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#The courage to follow my heart #Experiencing parts of nature that tourists don't see #Satisfaction; it was a good choice
It will be a difficult decision, but put that fear aside and, at least once, follow your heart. Acting on it is also a good way.After making the decision, depending on your attitude and mindset, I believe you can create a sufficiently valuable experience for yourself. Volunteering for environmental conservation with friends from around the world in New Zealand''s natural environment. Kim Byung-heon, gap-year participant (26, university student) / 2-week gap year. |
# I wanted to create a turning point for myself.
I am currently a third-year university student double-majoring in Industrial Management Engineering and IT Convergence Systems, and I often went abroad during vacations for travel, volunteering, and language study.I wanted to make good memories before graduating.
There was one year until graduation and I was scheduled to start an internship next winter, so it was effectively my last vacation during university. Seeing other friends preparing for employment with certifications or language study, I considered just staying in Korea, butsince it was my last vacation I wanted a different kind of experience,and if I was going abroad anyway,I didn''t want it to be just a trip; I wanted meaningful activities and to create a turning point for myself.
Through this gap year,I wanted to spend a short time in a different environment with different people to find out what I would feel and how well I could get along.
* For Kim Byung-heon, who had a strong desire to change himself, a personalized one-on-one mission related to change and self-reflection was provided daily, and a Gap Year Note was also provided so he could reflect and make plans.
# A typical day in New Zealand
I usually woke up at 7:00 a.m. and prepared for volunteering from 8:00 to 8:30. In the morning I only washed my face and brushed my teeth, and for breakfast I mainly had fruit and cereal. (Most of the other team members seemed to do the same.)
Lunch is from 11:30 to 12:30, but it varies slightly each day depending on where and what volunteer activities we do. If you can''t return to the accommodation for lunch, you prepare lunch the day before, put it in your bag, and eat outside.
The workday ends around 4:00 p.m.; if it ends early you return to the accommodation and rest. From around 6:00 p.m. we make dinner with the team members, eat, and go to bed around 10:00 p.m.
# At first it was difficult to interact with foreign friends, but as time passed the awkwardness decreased.
I used English a whole lot during this gap year project.Compared to other overseas activities I''ve experienced, I used it most in this gap year project.
Also, while volunteering in New Zealand I saw a lot of nature—landscapes that other tourists would never see. Since this was my first time living with foreign friends I was very worried, but foreigners were ultimately the same: shy people, boisterous people, quiet people...Ultimately, you communicate with foreigners to the extent of your own ability.
In the first week there were five Taiwanese friends; they were all kind and treated me well. The Taiwanese knew more about Korean culture than I expected, so it was easy to find common ground in conversation. The next week there were four French, two Germans, and one Taiwanese. I only grew close to the four French toward the end, which was a bit disappointing, and the two Germans were very kind to me and communicated well.At first it was difficult to interact with foreign friends, but as time passed the awkwardness decreased.
# For prospective participants
It''s natural to feel great worry before making a decision. It will be a difficult decision, but put that fear aside and, once in a while, follow your heart—acting on it can also be a good approach.After making the decision, I believe you can create a very valuable experience for yourself depending on your attitude and mindset.
Because it was a short period, there doesn''t seem to be any noticeable changes yet, butI want to say it was a good choice.
# My gap year TIP
-Experience
I think that simply spending 24 hours alongside foreign friends was an enjoyable experience. Because I wasn''t good at English, it was difficult to express my honest feelings to foreign friends. So I used a lot of body language.
- Language
I knew I wasn''t good at English and expected that I would have difficulties even in New Zealand. I only understood about 30–40% of the team leader''s volunteer explanations, and it was faster than the English I had heard in Korea. However, I tried to understand English at every moment, and when something was difficult I asked the foreign friends volunteering with me.
So There were no major difficulties in carrying out the project, and I was really glad to use a lot of English.If you wish to participate in the project, I expect that just being good at English would allow you to enjoy the activities 200%.
- Accommodation
The lodging was cleaner than I expected and not very inconvenient to use. I think there won''t be difficulties living there as long as you clearly communicate your preferences to your teammates (where you want to sleep, when you want to shower…).
