your English level doesn''t really matter~
(Accommodation)
Of course I wasn''t expecting hotel-level standards, but the room I stayed in was less comfortable and less clean than I expected. It''s not unlivable — just something you can put up with.
(Meals)
If you just make it in time for meals, you can save money and eat the owner''s homemade Jeju home-cooked food~
(What to bring)
You can do laundry every day, so you don''t need to bring many clothes.
(To prospective participants)
You''ll be able to have as rich a time as you put effort into and want. After checking lots of information, reorganize it to match your travel style and have a fulfilling time!
# You''ll see, hear, and feel as much as you put in effort.
One of the things that surprised me at first was that the kitchen and living room were generally messy. I didn''t even know where to start fixing it... Still, aside from my complaints about the room, I was satisfied. Living in Jeju with a Jeju family, I got to hear stories about the island and learned the dialect...
Although the guesthouse is about a 20-minute walk to the bus terminal, it''s still convenient for using public transport. Thanks to everyone who helped me make good, one-of-a-kind memories^^ Leaving home involves hardship, so some discomfort is to be expected anywhere — consider it an experience, and I recommend it to those who want to live in Jeju.
It''s not two months, it''s one month~You can see, hear, and feel as much as you put in effort.
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