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When you do what you truly love, time and learning feel precious, and you realize that every moment is full of happiness. In my future choices, I will focus on myself and move toward what I truly want. The gap year has brought me a lot of personal growth and learning, and over the course of about 6 months, I was able to improve my leather crafting skills, which would normally take over three years to develop.
The gap year was a success! :)
Creating luxury handbags and receiving job training in Florence, Italy, the city of world-renowned leather craftsmanship! Da-eun Lee's Korea GapYear Review |
# Hello! I’m in my 20s, feeling a sense of new beginnings, growth, and true happiness.
Hello, I’m Da-eun Lee, 28 years old.
I graduated from a high school specializing in tax accounting and have accumulated around 8 years of experience in the field. After working and studying business management at university through a work-study program, I worked as an IT planner and marketer before joining the Gap Year project.
Before the gap year, I felt a sense of powerlessness and lack of achievement as an office worker, and because of that, I began pursuing a more autonomous life. Until now, I’ve chosen jobs based on the expectations of others, but moving forward, I want to break free from that, and find 'the path for myself' by quitting my job and joining the Gap Year project.
The reason I specifically chose the leather craft project is because, after enjoying leather crafting as a hobby for almost a year, I became convinced that if I made it my profession, I would experience even greater satisfaction and happiness.
The sense of accomplishment I gain from creating something out of nothing is huge for me. From designing the product and creating patterns to selecting materials, cutting the leather, and stitching, it’s all a process that I thoroughly enjoy.
Once I was certain that I wanted to make leather crafting my career,I looked for an expert course to improve my skills and gain more experience in a short time through studying abroad. During this search, I came across this school located in Florence, Italy. To enroll in this school, I chose Korean Gap Year because I wanted to receive help preparing for studying abroad, improve my leather crafting skills, and spend time growing and developing internally.
After joining the project, I am striving to live a proactive and meaningful life for myself.
*To help Da-eun Lee, who decided to leave her long career and embark on a journey to find a new career path, we provided a detailed consultation about the program she was considering. We made sure to guide her well about how Korean Gap Year can meet her needs. If you have concerns about selecting a Korean Gap Year program, you can receive a detailed consultation as well :)
>> If you're unsure about choosing a Korean Gap Year program, we can help you with a consultation!
# Focus on yourself and live a self-driven life. That’s where happiness lies.
My gap year goal was 'To become someone who leads my own life.' In the past, I was constantly focused on academics and work, always thinking about what others would think of me, and striving for something better. I chose a career based on the perceptions of others, and as I settled into my routine as a worker, I found myself overwhelmed with stress and frustration. During this time, I began to seriously reflect on what I truly wanted to do.
With that courage, I decided to join this project. Through the gap year, my goal was to avoid getting caught up in competition with others, to value the process, and to focus on doing things accurately, even if slowly, so I could truly lead my own life.
As I had hoped, during my gap year, I was able to truly focus on myself. I felt like I was in control of my own life and experienced true happiness, which I brought back with me. I’m still working to hold on to that feeling.
# Consistent Action and Documentation Led to Personal Growth.
When I think about what I gained through my gap year,
Firstly, I’m glad I learned to firmly remind myself that if I’m sure about what I want to do, I shouldn’t hesitate but take action immediately. Living abroad, even simple things like buying everyday items or groceries turned out to be difficult. It was my first experience, and with a different language, I felt a lot of stress. But, what was difficult at first became natural over time. From this, I learned the lesson: 'Just do it! Step by step.' At first, everyone is scared, but the key is to take it one step at a time. Success comes from taking on challenges, and even if you don’t succeed right away, many challenges will eventually lead to success or offer opportunities to overcome difficulties.
Secondly, the unintended records I kept during my time abroad now feel like a source of encouragement for my future self.
To overcome the boredom and loneliness of daily life abroad, I documented what I learned, my thoughts, and my missions on my blog every day. Due to the 7–8 hour time difference with Korea, it wasn’t easy to stay in touch with family and friends, which made me feel lonely and anxious at times. However, as I kept documenting, I no longer felt that loneliness or fear. After finishing my daily tasks, I would treat myself to a delicious dinner and reflect on my day, and before I knew it, it was time to sleep. :)
Those records, which I had slowly accumulated, became a source of nourishment for me when I looked back at them after the program ended. I was able to recognize where I had grown and what challenges I had overcome, which motivated me and gave me the sense that my past self was cheering me on, which felt great.