- Meals
On the Monday the project starts, everyone goes to the supermarket together to buy ingredients. Because the cost of ingredients is provided by the volunteer organization, you can''t buy unlimited ingredients you want to eat, and if there''s food you personally really want, you have to buy it separately.
Of course, grocery shopping at the supermarket is done after discussing with teammates (what dishes to make during the week...). For breakfast and lunch you mostly have to cook for yourself. Usually teammates make simple things like sandwiches or cereal. Dinner is made and eaten together. If you are good at cooking, you can treat and lead the meal for teammates, but if not, you''ll help with dinner preparation (ingredient prep, table setting, dishwashing, etc.).
- What to bring
It''s a matter of personal preference, but I think one set of clothes for volunteering, one set for wearing at the accommodation, and one decent set for traveling in New Zealand are enough. Instead, I recommend bringing lots of socks and underwear. It rained often (I recommend a small umbrella). It''s helpful to bring all the items they ask you to bring at orientation.
# My New Zealand travel TIP
In the first week I visited Hamilton near Auckland (the Hobbit filming location), in the second week I went to Rotorua to see the steaming lakes (geysers) and the Redwood forest, and in the last week I traveled around downtown Auckland.
Luckily I traveled with foreign friends. The cost of living in New Zealand seemed about 1.2 times higher than in Korea, and fun activities cost around 100,000 won; with transportation and participation fees, tourism was expensive. Auckland has many interesting sights in the nearby suburbs rather than in the city center. If you have the budget, it''s good to visit both the North and South Islands.
My gap year was
Experience ★★★★★
I think the experience of being with foreigners 24 hours a day was truly valuable.
Learning ★★★☆☆
Two weeks was short for learning English and environmental conservation, but I think it was sufficient for simply having a new experience.
Environment ★★★★☆
The environment and weather in New Zealand were really nice.
Safety★★★☆☆
Activities are conducted after safety training, but you must take care of yourself.
Leisure★★★★★
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays without volunteer activities provide plenty of time for leisure and travel, and you can travel with foreign friends.
It will be a difficult decision, but put that fear aside and, at least once, follow your heart. Acting on it is also a good way.After making the decision, depending on your attitude and mindset, I believe you can create a sufficiently valuable experience for yourself. Volunteering for environmental conservation with friends from around the world in New Zealand''s natural environment. Kim Byung-heon, gap-year participant (26, university student) / 2-week gap year. |
# I wanted to create a turning point for myself.
I am currently a third-year university student double-majoring in Industrial Management Engineering and IT Convergence Systems, and I often went abroad during vacations for travel, volunteering, and language study.I wanted to make good memories before graduating.
There was one year until graduation and I was scheduled to start an internship next winter, so it was effectively my last vacation during university. Seeing other friends preparing for employment with certifications or language study, I considered just staying in Korea, butsince it was my last vacation I wanted a different kind of experience,and if I was going abroad anyway,I didn''t want it to be just a trip; I wanted meaningful activities and to create a turning point for myself.
Through this gap year,I wanted to spend a short time in a different environment with different people to find out what I would feel and how well I could get along.
* For Kim Byung-heon, who had a strong desire to change himself, a personalized one-on-one mission related to change and self-reflection was provided daily, and a Gap Year Note was also provided so he could reflect and make plans.
# A typical day in New Zealand
I usually woke up at 7:00 a.m. and prepared for volunteering from 8:00 to 8:30. In the morning I only washed my face and brushed my teeth, and for breakfast I mainly had fruit and cereal. (Most of the other team members seemed to do the same.)
Lunch is from 11:30 to 12:30, but it varies slightly each day depending on where and what volunteer activities we do. If you can''t return to the accommodation for lunch, you prepare lunch the day before, put it in your bag, and eat outside.
The workday ends around 4:00 p.m.; if it ends early you return to the accommodation and rest. From around 6:00 p.m. we make dinner with the team members, eat, and go to bed around 10:00 p.m.
