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#Relief from impatience, peace of mind #Problem-solving skills, precious relationships #Reassurance that it's okay not to rush
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During my one-month stay in Paris, the urgent feeling that I must accomplish something gradually disappeared, and I began to find a more relaxed state of mind. Thanks to great relationships and wonderful scenery, this trip will leave me with many good memories, and I will likely miss it a lot in the future.
Bonjour! Living for a month in Paris Yoo Jeongmoon, Korea GapYear Participant (21 years old, college student) / 4-week gap year |
#I decided to go to Paris to think about what I truly wanted.
Hello, I am Yoo Jeongmoon, a 21-year-old student on leave from the Department of Physical Education. I spent three years in high school focused on becoming a physical education teacher, and when I entered university, the reality was so different from what I had imagined that after just one semester, I decided to take a leave of absence and go on a solo trip abroad.
I had never traveled abroad, nor had I ever traveled alone domestically, and I had never eaten at a restaurant alone. I was a rather introverted person. However, I didn’t want to go back to school, nor did I want to transfer; I was feeling powerless as my dreams were slipping away, so I wanted to leave everything behind and spend some time alone. I was afraid of new environments and disliked unexpected events. The idea of traveling alone to Paris at the age of 20 seemed too abstract to me. Still, I decided not to waste my leave of absence and thought that I could go to Paris to reflect on what I truly wanted while spending time alone.
While looking for gap year projects, I came across a variety of projects. There were many meaningful ones, like language learning and overseas volunteer projects, but the "living for a month" project caught my eye. At that time, I wanted more personal time and freedom rather than a structured project like language studies or volunteer work.
The location was Paris, France, a city everyone dreams of visiting, so I was really happy about that. It wasn’t a private room but a six-person shared room, which I ended up enjoying even more. Staying in a six-person room at a Korean guesthouse, I met a lot of different people, built many meaningful relationships, and had a happier experience during my month-long stay.
* For 유정문, who was seeking to find her career path and inner peace, a customized 1:1 personal mission was provided every day, focusing on self-reflection, a relaxed life, and new challenges and thoughts. A Gap Year Notebook was also provided to help her reflect and plan for the future.
#I realized that everything will work out somehow if you just face it head-on.
Before leaving, I was really worried. Honestly, when I was preparing for my departure, I was so busy with the preparations that I didn’t think much about it. However, on the flight to Paris, I had a lot of thoughts. I was going to live in a foreign city for a whole month with no one I knew, and it felt overwhelming. I was even worried about finding my way to the accommodation after landing at the airport.
But I realized that everything will work out somehow if you just face it head-on. Even though I wasn’t good at English and had trouble starting conversations, once the situation came, I somehow managed to ask around and find my accommodation. When I arrived at the guesthouse, I felt relieved, and my confidence grew. After safely arriving at the accommodation on the first day, I had no more worries or anxieties and really enjoyed my travels.
First of all, the detailed orientation for the gap year was incredibly helpful. I ordered a SIM card in Korea and picked it up at Incheon Airport. For currency exchange, I exchanged 1,000 euros and brought two cards, as I heard some cards might not work. Fortunately, both cards worked well.
I used cards to purchase subway tickets and pay at restaurants, so I didn’t use much cash. While it depends on the individual, I think exchanging 1,000 euros in cash wasn’t necessary in a city like Paris with a high risk of pickpocketing. I packed as many clothes as possible, but having two to three sets of tops and bottoms would have been sufficient. I didn’t purchase things like a museum pass in Korea. For transportation, I used carnet tickets throughout my stay, but for a one-month stay, I highly recommend getting a Navigo pass.
# I decided to take a gap year because I felt like I never had time to think about myself.
Through this gap year, I wanted to change my situation at the time. While others seemed to be finding their paths and moving forward, I felt stuck, unable to adapt to school, and had no choice but to take a leave of absence. It was incredibly frustrating, and this trip might have partially been a way to escape reality.
I wanted to take time to think about myself while living in Paris for a month. Having pushed forward without rest during middle and high school, I produced results but never had time to truly reflect on myself. That’s why I decided to take a gap year.
# A Day in Paris
Most days, I woke up around 8 AM, enjoyed breakfast prepared by my aunt, and spent the day exploring various tourist attractions in Paris. After about 2–3 weeks, I had visited all the main attractions in the city. Towards the end, I also ventured to Belgium, Mont Saint-Michel, Giverny, and Disneyland, exploring many areas nearby.
For lunch and dinner, I often ate out, though there were nights when I returned to the accommodation for dinner. On days when the weather was clear and it didn’t rain, I would go out again after dinner, taking walks along the Seine River or walking for two hours near the Eiffel Tower before heading back.
# The Biggest Lesson: It’s Not Too Late, and There’s No Need to Rush.
Before leaving, I thought that spending a month in Paris would provide me with clear answers—what I truly want, and who I am. But to be honest, that wasn’t the case. It wasn’t, yet I believe I gained something even greater.
When I told people in Korea that I was taking a leave of absence to go to Paris, their reactions were mixed. Some asked, “Is it okay to take a break after just one semester? Isn’t Paris too dangerous for a woman traveling alone?” Others said, “It’s fine. If you’re struggling, you can take an early break.” While I went to Paris with similar thoughts, the stories I heard from people I met at the accommodation were entirely different.
People who heard my story said things like, "How could you have such a cool idea at 20 years old? I wish I had thought like that earlier. Your trip sounds amazing—I'm so jealous." They also reassured me that it's never too late and that having these thoughts now is actually early. Hearing these words gradually eased my sense of urgency, and the mindset of needing to achieve or learn something significant during the trip began to fade away. Once that happened, I truly started to enjoy my journey. The biggest realization I had was that I'm not late, and there's no need to rush.
# Without these people, it wouldn't have been such a memorable experience
While staying at the accommodation, I met so many people. Some of them became particularly special to me, but unlike my month-long stay, most of them left after just a few days, five at most. Initially, this made it hard for me, as I struggled with getting close to people only to see them leave. I even felt homesick at times.
However, I also met many wonderful people. There was a time when four friends my age were staying at the accommodation simultaneously, and we had such a great connection that we still keep in touch. Besides them, I met many adults, older siblings, and even a senior from my school. I encountered so many people who were too precious to just meet once and part ways.
The trip to Paris itself was beautiful and enjoyable, but without these people, it wouldn’t have been as meaningful or memorable. Thanks to these amazing connections, I find myself longing for this journey even more.