For those of you who are considering joining a gap year program, keeping a blog or YouTube channel to document your daily life or missions could be a great way to motivate yourself and find support, while also helping to alleviate loneliness. :)
Finally, the most memorable part was meeting friends from various nationalities who genuinely enjoy leather crafting. Until then, I didn’t have any friends around me who were interested in crafts. So, I was really happy to meet people with the same passion while participating in the project! We shared tips and exchanged ideas, and through this process, I met valuable connections who helped me solve problems :)
# Now that I've successfully completed my gap year, I’ve truly found what I want to do!
Now that I’ve successfully completed my gap year, I’ve truly found what I want to do. While attending the leather school in Florence, I looked forward to going to school every day and worked diligently on the tasks I could accomplish within the time I was given. When I returned to my accommodation, I made sure to organize the day's work without missing a single day.
When you do something you genuinely want to do, time and learning feel precious, and I realized that every moment is filled with happiness.
From now on, I’ll focus on myself in my choices and move towards the things I truly want to pursue. The gap year has brought me significant growth and learning internally, and in just six months, I was able to improve my leathercraft skills by over three years' worth.
Gap year = success! :)
# Leathercraft School in Florence, Italy: Here’s what my daily routine looks like!
The local school’s classes run from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with lunch from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
I would arrive by 9:30 AM and take out my crafting tools that I had organized at my designated station. Lessons usually start around 10:00 or 10:30 AM and are conducted in English. Each lesson lasts about 30 minutes. After the lessons, I would return to my station and work on creating pieces with leather. If I had questions, I could ask the assistant instructors for help.
In the beginning, there was extra time, so I would make another piece, but as the lessons progressed, there was so much to cover that by the afternoon, I sometimes couldn’t keep up with all the material, even though I worked hard to make pieces. It really depends on the individual's capacity.
For lunch, I usually brought a packed meal or got kebabs from a nearby shop. In the afternoon, I continued working diligently, and by around 5:20 PM, I’d clean up my tools and leave by 5:30 PM.
During my gap year project, I was able to travel extensively around Italy. I visited places like Rome, Venice, Milan, and small towns near Florence, including a Tuscan wine tour and San Gimignano. The travel was very convenient, especially with Italo Treno trains, so I think others could also use short vacations or weekends to explore nearby places.
During the fall semester I attended, I had a two-week Christmas vacation, which gave me the opportunity to travel to nearby countries. I visited Vienna in Austria, Paris in France, and London in the UK by plane. Since traveling from Korea to Europe is quite difficult, I highly recommend taking advantage of such opportunities to travel to surrounding countries!
# My Italy Florence Leather Craft School Gap Year Preparation Tip!
Since I had never stayed abroad for an extended period before, I was concerned about food, lodging, and warnings about pickpocketing in Italy. However, with proper preparation to prevent these issues, I was able to live abroad for a long period without major problems :)
I brought only essential items that I couldn't purchase locally, such as a mini rice cooker and electric kettle in case I wanted to eat Korean food, as well as a backpack to prevent pickpocketing. Among these, the mini rice cooker and electric kettle were extremely useful, and I think they're essential items for studying abroad! Highly recommend it ㅎㅎ
For daily life, I cooked delicious meals with fresh ingredients from the local supermarket, and since I stayed in a tourist area, there were no issues with shopping or buying necessary items. Additionally, the dormitory-style accommodation I stayed in was safe, clean, and comfortable.
Lastly, I made sure not to visit remote places or wander around late at night, and always kept my belongings close to me. Thanks to this, I was able to return home safely without any pickpocketing issues. Through this experience, I realized that as long as you follow basic precautions, you can live abroad safely and without much worry.
Before departure, I made sure to complete all the necessary preparations. This included applying for and receiving a long-term visa, booking and confirming flight tickets, applying for travel insurance for the duration of my stay, confirming deposits and documents for accommodations, and preparing the necessary documents for a residence permit application. I made sure everything was in order and had a smooth stay abroad. ㅎㅎ
# My Gap Year at a Leather Craft School in Florence, Italy!
Experience ★★★★★
: It was a valuable experience that greatly helped me shape my life values going forward.
Learning ★★★★★
: I improved my leather crafting skills, which would have taken over 3 years to learn in Korea, in just 20 weeks. Moreover, I was satisfied with the inner growth and lessons I gained.
Environment ★★★★
: Living for 6 months in an environment where I could focus solely on leather crafting was truly, incredibly happy! :)
Safety ★★★★★
: As long as you follow the basic safety rules for living abroad, I think you can stay here without much worry. However, since Korea is so safe, I did feel the safety of Korea much more.
Leisure ★★★★★
: I was a little disappointed that there weren't other leisure activities outside of school to explore. However, since this is Florence, the birthplace of art, I think I could have had a great time exploring the nearby parks, museums, and tourist spots!
If you're curious about more information on Idaun's Leather Craft School Project in Florence, Italy?