# At first it was difficult to interact with foreign friends, but as time passed the awkwardness decreased.
I used English a whole lot during this gap year project.Compared to other overseas activities I''ve experienced, I used it most in this gap year project.
Also, while volunteering in New Zealand I saw a lot of nature—landscapes that other tourists would never see. Since this was my first time living with foreign friends I was very worried, but foreigners were ultimately the same: shy people, boisterous people, quiet people...Ultimately, you communicate with foreigners to the extent of your own ability.
In the first week there were five Taiwanese friends; they were all kind and treated me well. The Taiwanese knew more about Korean culture than I expected, so it was easy to find common ground in conversation. The next week there were four French, two Germans, and one Taiwanese. I only grew close to the four French toward the end, which was a bit disappointing, and the two Germans were very kind to me and communicated well.At first it was difficult to interact with foreign friends, but as time passed the awkwardness decreased.
# For prospective participants
It''s natural to feel great worry before making a decision. It will be a difficult decision, but put that fear aside and, once in a while, follow your heart—acting on it can also be a good approach.After making the decision, I believe you can create a very valuable experience for yourself depending on your attitude and mindset.
Because it was a short period, there doesn''t seem to be any noticeable changes yet, butI want to say it was a good choice.
# My gap year TIP
-Experience
I think that simply spending 24 hours alongside foreign friends was an enjoyable experience. Because I wasn''t good at English, it was difficult to express my honest feelings to foreign friends. So I used a lot of body language.
- Language
I knew I wasn''t good at English and expected that I would have difficulties even in New Zealand. I only understood about 30–40% of the team leader''s volunteer explanations, and it was faster than the English I had heard in Korea. However, I tried to understand English at every moment, and when something was difficult I asked the foreign friends volunteering with me.
So There were no major difficulties in carrying out the project, and I was really glad to use a lot of English.If you wish to participate in the project, I expect that just being good at English would allow you to enjoy the activities 200%.
- Accommodation
The lodging was cleaner than I expected and not very inconvenient to use. I think there won''t be difficulties living there as long as you clearly communicate your preferences to your teammates (where you want to sleep, when you want to shower…).
- Meals
On the Monday the project starts, everyone goes to the supermarket together to buy ingredients. Because the cost of ingredients is provided by the volunteer organization, you can''t buy unlimited ingredients you want to eat, and if there''s food you personally really want, you have to buy it separately.
Of course, grocery shopping at the supermarket is done after discussing with teammates (what dishes to make during the week...). For breakfast and lunch you mostly have to cook for yourself. Usually teammates make simple things like sandwiches or cereal. Dinner is made and eaten together. If you are good at cooking, you can treat and lead the meal for teammates, but if not, you''ll help with dinner preparation (ingredient prep, table setting, dishwashing, etc.).
- What to bring
It''s a matter of personal preference, but I think one set of clothes for volunteering, one set for wearing at the accommodation, and one decent set for traveling in New Zealand are enough. Instead, I recommend bringing lots of socks and underwear. It rained often (I recommend a small umbrella). It''s helpful to bring all the items they ask you to bring at orientation.
# My New Zealand travel TIP
In the first week I visited Hamilton near Auckland (the Hobbit filming location), in the second week I went to Rotorua to see the steaming lakes (geysers) and the Redwood forest, and in the last week I traveled around downtown Auckland.
Luckily I traveled with foreign friends. The cost of living in New Zealand seemed about 1.2 times higher than in Korea, and fun activities cost around 100,000 won; with transportation and participation fees, tourism was expensive. Auckland has many interesting sights in the nearby suburbs rather than in the city center. If you have the budget, it''s good to visit both the North and South Islands.
My gap year was
Experience ★★★★★
I think the experience of being with foreigners 24 hours a day was truly valuable.
Learning ★★★☆☆
Two weeks was short for learning English and environmental conservation, but I think it was sufficient for simply having a new experience.
Environment ★★★★☆
The environment and weather in New Zealand were really nice.
Safety★★★☆☆
Activities are conducted after safety training, but you must take care of yourself.
Leisure★★★★★
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays without volunteer activities provide plenty of time for leisure and travel, and you can travel with foreign friends.
What makes this project special
