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#Became more accepting and respectful of diversity #Freed from concern about others' opinions #A sense of satisfaction; realized Korea is the best
It felt more like they respected each person''s preferences rather than not caring about them.So I also tried hard to learn that part.I think I learned a lot about accepting diversity. Bonjour! One-month stay in Paris, France
Heo Ga-young, gap-year participant (30 years old, office worker) / 4-week gap year |
# France, a country closely associated with the word ''beauty''
Hello, I''m a perfume enthusiast who is very interested in fragrances. I like smelling things, so I have a habit of sniffing anything first. Because of my interest in scents, I visited domestic perfumers'' blogs and left inquiries, digging through all fragrance-related activities in Korea to gather information. So in the future (whether in the near or distantfuture or not), I dream of spending my life working in a field related to fragrance.
To quench my thirst for perfumery, I attended a perfumery academy on weekends and studied for nearly two years. Working at a cosmetics company increased my understanding of the beauty industry and, at the same time, raised many questions, so the ''one month living in Paris'' project proposed through gap-year consulting seemed extremely appealing. I received two proposals from the gap-year coordinator and thought it over a bit, butI chose to experience spending a month in France, a country closely associated with the word ''beauty.''
* For Heo Ga-young, who wanted to try a new challenge on her own, a tailored one-on-one personal mission related to change and mental relaxation was provided daily, and a gap-year notebook was also provided to reflect on herself and make plans.
# Memories of preparing with a heart full of excitement
Since I was going to spend two months in Malta and one month in Paris, it felt burdensome at first. Butas I actually prepared and read several books, the total three months didn''t feel that long.So, with the help of books, I folded up my worries and left them behind in Korea.
Still, being human, if I had to bring one comfort item it would have been ''food.'' I truly felt how great food is for humanity.
Before leaving, I got a lot of help by looking through the materials provided by the gap-year program and reading reviews from previous gappers. I also went to libraries and bookstores to gather information, and pulled out all the internet information I had saved because I was interested.I still remember preparing with excitement, making lists of what to prepare in advance and what to prepare after arriving. ^^
# My personal gap-year goals
Through this one-month gap year in Paris, I...wanted to observe each brand''s fragrance styles and how they approach customersI wanted to find out. AndI wanted to directly experience what kind of scent preferences people gathered in Europe have and which fragrances they are interested in.
And by roaming around Paris and experiencing their unique history and culture, I also hoped that if I could shed any illusions I had about Paris, that would be a valuable experience.
# When you say you came through a ''gap year,'' it seemed to create a tremendous sense of camaraderie because of that one common denominator.
Since we stayed in designated accommodation, aside from the house rules,we lived according to each gapper''s personal schedule.At 8 a.m., we would eat the warm meals prepared by the aunt living at the accommodation and share our schedules with one another; then we''d rest a bit, wash up, and go out to wander around here and there. At 7 p.m., we''d go back to the accommodation to have dinner, or, if we''d informed them in advance, we''d stay out late and return to the accommodation.
Personally, I feel very lucky that I got along so well with the other gappers.When someone says they came through a ''gap year,'' it seems they feel a tremendous bond because of that shared common ground.They were the first to open up and approach me, and I also tended to reach out first to gappers who arrived after me. I think I learned how to build close relationships while away from home, and since we each had a more relaxed, longer period of one month than others,I really liked the endlessly relaxed mindset, unlike other travelers. ^^(Should I say the morning prep time was very relaxed? haha)
# Memorable people
All the people who stayed at the accommodation come to mind. Through the ''Happy Time'' hosted at the lodging, people from many different fieldstried to share and understand the concerns each person had about their respective work. So, those who connected well exchanged their SNS accounts and continue to share and support each other''s lives even after Paris.
Still, I think the people I spent the most time with were the gappers who stayed during the same period.
# In Europe, it felt more like people respect individual tastes rather than ignore them.
Living in Paris for a month made me think ''our country is the best'' many times. In many ways—social systems, services, etc.—I often felt our country was superior. However,The best part about being in Europe was that people really don''t worry about others'' opinions.
In my country, you''d start by worrying about other people''s eyes before doing anything, but in Europe those concerns weren''t there, andit felt more like people respect individual tastes rather than ignore them.So I also tried hard to learn that way of thinking,and I think I learned a lot about accepting diversity.
# Memorable places in Paris
I remember the 1-night, 2-day tour to Giverny and Mont Saint-Michel that I took with the gappers. Usually, if you sign up for a Mont Saint-Michel tour, you depart in the early morning and return in the early hours of the next day. I had planned to sign up too, but luckily the gappers who were already there suggested we go together, so we did. It did cost a bit more—probably because you have to stay overnight and it wasn''t comparable to the transportation costs of group tour companies.
But the advantage of renting a car was that we could include Giverny on the route to Mont Saint-Michel. According to the gappers I went with, if you visit the Orangerie Museum first and then go to Giverny, Monet''s works sink in more deeply. That might be a useful tip. AndI definitely recommend seeing Mont Saint-Michel at night. I recommend viewing it up close.Actually, you need to see it from a bit closer for the photos to turn out well. (We were late, so I think we barely viewed it from far away, stepping through sheep and cow dung.)
Once you leave Paris and go elsewhere, the scenery is so beautiful and refreshing. I regret not finding time to go to Nice—places outside Paris are lovely and you can encounter beautiful nature.It was great; we also had the amazing experience of seeing a double rainbow while driving.
# My gap year tips
- Language
Basically, if you know numbers up to ten, greetings, and simple phrases for ordering at a restaurant, you should be fine.
- Accommodation
Gappers do a one-month stay, so they have plenty of time and aren''t constrained by the schedules of short-term travelers; if you simply avoid the busy times to shower, you can enjoy a relaxed month-long stay.
- Meals
The meals cooked by the auntie are tasty. So I strongly recommend you eat them, and if you can''t have dinner because of other plans, let the staff or the owner know by 4 PM about whether you''ll eat. As for breakfast, even if you say in advance you won''t eat, the auntie will come around and practically drag you to eat, so just go and eat~
- Things to bring
Make sure to prepare personal care items well. If you happen to forget, you can buy them at a nearby supermarket, but it can be inconvenient because you''ll likely have to search online since you may not be familiar with French terms.
To prospective participants
I didn''t expect myself to have such a big fantasy about Paris, but I felt it the moment I arrived and headed to my accommodation. ''Ah, this really isn''t what I expected.'' The subway has poor internet reception, so if you plan to use Google Maps, search above ground beforehand and then take the subway. Also, at certain stations various foul smells are pervasive. There are many moments when my sense of smell was overwhelmed.
Also, because there had been a terrorist attack just before I went, they carry out security checks like bag or luggage inspections at places where many people gather. The subway also checks tickets often. If you don''t forget to buy tickets or top up your card and manage that carefully, there shouldn''t be a problem. Finally, to emphasize once more: don''t buy a UK Three SIM card in Korea.
My gap year
Experience★★★☆☆
There weren''t any particularly special experiences.
Learning★★★☆☆
I think I learned about a diverse artistic spirit.
Environment★★★★☆
The natural environment was really nice, but it was a bit difficult at times because of gypsies and the smell of public urination.
Safety★★★★☆
It was safer than I expected.
Leisure★★★★★
Because I was on a gap year and didn''t have to rush, I was able to enjoy leisure while traveling.
