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#A more relaxed mindset and a broader perspective #Dreamlike days; lifelong, unforgettable memories #Don't worry, be excited
-in the world most beautiful region, Portugal at a resort spending special volunteer activity Park So‑yeonGap‑year family Gapper/ 24 years old, university student / 4 weekslong gap year
* In participant Park So‑yeon''s reviewThe photos are not taken by the participant; they are local photos from Portugal provided for reference. |
# An opportunity to volunteer in Lisbon, a place that felt unfamiliar but had always been a destination I admired
Hello ^_^ I''m Park So‑yeon. I graduated straight through in four years last year without taking a leave of absence and was preparing for employment.
At first I was exhausted from life, and after repeated failures in job hunting I considered a working holiday. But I strongly felt that a working holiday might not leave anything meaningful for me, so I looked into volunteering and overseas internships and happened upon this gap year project by chance.I thought it would be the icing on the cake to have the chance to volunteer in Lisbon, an unfamiliar but long‑admired destination, so I decided somewhat hastily to participate.I did.
Of course I was extremely worried about staying abroad for an extended period. The coordinator must have been tiredㅠ_ㅠ — I''d like to apologize for that haha. I was really that scared.
In fact, I was very anxious about paying the money I had diligently saved all at once and about living in a place almost on the opposite side of the world from Korea. I had only traveled abroad and never lived overseas, so I worried whether the program was secure haha. But the coordinator explained things really well, so I felt much more at ease!
# Unexpected meetings and connections in a place I went to without much thought
I don''t think I prepared anything particularly huge before departure. Actually, since I planned to travel around Europe a bit after volunteering in Lisbon before returning to Korea, I think I focused more on my European travel itinerary haha.
In Lisbon, I think I mainly had the idea of going without overthinking, volunteering hard, and trying to connect with as many people as possible.The unexpected chance encounters and relationships I met when I went there without any expectations seem to have left an even stronger impression on me now.I want to tell you to relax your heart! The happiness that comes from a peaceful mind has become a very precious memory for me.
My goal for change through the gap year was that I disliked the version of myself who obsessed over every single moment. Since I was preparing for job hunting, I was tied up by every little thing, but I was able to find a slightly more relaxed me.
I don''t know whether it was because Lisbon is a laid-back city or because of all the moments I enjoyed in that relaxed state of mind,I think I was able to let go a little, think more leisurely, and gain a broader perspective.I''m currently traveling around Europe, but when I return to Korea I think I''ll reset my direction to live a life that''s truly mine, not just the version of me preparing for a job, haha.
A time when I talked a lot with volunteers and could learn about each other''s countries.
About the volunteer work: I was assigned to the evening shift. Of course, if you don''t like the time you''re assigned, you can tell the local coordinator and switch to the morning shift.
I would wake up, have breakfast, and always go outside to walk around. There, even just walking the streets felt relaxed and cinematic and simply wonderful. We saw street performances while walking, sat on any chair to rest when tired, chatted with locals—it''s a place where you can freely and naturally blend in with everyone, so each day there felt like a dream.
After spending the day like that, around 6:30 I would go to the volunteer center and volunteer. There we would go with the person in charge of pickups to supermarkets or restaurants to collect food. The usual routine was to sort the collected food at the center and distribute it to the people who came to receive it.
There were similar people who came on each day of the week for the volunteer work.Local students, families, and ordinary people often came to volunteer here. I talked with them a lot and was able to understand each other''s countries, so the volunteer activity was enjoyable.
I realized there are more things I can do in the world.
Above all, I think it was a great experience to genuinely make friends with foreigners. We talked a lot about various cultures, and my worldview also broadened.
Of course, there was great significance in actually doing true volunteer work by helping people, but I realized that instead of focusing only on what was limited in Korea, there are many more things I can do in the world. Before I left, I was preparing mainly for domestic companies, but my mindset has changed so much that I even want to work abroad, haha.
The people who remain in my memory are the Koreans I met while participating in the program—Juni, Jamie, Jongmi—because we were together, we could introduce Korea to foreign friends more interestingly. Also, the little talks about the future and the comfort we gave each other seem to have become the foundation for us to live more positively.
I volunteered with many friends from abroad—Kevin, Ben, Sophie, Moshi, Savarina, and so on—and lived together in one house, sharing many really joyful memories.We drank Portuguese traditional liquor and chatted all night with foreign friends, and after volunteering we also made traditional Korean dumplings together as a late-night snack. ☺
I was worried the foreign friends might feel unfamiliar with making dumplings, but it was truly delightful that we all made and ate a traditional Korean dish together in a foreign country. I can confidently say that we are probably the only Koreans who have made traditional Korean dumplings in Portugal, haha ^^
I am grateful for this beautiful place, the good people, and the great weather!
Outside of activity hours I went around here and there spontaneously with friends. But I can say for sure, as some people know,Cabo da Roca near Lisbon became the travel destination of my life.At dusk we went to see the sunset with all the friends living in the same house. Honestly, the sky changed every five minutes—I fell in love with nature.
On a TV show called ''Youth Over Flowers,'' a celebrity once used the phrase ''I''m truly grateful'' while traveling. Though I''ve traveled a lot, I hadn''t really felt that level of emotion until now.''I''m grateful for this beautiful place, the good people, and the great weather.''That''s what I felt there. If you go to Lisbon, I really want to tell you to go... two or three times.
The gap year project was so perfect—it''s changed my perspective on the job market!
The gap year project was perfect for me, haha. Thank you so much for creating such a great project.
If I compare before and after participating in the project, first of all...My perspective on the job market has fundamentally changed.Also, having never studied abroad and only studying English in Korea, I often wondered, ''Am I really good at English?'' But after talking with foreign friends, I realized I could have genuine conversations with people from other cultures in English, which boosted my confidence in the language.
Rather than the tightness of always thinking ''I have to run every day,'' ''I have to do this and that today'' and making a rigid schedule, I developed a looseness that allows me to think more leisurely, more slowly, and more broadly. Everything seems to have become more positive, which I like!! (I don’t want to live in Korea anymore haha)
# For those planning to join the project later
Go with an open mind.
I think many people take a gap year for various personal reasons. I was the same. Tired of Korea, tired of preparing for jobs, tired of daily life... I actually went to Portugal with no plans or expectations.
Dreamlike days unfolded for me, and I developed a mindset that could enjoy leisure. Thankfully I met great people and made memories I will never forget.
Lisbon was unfamiliar but also beautiful, and I was really happy being in a relaxed place with relaxed people.''Don''t worry and feel the excitement'' — you can just enjoy it exactly as that saying suggests.
# My personal gap year tips
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
