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#Learned the joy of being together rather than alone #Enjoyable rural/farm activity experiences #Happiness; energy gained from wonderful people
Originally, I thought, ''If I come back after spending time leisurely by myself, that''ll be enough!'' However,Thanks to the incredibly kind people, I was able to fully enjoy the ''joy of being together.''
Plunged into green charm! A gap-year stay on a farm in Hokkaido, Japan
Park Kyung-ah — Gap-year participant Gapper (22, gap year after quitting job) / 6-week gap year |
# I decided to take a gap year because I wanted time for myself.
Hello. I''m 22-year-old Park Kyung-ah. I was working at a company andAfter I quit, I wanted to travel and have some time for myself, so I decided to take a gap year.
When I was in Korea, after experiencing rural activities several times,I became eager to experience rural life abroad as well.While looking for projects I could join, I came across this project on Gap Year as if by fate, and compared it with other activities andafter comparing various conditions, I felt this place suited me, so I decided to participate.
I didn''t have grand goals like improving my Japanese or growing myself through this gap year.I just thought it would be nice if, after finishing the gap year, I could feel to myself, ''I''m glad I went!''If I had had goals, depending on success or failure it could have been a satisfying or disappointing gap year, but since I went without goals and lightly, there was no need to produce tangible results to show — I could just have fun.
* For Park Kyung-ah, who had a strong desire for various experiences, a tailored 1:1 personal mission was provided daily to give her mental space and reflect on her relationships, and a gap year notebook was provided to help her reflect and make plans for herself.
# Local schedule in Japan
Times vary slightly depending on local circumstances, but breakfast is at 7 a.m., so you wake up and finish preparing before that and help set the table. Work starts promptly at 8 a.m. (There is also a break between the morning and afternoon tasks.)
Lunch and rest are from 12 to 1, and afternoon work runs from 1 to 5. Dinner is at 6:30, so you should also come down early and help prepare before that. Showers can be taken before meals or at any convenient time after eating.
# I was very impressed by how attentive they were to volunteers at every moment.
Because I was interested in rural work enough to seek out and try rural activities even in Korea,the activities here were very enjoyable. Of course, the work was by no means easy — even the resident male staff found it physically demanding,it wasn''t. However,After working up a sweat, drinkinga sip of water and taking a bite of a tasty snack while looking at the beautiful nature — I can''t tell you how happy that made me.Above all, the meals eaten after working hard were truly the best.
The volunteers I worked with were very kind, but especiallyI was so happy because of the host families.When I went into town and returned, they''d hand me a souvenir as a gift, and the day before I left they made a delicious cake from potatoes for me.
Not only did they pick me up by car on the way to and from trips, but on days off we would all go into town together to eat sushi.If I listed everything one by one it would be endless, but I was very impressed by how they took care of the volunteers at every moment.
Because I was exposed to Japanese at every moment, I could naturally feel my Japanese skills improving.I wasn''t good at Japanese or English, but surprisingly, by using gestures and body language I was still able to convey my meaning.Being good at the language would be ideal, but here I definitely learned that you can still have a great time even if you''re not.
# People I met in Japan
Not only the volunteersVarious guests visit regularly.At first I worried whether I would be able to adapt well, butWhen I said I was Korean, even if my language was a little lacking, everyone understood me, so I was able to have a pleasant time.
From Japanese friends my age to adorable girls from Osaka, a German girl with outstanding cooking skills, and a Japanese woman traveling Hokkaido by bicycle — I was extremely happy thanks to the positive energy from these great people.
# For prospective participants
I did a farm stay in Hokkaido from mid-July to the end of August, which is Hokkaido''s summer, and if you come believing it''s cool even in summer you might be a bit surprised. For example, at the end of July the daytime temperature in Hokkaido rose above 30°C, and I remember struggling quite a bit when working outdoors.
If you''re very sensitive to heat, you should be careful during that period. (Because summer is so short and cool, accommodations don''t have air conditioning. So if sudden heat comes, you may experience stifling heat.)But evenings can become very cool, so you''ll need an outer layer like a cardigan or jacket. I get cold easily, so I had to wear a short-sleeve shirt with a white cardigan and also the jacket the host couple lent me.