Click the banner below!
|
When you do what you truly love, time and learning feel precious, and you realize that every moment is full of happiness. In my future choices, I will focus on myself and move toward what I truly want. The gap year has brought me a lot of personal growth and learning, and over the course of about 6 months, I was able to improve my leather crafting skills, which would normally take over three years to develop.
The gap year was a success! :)
Creating luxury handbags and receiving job training in Florence, Italy, the city of world-renowned leather craftsmanship! Da-eun Lee's Korea GapYear Review |
# Hello! I’m in my 20s, feeling a sense of new beginnings, growth, and true happiness.
Hello, I’m Da-eun Lee, 28 years old.
I graduated from a high school specializing in tax accounting and have accumulated around 8 years of experience in the field. After working and studying business management at university through a work-study program, I worked as an IT planner and marketer before joining the Gap Year project.
Before the gap year, I felt a sense of powerlessness and lack of achievement as an office worker, and because of that, I began pursuing a more autonomous life. Until now, I’ve chosen jobs based on the expectations of others, but moving forward, I want to break free from that, and find 'the path for myself' by quitting my job and joining the Gap Year project.
The reason I specifically chose the leather craft project is because, after enjoying leather crafting as a hobby for almost a year, I became convinced that if I made it my profession, I would experience even greater satisfaction and happiness.
The sense of accomplishment I gain from creating something out of nothing is huge for me. From designing the product and creating patterns to selecting materials, cutting the leather, and stitching, it’s all a process that I thoroughly enjoy.
Once I was certain that I wanted to make leather crafting my career,I looked for an expert course to improve my skills and gain more experience in a short time through studying abroad. During this search, I came across this school located in Florence, Italy. To enroll in this school, I chose Korean Gap Year because I wanted to receive help preparing for studying abroad, improve my leather crafting skills, and spend time growing and developing internally.
After joining the project, I am striving to live a proactive and meaningful life for myself.
*To help Da-eun Lee, who decided to leave her long career and embark on a journey to find a new career path, we provided a detailed consultation about the program she was considering. We made sure to guide her well about how Korean Gap Year can meet her needs. If you have concerns about selecting a Korean Gap Year program, you can receive a detailed consultation as well :)
>> If you're unsure about choosing a Korean Gap Year program, we can help you with a consultation!
# Focus on yourself and live a self-driven life. That’s where happiness lies.
My gap year goal was 'To become someone who leads my own life.' In the past, I was constantly focused on academics and work, always thinking about what others would think of me, and striving for something better. I chose a career based on the perceptions of others, and as I settled into my routine as a worker, I found myself overwhelmed with stress and frustration. During this time, I began to seriously reflect on what I truly wanted to do.
With that courage, I decided to join this project. Through the gap year, my goal was to avoid getting caught up in competition with others, to value the process, and to focus on doing things accurately, even if slowly, so I could truly lead my own life.
As I had hoped, during my gap year, I was able to truly focus on myself. I felt like I was in control of my own life and experienced true happiness, which I brought back with me. I’m still working to hold on to that feeling.
# Consistent Action and Documentation Led to Personal Growth.
When I think about what I gained through my gap year,
Firstly, I’m glad I learned to firmly remind myself that if I’m sure about what I want to do, I shouldn’t hesitate but take action immediately. Living abroad, even simple things like buying everyday items or groceries turned out to be difficult. It was my first experience, and with a different language, I felt a lot of stress. But, what was difficult at first became natural over time. From this, I learned the lesson: 'Just do it! Step by step.' At first, everyone is scared, but the key is to take it one step at a time. Success comes from taking on challenges, and even if you don’t succeed right away, many challenges will eventually lead to success or offer opportunities to overcome difficulties.
Secondly, the unintended records I kept during my time abroad now feel like a source of encouragement for my future self.
To overcome the boredom and loneliness of daily life abroad, I documented what I learned, my thoughts, and my missions on my blog every day. Due to the 7–8 hour time difference with Korea, it wasn’t easy to stay in touch with family and friends, which made me feel lonely and anxious at times. However, as I kept documenting, I no longer felt that loneliness or fear. After finishing my daily tasks, I would treat myself to a delicious dinner and reflect on my day, and before I knew it, it was time to sleep. :)
Those records, which I had slowly accumulated, became a source of nourishment for me when I looked back at them after the program ended. I was able to recognize where I had grown and what challenges I had overcome, which motivated me and gave me the sense that my past self was cheering me on, which felt great.
