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#Accepted myself as I am #Experienced respect within diverse cultures #Gratitude, a time spent seeking happiness
If you''re hesitating about whether to do it or not, just do it.Whatever project you join, don''t burden yourself with overly large expectations or goals; I hope it becomes a time for you to enjoy the present in a new environment and to find happiness.
In London, England Learn classic English affordably
Choi Jong-won, gap year participant (25 years old, university student on a gap year) / 20-week gap year |
# I trusted the consultant and decided to participate in this project.
Hello, I''m 25-year-old Choi Jong-won. I''m currently a university student on leave of absence. While thinking about how to spend the time given to me during my leave more meaningfully, I found a gap year program, and through consulting with a Korean Gap Year consultant I joined the "Learn classic English affordably in London" project for 20 weeks.
Before starting the gap year I was stuck and unable to move forward because of my deficiencies. Through consulting with the consultant I realized that the deficiency was a lack of ''expression.''
So after the consultation I exposed myself to an environment where I could express myself freely, which relieved that deficiency and gave me the motivation to move forward.The consultant introduced a project they thought was most appropriate for such an environment, and I trusted them and participated in this project.
* For Mr. Choi Jong-won, who had a strong desire to change himself, a tailored 1:1 personal mission related to self-reliance and expressiveness was provided daily, and a gap year notebook to reflect and make plans was also provided.
# Because for me it was scarier to give in to fear and stay the same.
Of course I was worried about staying abroad for a long time. It was an experience I''d never had before, and I was also very afraid of meeting new people and forming relationships in a new environment. But thatBecause it was scarier for me to give in to fear and stay as I was, I gathered courage and made up my mind.
It was difficult to decide to start the gap year project and take action, but once I had decided to participate I mostly had the mindset of ''I''ll just go and figure it out somehow,'' so I didn''t prepare anything special before departure.
At that time I was exhausted and had already used a lot of energy getting to the point of making a new resolution, so I had no energy or emotional bandwidth to spend on ''preparing before the project started.'' I didn''t prepare anything else; I only took care of essentials for going abroad like my passport, other documents, and packing.
IThrough this gap year I hoped that the deficiencies I had would be eased, even a little, during the period of participating in the project so that they could help me grow and develop in the future— to act as a driving force to take one more step forward — and another goal was tomeet people in a broader environment who think similarly to me, and I also wanted to know what people who share my identity think and how they live.
# A day in England
On weekdays with classes, since class started at 8:45 I would leave home about an hour early and take the Tube to get to the school. Morning class from 8:45 to 12:00 covered General English, and in the optional afternoon classes you could choose classes you wanted like Conversation, Writing, or Grammar and take them for an hour.
After class ended, I''d buy lunch at a supermarket or a takeout place and go to a park or the Thames riverside to eat with friends,and after that I would go to a favorite art museum to look at paintings or return home and mainly watch American or British TV shows.On nice days I would take a book and read in the park all day and then come back, From about one month after the project started I registered at a local gym and went to work out whenever I had time.
On weekends without academy classes I would grocery shop at the market or take short trips to nearby towns, meet friends and go to pubs for drinks or to clubs, and spend time being invited to friends'' homes to eat together or have parties.
# I loved that no one judged me by Korean standards.
First of all, what I liked was that because the UK has such a diverse coexistence of people and cultures, someone like me couldn''t be judged or seen as strange by anyone, and I was able to naturally blend into that society. And unlike Korean society I really liked that no one judged me by Koreans'' standards.
Since the language used was English rather than Korean, there was no need to conform to our forms (our standards) when using honorifics or titles, so when leading a conversation or I was able to express my thoughts more freely and comfortably, without much hesitation.
Also, as a foreigner living within another country''s society, there were many things I came to feel.In particular, things I had never seen while living in Korean society became naturally visible when living in another country''s society, and there were many new realizations.
When I realized that each society faces different circumstances and has its own accumulated history, many things I had met with anger and resentment in Korean society turned into compassion and understanding, and I began to think about the desirable direction future generations who will lead our society should take. I also came to believe that we should not repeat outdated evils and hatred, but should resolve many issues with love, tolerance, patience, and understanding.
And perhaps I think the most important realization was that through this project I learned to accept myself as I am.Until now, as a sexual minority living in Korean society, I couldn''t accept myself and kept guilt in my heart as if I had committed a great sin, thinking of my own identity as a tool that ate away at me and as shackles that constrained me in all aspects of life—relationships, career, and so on.