And during July–August the main work is pulling weeds in the blazing sun. You pull the large ones by hand and use tools for the small ones, and because you have to bend your back in the process it''s really tough. (I also had a sore back at first and struggled a bit.)
On top of that, with the hot sun beating down, if you lack stamina I would recommend avoiding this period. Above all, compared to other regions, Hokkaido doesn''t get direct damage from typhoons, but the effects can cause frequent or heavy rain. I remember feeling quite down because while preparing for the trip there was a rain forecast every day.
Also, there is the Obon holiday in August. During that time, everywhere is crowded and accommodation prices rise, so if you''re planning a trip you''ll have the hassle of considering both the weather and the holiday. (I''m writing this because my travel schedule was repeatedly pushed back due to the weather and I ended up traveling during the holiday. I hope no one else has to experience that!)
# ''The feeling of being together''
After doing a gap year, nothing visibly changed, but I met many good people and the memories of being together then remain, so I''m still happy :)
At first I thought spending carefree time alone would be enough! However,Thanks to the very kind people, I was able to fully enjoy the ''joy of being together.''We prepared together, carried luggage together, pulled weeds together, rode bicycles together. Rather than being alone, it seemed I was always with someone. Language sometimes held me back, butFor me, who was used to the stress that comes from relationships with people, the positive energy given by relationships with others was so wonderful.
# My gap year TIPs
- Language
I didn''t do separate study, but I packed a small grammar book before going to Hokkaido. Sometimes I used a translator for communication, and when the sentences seemed a bit awkward I relied a lot on the grammar book''s help.
- Accommodation
It''s a very comfortable room. However, because Hokkaido''s climate has a short, cool summer, it''s a good idea to bring an outer layer like a cardigan or jacket.
- Meals
Three meals a day of really delicious home-cooked dishes are provided. Table setting and washing up after meals are done together by all the volunteers, so it isn''t very strenuous. Just come with a cheerful attitude.
- Things to bring
Items that were inconvenient to be without:Laundry net/bag. I personally hand-wash some items so I didn''t need it, but since the washing machine is shared by families and volunteers, I strongly recommend bringing a personal laundry bag.
Items that were useful to have:Hangers. You can fold and organize clothes, but if you don''t want wrinkles it''s good to bring extra hangers. The three hangers I brought just in case were really useful. However, you don''t need to bother bringing towels. The washing machine runs every day, so towels never run out and everyone can use them comfortably. You can bring your own, but if your bag gets too bulky, feel free to leave them behind.
Tips about what to bring:All daily necessities are provided, so there''s no need to haul heavy luggage. If you need something, you can order it online, and sometimes we all go shopping together at the supermarket, so you can also buy things as needed.
My Hokkaido travel TIP
Hokkaido has many famous tourist spots like Biei and Otaru, but they are quite far from the accommodation, so I wouldn''t particularly recommend them. (Editor: The photo is a Biei picture sent by Park Kyung-a.)
A nearby city is Asahikawa. It''s best known for its zoo, and the Snow Museum is also a nice place for a quick visit.
In my case I visited the sunflower fields in Hokuryu town. Using the train and bus, you can get there with relatively little time and expense. The wide expanse of sunflowers is truly spectacular, and they also rent bicycles, so it''s great for a leisurely ride.
My gap year is
Experience ★★★★★
It''s a place with many opportunities for diverse experiences. I was able to fully enjoy the rural pleasures that you can''t experience in the city.
Learning ★★★★★
I strongly recommend it if you want to improve your Japanese. In my case, by actually experiencing Japanese culture I gained a broader perspective and began to see the world differently.
Environment ★★★★★
The surroundings are typical rural scenery. There''s a large mountain nearby, so you can enjoy beautiful views from wherever you stand.
Safety ★★★★★
Work shoes and work clothes are all provided, and you won''t be assigned dangerous tasks, so you can feel at ease.
Leisure ★★★★★
On days off we often go out together. You can travel on your own or go out with others to eat at nice restaurants, so you can enjoy fulfilling leisure time.
