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#Increased independence, confidence, and proactiveness #Affection for animals #Felt growth throughout my whole being
They especially speak so beautifully. The staff lady who went out to get ice cream with me when I arrived said, "From now on, when I eat ice cream while looking at the sea, I''ll think of you," and on the last day it poured rain; one of the staff said, "Heaven is crying today for you because it''s your last day of volunteering."Every single thing they say warms my heart! -Rescuing rare wild animals injured in body and mind in Singapore / Park Sejin — gap-year participant / 4-week gap year |
# For starters, I decided to volunteer.
My name is Park Sejin. I went to high school in China and graduated this year, and I applied for a one-year gap year before going to university in the UK. I''m a student planning to major in film!
Thinking about how to make a year meaningful, I''ll travel, work part-time, and do various things, but...For now, I decided to do volunteer work.So after my graduation exams ended I had a gap-year project consultation, and because I said I liked animals and wanted to do related volunteer work, the project they recommended to me was ''''Rescuing rare wild animals injured in body and mind in Singapore''..
# The biggest goals of my gap year were independence, confidence, and initiative.
I had never been away from home for a long time, so I was very worried about that. But one of the reasons I''m taking a gap year is that when I go to study abroad I''ll have to be separated from my family for a long time, and I wanted to prepare for that, so I thought of this as a preparatory process and decided to stay for a month.
Before leaving I read the materials given by Korea Gap Year, got my vaccinations, and packed while asking about what I needed. Honestly, I had so many worries that I postponed preparing for coming to Singapore as long as possible to avoid thinking about it, but that was really not good. Coming in such a vague state made the beginning a bit difficult. For mental preparation, I think I just kept thinking, "It''ll work out somehow!"
# The biggest goals of my gap year were independence, confidence, and initiative.Since I''d hardly ever lived on my own, I needed the self-reliance to take care of myself. Because I moved between China and Korea and attended various kinds of schools from a young age, the environment kept changing,I was always shrinking and trying to fit myself to the environment, watching others'' reactions, so I needed confidence to live more proudly. I also wanted to interact with people and work more proactively.I think I gained these three things to some extent through this program.
# A day in Singapore
I usually wake up around 8 or 8:30, wash, eat breakfast, and get ready. If I go to work around 9:30, the day usually starts with cleaning the turtle enclosure. After cleaning the turtle enclosure, feeding them, and noting whether they''re eating, it''s 1 o''clock. Then we have lunch and take a short break.
From 2pm the tasks change day to day: we scoop out leftover food from the aquatic turtles, spray water on the iguanas, clean the birds'' cages and feed them. After working until 5, we have dinner, take showers, and have free time.
# I naturally grew more affection for the animals.
One of the best things was that I came to really like animals.I generally liked animals, but honestly I wasn''t very interested in reptiles and at first I was a bit scared because I heard turtles bite. Later, I found the turtles so cute, the iguanas so charming, and the snakes so beautiful.
Of course the best were the monkeys. They were really adorable! No one ever forced any particular way of thinking about animals, but...While working and observing rescues, I heard explanations about various facts regarding animals, broke down prejudices, and by caring for animals that are hard to encounter in everyday life, I naturally developed more affection for them.
# Experiencing it firsthand and hearing about it directly made it really resonate with me.
I also happened to go to the Eco Film Festival with others, and the documentary about the effects of carbon dioxide on the ocean (about the adverse effects on animals when acidity increases) left a strong impression on me.
While having dinner with the staff sisters, one of their friends seemed to work for an environmental organization, and...Just listening to people who care about the environment talk while eating was educational. I was interested in the environment and loved animals, but it had felt vague.Experiencing it firsthand and hearing it directly made it resonate with me much more.
# When it comes to animals, if I had to pick the two most touching episodes
Actually, I was upset in ways I hadn''t expected and also unexpectedly moved. I didn''t know so many turtles would cross the rainbow bridge; from my very first day working there we had to send quite a few off, which was upsetting. On the last day, a turtle that had been in a sort of ICU and then moved to a relatively healthy enclosure got worse again and passed away — that was really heartbreaking.On the other hand, once I found turtle eggs and was so happy.
Regarding the two most touching animal-related episodes: first, we took a baby monkey that had been abandoned by its group and, before releasing it into the wild, tried to give it a guardian by placing it in the same enclosure as an adult monkey and slowly encouraging them to get close.
When I first arrived they were awkward with each other, but now the adult monkey completely carries the baby around and protects it. That process,The sight of two creatures who had nothing to do with each other becoming a family was, I would say, wondrous.
There were also two dogs here that were said to bite people and were not supposed to be touched.But one of them asked me to pet it a few days earlier. After watching them for nearly a month, maybe I was no longer unfamiliar to it — when I stroked it, it didn''t bite. That was quite moving.Just as this place had gradually become part of my routine, I had the feeling here too that I was being gradually accepted.
# Personally, I think it was a time when I could really grow a lot.
AndI think it was a time when I could really grow personally as well.I used to be a very worrisome person. I was anxious about the future and, when doing anything, I worried about the resulting consequences. At home and at school I was the eldest and in the highest grade, and then suddenly becoming the youngest, I realized it was okay if I still made mistakes,I felt strongly that I was young enough to be more devoted to the present than the future and to take on challenges.
Taking care of myself alone strengthened my independence, andbeing away from school and coming to an environment where I didn''t have to be evaluated gave me a lot more confidence.Since it was an environment where I met new people almost every day,I became much less shy.
One big reason I had been shy was that I had a strong desire to always be loved, so when I went into a new environment I acted defensively until I could judge what kind of person the other person was. Because I didn''t know how I should behave to be loved, I hesitated to show myself as I was until I''d figured the other person out. But the people here really didn''t care about others'' opinions and didn''t try to judge anyone.
That was really nice. I thought it would be great if these people loved me, but even if they didn''t, it didn''t matter.I stopped trying to package or dress myself up. I think I simply tried, like these people, not to worry about what others thought.Of course I haven''t become completely close with everyone here, but for me just not being afraid to mingle with unfamiliar people feels like a big improvement.
I just developed that mindset, like gradually blending in.I''m me, and I''m a good enough person. Don''t try so hard to be loved by others — let''s show ourselves as we are.I may still have shortcomings, but I feel much more at ease.
# People I met locally
I can''t write about everyone I met, but I met so many people and each one is a precious connection. The staff, the volunteers, even my roommate— they will probably remain memorable.I was worried about whether I''d be emotionally hurt because of people, but I wondered how they managed to gather only such wonderful people; it was really great.Actually I posted the detailed stories on my blog, so I don''t know how much detail I should write here.. haha
One thing I want to say is that my memories of the country called Singapore will probably be very good. Even though I only stayed for a month, I have so many memories and places that bring back memories because I met nice people and visited wonderful places.CheoFrom the taxi driver I rode with to the volunteers who joined me for the final rescue activity, everyone was warm and kind, so I think they will remain memorable.
They especially speak so beautifully. The staff lady who went out with me to have ice cream said, "From now on, when I eat ice cream while looking at the sea, I''ll think of you," and on the last day it poured rain; a staff member said, "Heaven is crying today for you because it''s your last day of volunteering."Each and every word they say seems to warm my heart!
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