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#Learned how to discover things on my own #Met people from a variety of professions #Felt a sense of romance and enjoyment
Sometimes I feel like my gap year might not be an end but a beginning! I''m grateful to the only two people in my cohort who comforted me, saying it''s okay to take a break and it''s not too late,Thank you to everyone who created this precious time and space that allowed me to make a good decision.I hope that somehow another great project like this can be created!
- Paris Gap Year Stay / Lee Goeun, gap-year family gapper / 8-week gap year |
# I applied because I wanted to take a break and find out what kind of work I want to do.
I was really tired of working, and before changing jobs, I wanted to...I applied because I wanted to take a break and find out what I want to do.
Through this gap year,I set off aiming to meet various people, think about what kind of work I might do, and have some time alone.
# The two months I thought would be ample turned out to be quite short.
I actually heard that a lot in the gap year interviews, and since it''s a place where you go to work, I prepared myself for it not to be as easy as I thought, but I think I stumbled around a bit more than I expected.
So while working, I felt both gratitude and regret toward the owner, the aunt, and the staff I worked with; those feelings kept lingering. I didn''t think it would be long, but still...The two months I thought would be ample turned out to be quite short.With that thought, above all I''m really sad to part from the people who felt like family.
# Because my personal time increased a lot, I was able to sightsee around Paris.
The hardest part during the initial probation was not being able to go out for 10 days. I arrived in Paris, took the metro from the airport straight to the lodging, and without even seeing the Eiffel Tower or central Paris, my probation was full of a constant desire to go outside.
Because I was so frustrated, the owner—though not showing it—was considerate: they let me explore the neighborhood during short free times and gave me errands like going to the nearby market or buying a nice lunch so I could get some fresh air. That helped me get through the probation. Still, the first outing with Heewon was like honey and really fun! It''s such a shame I lost all the joyful photos from that day because of a phone repair.
After the probation ended, for about a month there were small things I inevitably missed, and the aunt helped and taught me a lot, for which I''m grateful.Also, the owner patiently watched over me and pointed out my shortcomings, giving me time to steadily correct them.Above all, the restriction on going out that was hardest during probation eased as my working hours became shorter and...Because my personal time increased a lot and I could sightsee around Paris, there were precious moments that motivated me to work hard again.
# I felt that they were worried I might get hurt.
I feel like I learned a lot while working. It''s ultimately my responsibility to continuously fix, change, and pioneer things, but still...I hope that when I do something or take action later, I can pause and decide once more because of this experience.
Also, strolling through Paris during staff work, sharing many stories and memories with people from various professions, learning how to deal with and wait on picky customers, seeing the Eiffel Tower during the Bastille Day fireworks (said to be the most beautiful)—there are so many pleasant memories. Personally, I really liked ''Kim Je-dong Talk to In Paris'' that the owner thoughtfully introduced.
I was in a similar situation, so I could empathize a lot,and though it''s faint, it was a time that added one more option to my career path, so I think about it often.The gap year coordinator told me the owner is a bit tsundere. I got the impression that while he is blunt like me, he tells and helps people in a way that considers them and helps them realize things, and I was grateful for that.
Even though I''m thirty and not that young, I made quite a few big and small mistakes, and each time there were things that, since I was an outsider, weren''t easy to explain precisely—but out of a wish that things would improve and be okay...He taught me so I could realize things on my own, and at the same time I felt he was concerned that telling me directly might hurt me.
# My personal gap year tip
(Language)
If you go out and try to live like a local, having basic French would have made it more enjoyable. I regret not learning French because I prepared in a hurry.
(Accommodation)
The room is a bit damp and dark, but it becomes cozy once you get used to it. However, it''s an irresistibly sleepy room — if you rest there even a little, you''ll keep falling asleep!!!
(Meals)
The hostess cooked so deliciously that I ate much more than when I was in Korea. I gained a lot of weight, so be careful!!!
(What to bring)
You can buy them in Paris if you''re in a rush, but I regretted leaving the common travel facial and shower products I had in Korea and having to buy them again. Also, bringing a fleece that''s not too bulky would be really useful!!
(For prospective participants)
Rather than expecting to find a definitive answer, I think it''s more satisfying to see it as a way to expand your options.
# My personal Paris spots
It was really nice just to walk along the Seine or sit there. Instead of following a special route, whenever I had no particular plans I walked along the Seine, and that alone was satisfying.
# Thank you to everyone who created this precious time and space for making good decisions.
Overall it was an enjoyable time, but I felt sorry whenever I caused trouble, so the two months of my gap year weren''t always fun. Still, I''m truly glad I did it! Although it was the last cohort, I''m genuinely relieved and feel lucky that I could do it even at the end!
I also feel like my gap year might be a beginning rather than an end! I''m grateful to my two cohortmates who comforted me, saying it''s okay to rest and that it''s not too late,Thank you to everyone who created this precious time and space for making good decisions.I hope that somehow another great project like this can be created!