As a result, I had no confidence in anything, was swayed by others'' standards and judgments and struggled, and ultimately lived in a vicious cycle of frustration and self-blame that I couldn''t break. But during this 20-week period—which can be seen as both short and long—I lived in a society that accepts people like me as they are, so I met many people like me, and even when I revealed myself as I am, people did not criticize or hate me, I realized there are truly many people who treated me with respect and love.
Being in such an environment among such people, I came to accept myself as I am and gained a lot of confidence. The international friends I became close to during 20 weeks of classes at the academy, Korean friends, LGBTQ friends I met through the community, friends I met while traveling after the project—All of them I am truly grateful for, and they became a precious part of my life memories.
# I hope it becomes a time to enjoy the present given in a new environment and to find happiness.
If you''re hesitating about whether to do it or not, just do it. Think of a gap year as a time to take a break in your life, and temporarily set aside the burden of having to gain or achieve something great.Whatever project you join, don''t give yourself too great a burden or goal, and I hope it becomes a time to enjoy the present in a new environment and to find happiness.
# I became a person who knows how to be grateful for and to love the things given to me.
It would be a lie to say that my life suddenly turned upside down through a single project. But I became someone who could look at myself more as I am, and such I gained friends who love and respect me as I am.
Through this gap year of English language study in the UK, by visiting the free museums in the UK that you can go to whenever you have time, I discovered an art style I like and found an artist I admire. I became familiar with getting around central London, and I found places and restaurants/cafes in London that I like. I made foreign friends and no longer fear traveling. Finally, I I became someone who knows how to be grateful for and to love the things given to me.
# My own gap year tip
- Language
Even if everything feels unfamiliar and difficult during the initial adjustment period, if you remember the original decision to take a gap year and hold on a little longer, you''ll soon adapt and have an enjoyable gap year.
- Accommodation
If you''re doing a homestay, I think it''s important to talk with your host about their eating habits and the rules they consider important. In my case, the homestay host was a vegetarian and uncomfortable with cooking meat at home, so we needed to have a conversation to reach an agreement and find a reasonable solution for both of us.
- Meals
Living in London, the sky-high prices made it hard to eat out often. So I mostly bought ready meals from supermarkets or did grocery shopping and cooked. Grocery prices at supermarkets were actually cheaper than in my home country.
I mainly used Sainsbury''s and Tesco; I often bought sandwiches or salads, packaged sushi, and microwaveable pies or pastas. If you like meat, you can buy some meat and vegetables and grill them together, and salmon or white fish are sold pre-prepared and convenient to eat.
They also sold fruit from fresh pieces to varieties packed in plastic containers that were easy to take out, so I bought fruit often. When eating out, I mostly went to Asian restaurants; British food itself isn''t very tasty, but London has many excellent international restaurants.
- What to bring
I recommend bringing as little luggage as possible. I think there are very few items you can''t find in a big city like London.
- For prospective participants
If you carefully familiarize yourself with the project information provided by the gap year program, there was nothing I needed to prepare separately before participating or any difficulties from being unprepared. However, even if you join the project with excitement and anticipation, during the initial adjustment period you may feel overwhelmed and have a hard time because of the unfamiliar environment, food, and people.
#My European destinations
During the gap year project, I used language school holidays for 2 weeks, spent 2 weeks after the project ended, and traveled to various places during school breaks and weekends; the most impressive destination for me was Germany.
I traveled in Germany for a total of 8 days—4 days in Berlin and 4 days in Nuremberg—and it was the destination where I felt the most. The way Germans confront their shameful and painful history was truly shocking. Their approach of not hiding the horrific things committed under Nazi rule, but exposing them, reflecting on them, and educating so they aren''t forgotten made a deep impression.
During the trip to Germany there weren''t many flashy buildings or beautiful landscapes. But it taught and made me feel more than any other place, and it made me want to study European history properly again. If you want a trip for flashy sights or photos to post on social media, Germany may not be the best place. However, I think Germany can become the most memorable destination.
My gap year
Experience ★★★★★
Leaving familiar Korean society and living in an unfamiliar, new environment is an amazing experience, I think.
Learning ★★★★★
The learning I gained from meeting diverse people is more than what you can learn from books, I think.
Environment ★★★★☆
You can meet diverse people and a relaxed lifestyle is part of life, but there are many cloudy days, so I give it four stars.
Safety ★★★★★
It might feel different for women, but I think it''s a safe place. There are many police around, and most tourist attractions, libraries, galleries, and other places where people gather require bag checks, so I felt safe.
Leisure★★★★★
Despite being a large city, there was a sense of leisure and romance in people''s lives, and a social atmosphere that valued rest.
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
