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#Changed from a passive personality to a more proactive one #Confidence and English-speaking skills #The value of friendship across borders
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The bond between the guys is so strong that even now we have a chat room where we check in on each other, share photos, and stay in touch. After I went on the trip, my friends saw my pictures and were all envious, saying they want to try it too. Don't hesitate after reading this review! I highly recommend it!!!
A Special Cross-Country Trip with Youth from All Over the World Park Jungwoo, Korea GapYear Participant (21 years old, University Student) / 26 Days of Gap Year |
# Change Your Shy Personality and Create a Turning Point in Your Life!
Hello, I am one of the participants in the cross-country project that took place from August 9th to September 3rd.
Actually, I was initially thinking about going to the U.S. for a short-term language course. However, considering the high cost and the fact that I wouldn't be using English daily even if I attended a language school, I realized I'd likely be alone a lot. That's when I came across this project.
I thought to myself, 'If I create an environment where I am surrounded by foreigners and have to use English to survive, it might help me a lot,' and immediately signed up. Of course, I also had a lot of concerns about whether I should do this program or not. I'm sure many people have had the same thoughts.
Moreover, I am still 21 years old, lacking social experience, worried about possibly facing racism, not very good at English, and naturally, a shy person, so I was of course anxious and scared. However, I also wanted to change my personality and thought this experience would be a major turning point in my life, so after about three months of thinking, I signed up for the emergency package two weeks before the program started.
Before going to the amusement park, we all got matching outfits at the outlet (except for me, everyone else looked great...)
On the way to Las Vegas on the first day, I was feeling so exhausted and wondered why I had to feel stressed during a trip. Everyone was already becoming close, taking photos and laughing, while no one was talking to me. The psychological pressure and mental exhaustion were overwhelming. The only interaction I had that night was a few words with my roommate. I was so tired that I almost gave up and wanted to go back to Korea.
That was when I decided to change myself. I told myself, 'Since I've come this far, I'll be more active and try to get along with others.' The next morning, when I met the group again, I thought, 'Where did that resolution go?'
Of course, at first it was awkward and clumsy, but I started asking questions like, 'Where are you from?', 'How old are you?' and that’s when the foreign friends started talking to me, taking pictures, and we began to get closer.
I tried many other activities and enjoyed them, but strangely, the thing I remember most is when we were at the Grand Canyon and the Wi-Fi didn’t work in the accommodation, so many of the friends gathered in one room to play games and share stories about our experiences, culture, jobs, future, and relationships. We stayed up all night talking, and that’s what stuck with me the most. I think it’s because we were all at the same stage in life, and those small conversations became even more memorable and impactful. That was when we really became close. Haha.
Another memorable episode was that I was 19 in the U.S., so I couldn’t go into bars. I was 21 in Korea...
However, one day my roommate had an idea, and I used my Korean driver's license, entering my birthdate as the driver's license number... haha. So, we decided to take a photo as a memento!!
(Of course, everyone should not do this. I even got caught by the police at the end and got kicked out of the bar!)
Also, I was especially thankful because the guide was amazing. Our guide was 24, around the same age as most participants, and treated us like friends rather than just a guide. We quickly became close, and if we had any questions, he would answer kindly.
Every day, he would make sure to ask everyone if they had any questions and would talk to us, which made it comfortable. If anything came up, we could talk about it easily, which was great.
# Friends I Gained from Around the World Through the Courage to Approach First
Of course, with the help of the guide, I was able to get close to the group members, but I think the most important thing was the courage to approach first and start talking.
Like the reviews from others, there were many Australians, and also people from the UK, Poland, Germany, New Zealand, and other parts of the world. Everyone was understanding when I made mistakes, treated me kindly, and there was no racism, so I’ve gained a new perspective on the West.
Honestly, I have no regrets at all, and I’m thinking about another project!!
The bond between the guys was so strong that we still have a chat group where we check in on each other, share photos, and stay in touch. Hehe~
After I came back from the trip, my friends saw my photos and said they were all jealous and wanted to try it too. I wanted to share this great experience not just for me, but for others to feel it too, so I’m leaving this review.
After reading this review, you shouldn’t hesitate!!! I highly recommend it!!!!!
# My Gap Year Tip
(Language)
I was originally planning to go on a language study program in the U.S., so before I left, I started a study group. No matter how high your English test scores are, if you can’t speak it in real life, it’s useless, so I practiced English conversation for about 3 months through the study group before I went.
Even though it was just 3 months, I had some foundation, so while traveling, I intentionally spoke more with my roommates and friends. Before I knew it, I saw myself improving in English. I’m really shy by nature, but I put in a lot of effort and pushed myself because I knew I needed to use the language a lot to improve.
(Accommodation)
Most of the accommodations were very clean and well-managed, so I stayed comfortably. However, my roommate used an iron every day to iron her wrinkled clothes, and some hotels didn’t have an iron, so it’s something to keep in mind. Also, some accommodations didn’t have washing machines, so it’s worth considering.
(Meals)
About two-thirds of the meals were provided, but when they weren’t, they recommended places to eat, or we would take the bus to food markets. I didn’t really have to worry about meals!! (If you like meat, you’ll love it here. I ate a lot of meat in the U.S.!)
- There’s almost no spicy food, so I did crave ramen a bit hehe
(Things to Bring)
- A neck pillow (I really needed this!)
If you have any insurance documents in English, it’s a good idea to bring them along.
My Gap Year
Experience ★★★★★
Needless to say, I shared my photos and experiences with my friends, and they all said they wanted to go. It was truly a valuable experience for me.
Learning ★★★★★
Since everyone speaks only English, I naturally improved my conversation skills and was able to learn slang and various expressions as well!
Environment ★★★★★
The bus was so clean, and the accommodations were spotless, leaving no room for complaints.
Safety ★★★★★
No matter where we went, we were always accompanied by a guide who kept an eye on us, so I never felt unsafe.
Leisure ★★★★★
I was so happy to experience various cultures and activities that I could never do back in Korea.
Here’s a huge release of travel photos I couldn’t show before!!!
Before going to a bar, we got excited and even built a pyramid like this! That day, my costume was a bit hip-hop-ish, I think!! hehe
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
