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#Increased sense of challenge and adventure, improved adaptability to unfamiliar environments #Volunteering in Portugal, friends from various nationalities #Meaningfulness, nostalgia
To the Korean volunteers who come after me: don''t be afraid just because you can''t speak English.Because you can''t speak EnglishForeign friends won''t look down on you. They''ll actually try to help you.Even if it''s slowly, try to speak.Express what you want to say.
A special volunteer trip in Lisbon, Portugal — one of the most beautiful places in the world!
Oh Jungseok, gap-year gapper (20 years old, university student) / 4-week gap year |
It was truly meaningful.
Hello!! I''m Oh Jungseok, who just turned 20. This is my first time traveling to Europe and my first time doing overseas volunteer work. I went to a summer school in Slovenia to enjoy my summer vacation, and...I wanted to stay in Europe longer, so I applied for the Lisbon volunteer program.
The reason I chose the project was that I wanted to go to Portugal and Spain...I applied because there was a volunteer opportunity where I could do meaningful work while traveling. And it was truly meaningful.
Through this project I wanted to spend a meaningful summer vacation.
* For Oh Jungseok, who wanted new experiences and relaxation, activities to enjoy with foreign friends, customized 1:1 personal missions for new experiences and challenges were provided daily, and a gap-year notebook to reflect on himself and make plans was also provided.
>> Participation fee 100 won! Go to the gap-year mission
A typical day in Portugal
There were a total of three groups per day: morning, afternoon, and evening. Each group worked three hours every day. About 2–3 people worked per group. Fortunately, my volunteer site was a 10-minute walk away so I enjoyed it (Lisbon is a city of hills), but it was also tiring. The rest of the time was free. Weekends were free. They were closed on public holidays. We also had Thursdays off.
You''ll get close with many foreign friends (they''re all here to volunteer so they''re kind!!!). I have friends from Canada, the USA, Brazil, etc., whom I send at least a monthly check-in message to.
Every day felt like a dream. Truly.
I made many friends and traveled to nearby places, creating joyful memories.These are memories I still can''t forget.Although I''ll go to the military in March, these are memories I definitely want to revisit again in the summer after I''m discharged.
You''ll be able to accumulate many enjoyable experiences. The locals you meet at the volunteer site warmly welcome you.The mini croissant I tried there for the first time was so delicious it still appears in my dreams.The staff at the local organization were always smiling and joked around a lot; every day felt like a dream.Truly. Every evening we bought beer, wine, and snacks, played games, and watched movies, spending warm nights together.
Through this I felt the kindness of many people.
As for the volunteering: at the site, many people take food donated by restaurants, put it into containers and store it in the fridge, then put the stored food into shopping bags and deliver it.
I also tried putting food into containers, going to restaurants to pick up food, and delivering the food.Through this I felt people''s warmth — how everyone joins forces to carry out a single volunteer project.
# Foreign friends won''t ignore you. They''ll actually try to help.
To the Korean volunteers who will come after me: please don''t be afraid because you don''t speak English.Not being able to speak English...Foreign friends won''t ignore you. They will actually try to help.Even if slowly, try to speak.Convey what you want to say.
They will wait until you finish speaking. Don''t just let the people you meet here go—make them your friends. That will make your trip more meaningful. If you cook well, buy ingredients and cook for them; if you are good at games, teach them Korean drinking games. Nothing brings people closer than drinking games~
# My gap year TIP
- Language
You don''t need to study English or anything. All you need is confidence.
- Meals
Anna at the volunteer organization makes really delicious food (you''ll be her test subject).
- What to bring
The accommodation provides beach towels and towels, but they only lend one each.
- My own TIP
Love Korean food!! (Bring instant ramen; bring pork stir-fry sauce and make it for your friends and you''ll become a global insider from that day on.)
# My Portugal travel spots
For me, the hostel''s living-room sofa was everything. (Oh, if you go in the summer you''ll be able to eat lots of cheap peaches. You''ll understand if I tell you my nickname was “pitch” (peach + bitch).)
I love the route of taking the train to the beach every weekend to swim and then heading to Belém to devour egg tarts!!!!! Highly recommend.
You absolutely must go to Sintra. (My best photos came from there.) See the castle in Sintra, buy pizza at the train station, and on the way back stop at the Time Out Market to eat something delicious — I also recommend that route.
My gap year was
Experience★★★★★
You can meet friends from different backgrounds and languages and create new memories.
Learning★★★★★
Environment★★★★★
It''s a great environment for making friends.
Safety★★★★★
Very, very safe!!
Leisure★★★★★
10 points!! You won''t get bored even if you don''t leave the accommodation for a month. (Especially with free Netflix and the snacks provided!!! There''s a yoga mat to exercise on and a large yard!!! The fun and friendly Alfonso will help you.)