For those of you who are considering joining a gap year program, keeping a blog or YouTube channel to document your daily life or missions could be a great way to motivate yourself and find support, while also helping to alleviate loneliness. :)
Finally, the most memorable part was meeting friends from various nationalities who genuinely enjoy leather crafting. Until then, I didn’t have any friends around me who were interested in crafts. So, I was really happy to meet people with the same passion while participating in the project! We shared tips and exchanged ideas, and through this process, I met valuable connections who helped me solve problems :)
# Now that I've successfully completed my gap year, I’ve truly found what I want to do!
Now that I’ve successfully completed my gap year, I’ve truly found what I want to do. While attending the leather school in Florence, I looked forward to going to school every day and worked diligently on the tasks I could accomplish within the time I was given. When I returned to my accommodation, I made sure to organize the day's work without missing a single day.
When you do something you genuinely want to do, time and learning feel precious, and I realized that every moment is filled with happiness.
From now on, I’ll focus on myself in my choices and move towards the things I truly want to pursue. The gap year has brought me significant growth and learning internally, and in just six months, I was able to improve my leathercraft skills by over three years' worth.
Gap year = success! :)
# Leathercraft School in Florence, Italy: Here’s what my daily routine looks like!
The local school’s classes run from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with lunch from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
I would arrive by 9:30 AM and take out my crafting tools that I had organized at my designated station. Lessons usually start around 10:00 or 10:30 AM and are conducted in English. Each lesson lasts about 30 minutes. After the lessons, I would return to my station and work on creating pieces with leather. If I had questions, I could ask the assistant instructors for help.
In the beginning, there was extra time, so I would make another piece, but as the lessons progressed, there was so much to cover that by the afternoon, I sometimes couldn’t keep up with all the material, even though I worked hard to make pieces. It really depends on the individual's capacity.
For lunch, I usually brought a packed meal or got kebabs from a nearby shop. In the afternoon, I continued working diligently, and by around 5:20 PM, I’d clean up my tools and leave by 5:30 PM.
During my gap year project, I was able to travel extensively around Italy. I visited places like Rome, Venice, Milan, and small towns near Florence, including a Tuscan wine tour and San Gimignano. The travel was very convenient, especially with Italo Treno trains, so I think others could also use short vacations or weekends to explore nearby places.
During the fall semester I attended, I had a two-week Christmas vacation, which gave me the opportunity to travel to nearby countries. I visited Vienna in Austria, Paris in France, and London in the UK by plane. Since traveling from Korea to Europe is quite difficult, I highly recommend taking advantage of such opportunities to travel to surrounding countries!
# My Italy Florence Leather Craft School Gap Year Preparation Tip!
Since I had never stayed abroad for an extended period before, I was concerned about food, lodging, and warnings about pickpocketing in Italy. However, with proper preparation to prevent these issues, I was able to live abroad for a long period without major problems :)
I brought only essential items that I couldn't purchase locally, such as a mini rice cooker and electric kettle in case I wanted to eat Korean food, as well as a backpack to prevent pickpocketing. Among these, the mini rice cooker and electric kettle were extremely useful, and I think they're essential items for studying abroad! Highly recommend it ㅎㅎ
For daily life, I cooked delicious meals with fresh ingredients from the local supermarket, and since I stayed in a tourist area, there were no issues with shopping or buying necessary items. Additionally, the dormitory-style accommodation I stayed in was safe, clean, and comfortable.
Lastly, I made sure not to visit remote places or wander around late at night, and always kept my belongings close to me. Thanks to this, I was able to return home safely without any pickpocketing issues. Through this experience, I realized that as long as you follow basic precautions, you can live abroad safely and without much worry.
Before departure, I made sure to complete all the necessary preparations. This included applying for and receiving a long-term visa, booking and confirming flight tickets, applying for travel insurance for the duration of my stay, confirming deposits and documents for accommodations, and preparing the necessary documents for a residence permit application. I made sure everything was in order and had a smooth stay abroad. ㅎㅎ
# My Gap Year at a Leather Craft School in Florence, Italy!
Experience ★★★★★
: It was a valuable experience that greatly helped me shape my life values going forward.
Learning ★★★★★
: I improved my leather crafting skills, which would have taken over 3 years to learn in Korea, in just 20 weeks. Moreover, I was satisfied with the inner growth and lessons I gained.
Environment ★★★★
: Living for 6 months in an environment where I could focus solely on leather crafting was truly, incredibly happy! :)
Safety ★★★★★
: As long as you follow the basic safety rules for living abroad, I think you can stay here without much worry. However, since Korea is so safe, I did feel the safety of Korea much more.
Leisure ★★★★★
: I was a little disappointed that there weren't other leisure activities outside of school to explore. However, since this is Florence, the birthplace of art, I think I could have had a great time exploring the nearby parks, museums, and tourist spots!
If you're curious about more information on Idaun's Leather Craft School Project in Florence, Italy?
Click the banner below!
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