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#Want to learn cooking professionally #A once-in-a-lifetime experience #Discovered a new hobby
- Greece, rescue operation for turtles injured in the Mediterranean Kim Jun-hyung, gap-year group gapper / 4-week gap year |
# My personal gap-year TIP
(Language)
It''s important to learn basic everyday English. But focus on very simple sentences rather than difficult ones.Practice listening to British English a lotDoing so before you go can help in understanding how Greeks speak English.
Of course this tip applies to people like me who are not fluent in English.
e.g.) Did you prepare for the turtle’s injection?
Do you need to use this bucket?
Let me put the turtle in a tank.
(Accommodation)
It''s best to have realistic expectations about the lodging. It''s hard to be satisfied in terms of cleanliness or comfort. Don''t expect too much. Justa mindset of enjoying living in such an environmentis what I think you should have.
(Meals)
From Korea, Ibrought pre-cooked rice (Hetbahn) and cup noodles.I prepared enough to eat for about a month. More than any other food, be sure to bring Hetbahn. It''s even better if you bring ingredients to mix with the Hetbahn.
(What to bring)
I think there''s no item more important than Hetbahn. Other necessary items can be obtained easily, but it''s good to bring personal medicine — disinfectant, ointment, bandages, etc.
(For prospective participants)
I heard Greek food is seasoned with salt. Maybe for that reason most dishes are a bit salty. If you can''t eat such strongly flavored food, I don''t recommend meat. However, if you like salad, I recommend trying each restaurant''s salad. Therestaurants in Greece take pride in their own salads and serve them. Also, be sure to taste the freshness of Mediterranean vegetables and fruits.
# My personal Greece destinations
Aside from the usual famous destinations,I recommend the promenade at Piraeus port.I finished work the day before my day off, packed right away, checked into a hotel near Piraeus port and rested for the night. Early in the morning I had a light breakfast and began walking along the Piraeus port promenade. The weather was a bit cloudy and very windy, which was a shame, but the scenery was the best promenade I''ve seen.
There were residents jogging with large dogs, an elderly couple doing morning exercise with badminton, and even people swimming in the sea despite the cold weather. Because it''s a bit of a distance, you could easily get exhausted in very hot weather. It''s best to be a little industrious and go out early before the sunlight becomes strong.
The Greek flags, churches, and crosses that appear along the promenade give even someone who knows nothing about Greece an idea of the position of the Greek Orthodox Church. If you have a chance to go near the Port of Piraeus, I''m sure that walking this promenade for exercise in the morning would make a very nice outing.
# My current feeling is that it seems I returned after having an experience that cannot be done twice.
There haven''t been major changes in me myself. However, the current feeling is that I seem to have come back after an experience that can''t be done twice.
After returning, I wanted to learn cooking professionally as a new hobby, so as soon as I got back I bought ingredients for dishes I can make and have been learning a little at a time right away.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
I had overlooked it thinking volunteer work would involve easy tasks, but it requires labor equivalent to the work for which you would receive a not insignificant salary. However, it''s hard to have this kind of experience anywhere in the country. Also, these kinds of tasks are done with foreigners, so you can clearly feel the cultural differences between countries..
Of course, because the organization is located in Greece, you can learn most deeply about the personalities and culture of Greeks. If you have some experience in Korean working life, working with them may feel somewhat difficult. Greeks are always relaxed, so when problems occur they do not panic and always remain calm.
Working with people who have character traits that are the polar opposite of Koreans, physical fatigue was inevitable of course, but there was absolutely no stress related to the work. In this way the biggest thing I took from this project was the opportunity to work with foreigners and gradually narrow the differences in language, personality, and culture and become closer to them.I think.
Learning★★★★☆
Because the work directly deals with the lives of turtles, a single mistake can cause pain to a turtle and, in the worst case, the turtle could die. People who have experienced related work can learn the tasks relatively easily, but if that''s not the case it may take time to adapt to the work.
Of course, even doing this kind of work for a short time would be a great experience. However, I think it could be really helpful for someone considering a career in an animal-related field.When I first arrived at the center, a French regular volunteer was actually interning at the organization for eight months.
That friend had actually set their career path toward an animal-related field and worked well at the organization as an intern accordingly. If I had continued working in animal-related jobs without stopping, this project would surely have been a new stimulus.
Environment★★★★★
The rescue center is located next to the sandy beach. Because it''s less than about 10 meters from the sea, the wind is really strong on rainy or relatively cold days.
However, Greek winters are not as cold as Korea''s, so it would probably not be a big problem if you were from Korea. Also In summer, according to the organization manager, it''s like paradise.But they say it''s not all good because of insects and an increased workload.
Of course, given the environment, summer would be the most suitable, but I think going in the warm spring or autumn would also be fine. About a one-minute walk from the rescue center is a tram stop, and if you go further toward the town hall you''ll find a large shopping street with various restaurants and bars. Compared to the city center, it''s actually more stylish and tidy and not as crowded. Everything you need for daily life is within 1–2 km.The environment is simply perfect.
Safety ★★★★★
I didn''t spend much time in Syntagma Square, so I didn''t witness pickpocketing or such crimes. Apart from that, I walked alone through all the busy streets and wandered around several times, but I didn''t encounter people of that kind.
The area around the rescue center was sparsely populated, so at late hours it was hard to find people other than passing cars.During about a month of living there, I never worried about safety.(Of course, I always took good care of my belongings and checked them frequently.)
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
