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#An opportunity to accept myself and become more grounded #Growth through bonding with the children #Precious time; regret and longing
Since you''re going to Vietnam, be sure to enjoy it a lot! What I was most impressed by when watching my foreign friends was that they enjoy both having fun and volunteering. Recharging warm love with children in Hanoi, Vietnam Jo Hye-min — Gap Year family gapper (26, university student) / 4-week gap year |
# Looking back now, it''s another precious time that brings up regrets and longing.
Hello! I''m Jo Hye-min, participating in the gap year project for the second time!This project gave me an opportunity to think deeply and consider the direction I will take going forward.
As mentioned in the mission, while the first project (language study in Malta) provided the environment and time that allowed me to love myself,the second project (kindergarten volunteer work) became a period in which I could accept myself as I am and strengthen myself.
Perhaps because of that, this project was actually a bit difficult (laughs), butLooking back now, it''s another precious time that brings up regrets and longing.
* For Jo Hye-min, who had a strong desire to change herself, a personalized 1:1 daily mission related to expressiveness and new experiences was provided, and a gap year notebook to reflect on herself and make plans was also provided.
# By experiencing how I feel, I came to know what I like and dislike.
I chose this project because I wanted to try to solve the concerns I had about myself.When I received gap year counseling, the consultant recommended it, but at first I hesitated.At that time, it was a challenge of something new I hadn''t considered, so I was very afraid,and I couldn''t grasp how volunteering would help solve the parts of my worries.
But I made up my mind to take the gap year,I decided to do it because I was curious how I would change. Looking back now, I really think it was the right thing to do.Of course, my five months of living abroad (including language study) didn''t solve all my worries, butI gained the ability to look at myself objectively.Actually, I''m someone who isn''t good at expressing myself in words,and my goal through this project was to properly express my emotions to people.
So I expressed my emotions without holding back. Sometimes I clumsily expressed them as they were, but by practicing like that, trulyby experiencing how I feel, I got to know what I like and dislike.
The kindergarten children helped me a lot too!!Because the children sincerely expressed what they felt to me, I responded in the same way; as we connected and grew closer, we built affection.Although it was a short time of just one month, it was a good time. I hope to become someone who expresses emotions more maturely and naturally in the future (laughs).
# I became closest with my accommodation friends.
When I left for Hanoi it was the second foreign country I''d been to, so I was confident because I had a fairly good sense of how I would think and act during a long stay abroad and what items I would or wouldn''t need.
So I said goodbye to my parents and friends lightly, like someone going on a short trip: "It''s okay. I''ve done this before, so you don''t need to worry too much," and left. But you never know what will happen — expecting a relaxed, peaceful routine like I had in Malta, I ended up living each day like a roller coaster, full of thrills :-)
Thinking about the reason, it was probably because I worked and lived with a variety of people. Whether volunteering, eating at the accommodation, or resting in my room, there was always someone around.So naturally there were a lot of incidents and mishaps (laugh). For example, I watched roommates who shared my room argue in English and it felt like watching a foreign drama. It was a chance to realize once again how similar people''s lives are.
I shared a room with ten people, so there were many differences due to the variety of nationalities and personalities.Still, I became closest with the accommodation friends. We traveled together, went out for drinks, got coffee, and talked until the early hours before falling asleep.
# A Day in Vietnam
To explain the local project: I taught English and took care of children at a kindergarten. The kindergarten I worked at had two branches, unlike other kindergartens, so on Mondays and Wednesdays I went to ''Kindergarten 1'' and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I went to ''Kindergarten 2''.
Both kindergartens started at 9 AM, and until 11 AM we went to the assigned class to feed the children, teach English, and play with them. Then there was lunch and rest from 11:00 to 2:30 PM. From 2:30 to 4:00 PM we worked in a different class than in the morning. (Times may vary depending on the kindergarten you are assigned to!)
We usually traveled to the kindergarten by bus. (Sometimes, if we overslept or it was raining heavily, coworkers would take a taxi together.) One more thing: the kindergarten I was assigned to hadn''t been working with the local organization for long, unlike other kindergartens, so things weren''t well organized.
So the class I was assigned to wasn''t fixed; each morning or as needed the local supporter (local coordinator) would check and assign a possible class for me to lead the lesson or assist the teachers. That was somewhat inconvenient.
But I had discussed this part with the local person in charge, soit should be more organized for participants who come after me.(I hope so ☺)(*Person in charge: currently in discussion with the local organization.)
