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#Decreased fear of challenges and increased confidence #Gained overseas volunteer experience and certainty about my career path #Felt the importance of animal protection
"My volunteer experience in Singapore gave me a great deal of courage in living my life. Based on this experience, it was also very helpful when I later took a leave of absence and made plans."
Volunteer work rescuing rare wild animals that were physically and mentally injured in Singapore Sunho Lee, gap-year participant (21, university student) / 2-week gap year
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# I gained a lot of confidence from overseas volunteering and became less afraid to take on challenges!
Hello. I''m Lee Sunho, a social welfare student admitted in 2016 at Konkuk University''s Glocal Campus. I''m planning to work in the field of overseas volunteering. I''m now thinking of taking a leave of absence in 2018.
The reason is that I''m exempt from military service, so instead of graduating at once I want to earn money myself, travel abroad, and experience many things for myself. This time Because I gained a lot of confidence from overseas volunteering with no Korean staff at all, I feel less afraid to take on challenges.
The reason I chose this project is that I''m a social welfare major and I''m very interested in overseas volunteering. Therefore, I plan to seek employment in the field of overseas volunteering. I have already participated in overseas volunteer work in Thailand and Mongolia. While looking into overseas volunteer programs for this winter vacation, I learned about Korea Gap Year and Rescuing wild animals was a new experience, and because it was an overseas volunteer program, I chose this projectI decided to participate.
# Courage became confidence, and confidence gave assurance to my career path
Having volunteered overseas twice, I wasn''t very worried about staying for an extended period. Also, Singapore itself is a country with good public safety, so I had no major concerns. However, because there were no Korean staff, rather than worries about tourism, I was most worried about using English while volunteering at the organization rather than concerns about tourism.
As for preparations before departure, rather than thinking ''what should I pack'' at that time and packing, the checklist provided by the gap year program was very helpful.And since I knew that boots and gloves would be provided when volunteering, after packing according to the checklist all I had to bring were old clothes.
What I was most worried about was using English, so I occasionally looked at English books from two weeks before, but I couldn''t focus.
The biggest goal I wanted to change through this gap year project was to increase my confidenceIt wasn''t just general confidence, but I always lacked vague fears and confidence about whether I could go abroad alone in the future, use English well, and get around by myself.
But once I was thrown into the overseas environment, using English wasn''t as difficult as I had imagined.If you didn''t neglect your high school studies, it seems that what was most needed for using English was the courage to try. And that courage turned into confidence and gave me assurance in my future travel plans and career path.
# A fascinating and surprising experience of getting up close to snakes, turtles, iguanas, etc.
A typical day at the local organization was to gather at 8:40 a.m., eat the bread and cereal provided only to volunteers, do the dishes, and arrive at the workplace by 9:10 a.m. At the time I participated there were four volunteers, so we usually worked in pairs doing tasks assigned by the organization, and everyone ate lunch together at 12.
At 12, the organization served a vegetarian lunch, we ate that, and work started again at 1. And at 5 all activities finished, and we had free time until the next morning.
During the project activities, I hadn''t had opportunities to get close to snakes, iguanas, and turtles, so it was fascinating and surprising.I had to use English to communicate with the local staff, and what I remember most is feeling my English skills gradually improve.
My gap year tips
*The travel tips were written based on the participant''s personal travel experience, are not affiliated with Korea Gap Year, and may change depending on local circumstances, so please use them for reference only.
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- Friday (travel after project ends)
Organization >> Accommodation >> Clarke Quay
From the organization, walk 20 minutes >> take bus 975 at Chengtai Nursery (12 stops) >> at Blk 604 take bus 190 (20 stops) to Chinatown Point >> walk 5 minutes >> move to Clarke Quay (15-minute walk).
- Saturday
Museum >> Merlion Park >> Accommodation >> Old City >> Marina Bay Sands
Accommodation >> Museum (24-minute walk). The subway takes 14 minutes so walking seems better >> Merlion Park (16-minute walk) >> Accommodation (19-minute walk) >> Old City (17-minute walk) >> Marina Bay Sands (21-minute walk) >> Accommodation (from Bayfront station to Chinatown MRT Station Exit A total 18 minutes).
- Sunday
Jurong Bird Park >> Zoo >> Night Safari (7:30)Buying tickets in advance at the airport is cheaper (cash only) or purchase them at Heritage Hostel, a Korean guesthouse in Singapore.
Jurong Bird Park
- Accommodation > 9 minutes > Outram Park > 21 minutes (every 5 minutes) > Boon Lay Interchange > buses 194, 251 > 14 minutes (every 5 minutes) > Jurong Bird Park > 9-minute walk to arrive.
- SGD $29
- 08:00~18:00
Singapore Zoo
- From Jurong Bird Park: by taxi it''s about 30 minutes and should not exceed SGD $15. By public transport it''s at least 1 hour 30 minutes, SGD $5 per person > Singapore Zoo.
- SGD $33, buy in advance.
Night Safari
- It''s next to the zoo. SGD $45
- 19:30~00:00
- Night tram total duration: 40 minutes
- Performances are on Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before public holidays
- Monday
Sentosa & Universal (10:00~22:00)
- Chinatown Station > 6 min > HarbourFront Station
- Universal: Opens at 10:00. Ticket booth opens at 9:00. About 50,000 KRW?
- Luge: Buy tickets in advance (can be purchased from Korea). Single ride, 3-ride, 5-ride tickets. If bought in advance, single ride around 10,000 KRW.
- Tuesday
Orchard Road >> Singapore Flyer, (Promenade Station)
- Chinatown > 4 min > Dhoby Ghaut > 3 min > Orchard (Orchard) > Might be walkable from Dhoby Ghaut?? Check the map
Singapore Flyer
- SGD $33 - buy in advance
- Ride duration: 30 minutes. Operating hours: 08:30~22:30. Last entry 22:15.
+ Take a boat tour along Clarke Quay, Choa Chu Kang tour, Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay
My gap year is
Experience ★★★★☆
Learning ★★★☆☆
Environment ★★★☆☆
Safety ★★★★★
Leisure ★★★★★
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
