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#Improved English listening skills, became more proactive #Experience in animal rescue and making international friends #Regret and longing, precious memories
At first I thought dozens of times, ''Maybe I should just go back to Korea.'' HoweverNow that I''ve completed the gap year, I feel the four weeks was far too short — I''m still regretful and think about that place every day. physically and mentally wounded in Singapore Rare wildlife rescue volunteer work Shin Sura, gapper (20 years old, a gap year to decide career path) / 1-month gap year |
# I wanted to gain some certainty about myself.
Hello, I''m 20-year-old Shin Sura. I''ve been very interested in animals, so I was planning to enter an animal-related department at school, but when it came time to submit applications I wondered, ''Is this really the right path for me?''
So on impulse I applied to a department I had never even considered before. But after I got accepted I regretted my choice and decided to take a year to reapply.
I also wanted to gain some confidence about myself.My personality isn''t the kind to spend a whole year studying like other repeat applicants, so I looked for animal-related volunteer activities and found this project and joined.
To be honest, as the project date approached I became more and more worried and scared. Still, Singapore is famous for being safe, so I worried less about safety.
In the days before leaving I kept writing what I needed on paper and checking every day, ''Did I forget anything?'' Since four weeks isn''t a short time, I think I overpacked trying to bring even one extra thing. I double-checked things like insurance and vaccinations to make sure I hadn''t missed anything, and I studied English more and practiced pronunciation by listening a lot.
Through this gap year I hoped my irregular and lazy life in Korea would change, so I wanted to become more active,I hoped to overcome some of my fear of English. I also wanted to make foreign friends and keep in touch with them.
* For Shin Sura, who wanted to explore her career path, a tailored 1:1 personal mission related to new challenges and post-gap-year career was provided daily, and a gap year notebook was also provided so she could reflect and make plans.
# The four-week period was too short; I''m still disappointed and think about that place every day.
Actually at first I couldn''t adapt and had a hard time. I was more mentally and physically exhausted than I expected. So I decided to change my mindset.
I thought, ''This is a foreign place, not Korea, so during these four long weeks I should be able to gain at least one valuable thing,'' and decided to stay positive since I was already here.
A staff member who spoke Korean said that another Korean had come and planned to stay two weeks but left after one week because of mosquitoes. When I heard that I thought dozens of times, ''Maybe I should just go back to Korea.'' HoweverNow that I''ve completed the gap year, I feel the four weeks was far too short — I''m still regretful and think about that place every day.
# So, do you want to go on a night rescue with me tonight?
While working on the project, a staff member I had become friendly with asked me if I had ever gone on a rescue. I said no, and
"Then do you want to go on a night rescue with me tonight?"
they said. I was so happy and of course said I''d go!! After finishing volunteer work at the facility I showered and immediately got ready for the rescue.This staff member always took good care of me, and I was even more grateful because they offered something I had wanted for a long time.
During the rescue I just watched as they rescued a python and a cobra, and when we went to the restaurant for dinner the staff member who invited me said I didn''t have to pay — they''d cover it — and asked me to treat them when they visit Korea.
I went on rescues two more times besides that experience, and going with two staff members is a vivid memory. We got a call that a monitor lizard was in a local person''s house and went to catch it. We blocked all passages in the kitchen and tried to lure the lizard out from behind the fridge, and it started running all over the kitchen. When it suddenly came out from under the fridge I was startled and scared, but the thought ''Let''s catch it'' was stronger.I held a container and tried to catch the lizard, moving it around here and there.Eventually another staff member caught the lizard, andSeeing and touching them up close was really amazing.
Afterwards, I went to a restaurant to have lunch, and a staff member who had worked with us in the rescue showed me a picture of a snack and asked if I had tried it. When I said I hadn''t, they said there was a snack shop next to the restaurant and suggested we go together, so we went.
But that day the snack shop was closed so unfortunately I couldn''t try it,Later, they remembered and a few days later bought me the snack... That was the most touching thing for me.This staff member always seemed a bit aloof toward me. That''s why I appreciated it even more. On the day I left, since they said they liked ramen, I bought them Shin Ramyun and some other things.