To the Korean volunteers who come after me: don''t be afraid just because you can''t speak English.Because you can''t speak EnglishForeign friends won''t look down on you. They''ll actually try to help you.Even if it''s slowly, try to speak.Express what you want to say.
A special volunteer trip in Lisbon, Portugal — one of the most beautiful places in the world!
Oh Jungseok, gap-year gapper (20 years old, university student) / 4-week gap year |
It was truly meaningful.
Hello!! I''m Oh Jungseok, who just turned 20. This is my first time traveling to Europe and my first time doing overseas volunteer work. I went to a summer school in Slovenia to enjoy my summer vacation, and...I wanted to stay in Europe longer, so I applied for the Lisbon volunteer program.
The reason I chose the project was that I wanted to go to Portugal and Spain...I applied because there was a volunteer opportunity where I could do meaningful work while traveling. And it was truly meaningful.
Through this project I wanted to spend a meaningful summer vacation.
* For Oh Jungseok, who wanted new experiences and relaxation, activities to enjoy with foreign friends, customized 1:1 personal missions for new experiences and challenges were provided daily, and a gap-year notebook to reflect on himself and make plans was also provided.
>> Participation fee 100 won! Go to the gap-year mission
A typical day in Portugal
There were a total of three groups per day: morning, afternoon, and evening. Each group worked three hours every day. About 2–3 people worked per group. Fortunately, my volunteer site was a 10-minute walk away so I enjoyed it (Lisbon is a city of hills), but it was also tiring. The rest of the time was free. Weekends were free. They were closed on public holidays. We also had Thursdays off.
You''ll get close with many foreign friends (they''re all here to volunteer so they''re kind!!!). I have friends from Canada, the USA, Brazil, etc., whom I send at least a monthly check-in message to.
Every day felt like a dream. Truly.
I made many friends and traveled to nearby places, creating joyful memories.These are memories I still can''t forget.Although I''ll go to the military in March, these are memories I definitely want to revisit again in the summer after I''m discharged.
You''ll be able to accumulate many enjoyable experiences. The locals you meet at the volunteer site warmly welcome you.The mini croissant I tried there for the first time was so delicious it still appears in my dreams.The staff at the local organization were always smiling and joked around a lot; every day felt like a dream.Truly. Every evening we bought beer, wine, and snacks, played games, and watched movies, spending warm nights together.
Through this I felt the kindness of many people.
As for the volunteering: at the site, many people take food donated by restaurants, put it into containers and store it in the fridge, then put the stored food into shopping bags and deliver it.
I also tried putting food into containers, going to restaurants to pick up food, and delivering the food.Through this I felt people''s warmth — how everyone joins forces to carry out a single volunteer project.
# Foreign friends won''t ignore you. They''ll actually try to help.
To the Korean volunteers who will come after me: please don''t be afraid because you don''t speak English.Not being able to speak English...Foreign friends won''t ignore you. They will actually try to help.Even if slowly, try to speak.Convey what you want to say.
They will wait until you finish speaking. Don''t just let the people you meet here go—make them your friends. That will make your trip more meaningful. If you cook well, buy ingredients and cook for them; if you are good at games, teach them Korean drinking games. Nothing brings people closer than drinking games~
# My gap year TIP
- Language
You don''t need to study English or anything. All you need is confidence.
- Meals
Anna at the volunteer organization makes really delicious food (you''ll be her test subject).
- What to bring
The accommodation provides beach towels and towels, but they only lend one each.
- My own TIP
Love Korean food!! (Bring instant ramen; bring pork stir-fry sauce and make it for your friends and you''ll become a global insider from that day on.)
# My Portugal travel spots
For me, the hostel''s living-room sofa was everything. (Oh, if you go in the summer you''ll be able to eat lots of cheap peaches. You''ll understand if I tell you my nickname was “pitch” (peach + bitch).)
I love the route of taking the train to the beach every weekend to swim and then heading to Belém to devour egg tarts!!!!! Highly recommend.
You absolutely must go to Sintra. (My best photos came from there.) See the castle in Sintra, buy pizza at the train station, and on the way back stop at the Time Out Market to eat something delicious — I also recommend that route.
My gap year was
Experience★★★★★
You can meet friends from different backgrounds and languages and create new memories.
Learning★★★★★
Environment★★★★★
It''s a great environment for making friends.
Safety★★★★★
Very, very safe!!
Leisure★★★★★
10 points!! You won''t get bored even if you don''t leave the accommodation for a month. (Especially with free Netflix and the snacks provided!!! There''s a yoga mat to exercise on and a large yard!!! The fun and friendly Alfonso will help you.)
What makes this project special