Another memorable event was feeding the snakes. We warmed white mice and used tweezers to grab the mouse by the tail and put it into the snake''s enclosure. There was also a turtle that ate like a snake, called a ''snake turtle.'' When there was food it would stretch out and lunge like a snake to eat.The turtle seemed slow and gentle, but contrary to my expectations it was interesting.
# This situation was embarrassing but also very funny.
There are so many fun memories from Singapore that I want to write them all down, but I''ll mention just a few representative ones. There was a place where the veterinarian worked that had many sick animals or animals needing care. But one daythere was an incident where a snake that the veterinarian had stitched up suddenly disappeared from its cage.So everyone searched here and there, and it turned out the snake was behind a large bookshelf. We found it and put it back into the cage; that snake-search commotion stuck in my memory.
I also once had to hold a pigeon while something was removed from its eye. Maybe because I was concentrating so hard, after finishing the treatment and suddenly lifting my head, I couldn''t see, felt nauseous and dizzy. So I sank down onto the floor, and the veterinarian told me to lie down with my legs up.
I lay down right there under where we''d treated the pigeon''s eye, and the situation was embarrassing but very funny.While we were treating the pigeon, me suddenly showing these strange symptoms tooThe veterinarian found the situation amusing too.They also told me to go into a room and rest until lunchtime.
# I became close with the volunteers in Singapore, so I even stayed overnight at a friend''s house and got to try delicious restaurants.
During the projectSince my English was poor, friends who had learned a bit of Korean explained things to me in Korean,If I couldn''t understand what others were saying, they''d notice and—though it must have been a hassle—I appreciated that they would slow down and say it again.
Through this project, while staying at the facility, not only my roommate but also the staff who were thereI made many memories with the staff, and I became close with the Singapore volunteers, so I stayed over at friends'' houses and got to try tasty restaurants.
After my gap year, I stopped spending even a single day meaninglessly; every day something beneficial or special happened for me. For example, reading books, studying, making coffee myself (I always bought other coffee drinks besides americano at cafés), etc. Also, I would wash up dishes right away instead of leaving them piled up. Although some lazy, sluggish habits remain, compared to before I...I definitely felt that I became more active and lively in my daily life.
# My gap year tips
- Language
Because I was always reading English written on paper, my listening was very weak and I needed things written down to understand. Speaking is important, but I think understanding the other person''s words is the most important.
- Accommodation
It can be more uncomfortable than you think, so you should go in with some expectations. That way it will be somewhat easier to adapt later when living there.
-Meals
At this facility you must eat only vegetarian food and bringing in meat is prohibited. Just because the food is vegetarian doesn''t mean it''s bad — it''s edible. It''s not extremely delicious, but sometimes you miss it. Bringing plenty of things you usually enjoy with rice, such as kimchi, seaweed, or gochujang, is helpful.
-Supplies
I didn''t have flip-flops so I bought a cheap pair in Singapore. But they soaked up water while showering, so when I walked around after showering...
they made squelching noises, which was embarrassing. Flip-flops are essential for showering, but you should bring a pair that won''t make noise even when wet.
-My gap year TIP
One thing I regret is that if I had studied English more, I might have been able to have deeper conversations with those friends — I feel a bit regretful.Studying English listening and a variety of expressions will let you talk with more people and have more conversations.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★☆
I''m not yet sure what I felt regarding animals. But because there are many good people and good memories here...
Learning★★★★★
Environment★★★☆☆
The facilities weren''t great. Behind the facility is a forest, so there were some insects and I was bitten by bugs.
Safety★★★★☆
Nothing happened while I was at the facility, but since opening the door leads straight outside, that was a bit worrying.
Leisure★★★★☆
The shuttle runs every hour and the last bus is too early, so at first I often couldn''t enjoy myself properly because I had to match that schedule. However, I could stay out until the last bus and then use Grab to get back to the facility.
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