Oh! And because English is not the official language in Vietnam, many kindergarten teachers aren''t good at English, so a local supporter (local coordinator) accompanies us :)
# I gained the space to focus on myself.
For those who will participate in this project, I think "letting go" is really important.During orientation the Korea Gap Year staff repeatedly emphasized letting go; at the time I didn''t think much of it, but after living there I understood what it meant.
Um... rather than trying too hard to do everything perfectly, I hope you''ll live in a way that naturally blends into the situation, environment, and the people around you.If you try to accept, understand, and acknowledge things, each day will be really enjoyable.
At first I had trouble adopting this mindset and worried a lot, but at some point I accepted and acknowledged things and was able to enjoy myself.Anyway, now that you''re going to Vietnam, please enjoy it a lot!What impressed me most about foreign friends was that they enjoyed both partying and volunteering.
They traveled a lot for their own enjoyment, and often with friends would go near the accommodation or to the Old Quarter to drink, dance, and stay out late, and yet they still worked hard at volunteering.''They really know how to balance their life.''I felt envious. So volunteer hard and play hard!!
Comparing before and after participating: before volunteering, my actions and feelings varied by situation and were unclear and hard to recognize, but now I can somewhat clearly express them in words and I know why I feel that way,so I gained the space to focus on myself.
I feel like I''m getting to know myself better. I''m still taking baby steps forward, though.I felt proud to be moving forward step by step on my own strength!
# I hope you fully feel and enjoy everything you can during the time you''re given!
When I think about my gap year, Vietnam was completely different from Malta in environment, weather, accommodation, and even people. So it took me longer to adapt than in Malta. So the first thing I thought as soon as I arrived was...''Wow... can I really handle living in Vietnam?!'' (laughs)
And the day I started happened to be the day when the local organization had the most volunteers, so I met people from many different countries; most were from Europe, and about half of those were British. Since many were native English speakers, the topics of conversation, the words used, and the accents were definitely very different.
So it felt like being in a small British town, I guess. Thanks to that, I learned a lot of practical, everyday English. There were relatively more things to adapt to, and...At the time it was hard and exhausting, but looking back now I recall many good memories and things I wish had been different.
So to future participants, put your worries aside for a while andfully feel and enjoy everything you can during the time you''re given!
# My Gap Year Tips
- Language
Because you''ll be sharing accommodation and living with friends from various countries, English is necessary. While doing the project you''ll need to talk with staff and coworkers, so it''s good if you study English before coming.
I took a three-month language course before joining the project, so it was easier to adapt. Even if you don''t do a language course, being able to handle basic everyday conversations before you go will help a lot. So it''s best to focus on speaking rather than anything else! For listening, because the accents vary so much, it''s better to learn by exposure and training your ear.
- Accommodation
Rooms are separated by gender, but you live together in the accommodation. Like in Korea, people in Vietnam don''t wear shoes indoors. However, the floors can be dirty, so it''s good to bring indoor slippers to wear inside!
- Meals
The meals provided at the accommodation don''t use a lot of spices, so they were easy to eat, but since it''s Vietnamese food, many people still couldn''t get used to it. If you try it and it''s not to your taste, there are plenty of Korean restaurants nearby and delicious street food, so it''s fine to buy meals outside! I don''t particularly fuss about food, so except when I had plans or wanted something different, I ate the meals provided.
- Things to Bring
The thing I lacked and found inconvenient was a mask. Vietnam has a lot of vehicle exhaust so locals always wear masks. If you bring a proper dust/exhaust mask, you can protect your throat when going to work.
A convenient item was slippers. You have to take off your shoes indoors, but the floors aren''t as clean as in Korea, so if you don''t wear slippers your feet get dirty quickly (lol). So I always wore slippers in the accommodation. Also, July in Vietnam rains a lot but it''s summer so the sun is intense. So it''s handy to bring something that can be used as both a parasol and an umbrella when going out.
The item that caused trouble was the pre-purchased SIM card. In the previous project the accommodation''s Wi‑Fi was so good that we didn''t even use 3GB a month, so I pre-bought a Vietnam SIM (3GB per month) at Incheon Airport before going this time, but the accommodation''s Wi‑Fi turned out to be unreliable and I ended up using more data than the SIM I brought. So you don''t necessarily need to prepare one in advance — when you arrive they''ll give guidance during orientation and buying one locally may get you better conditions.
Vietnam really likes Korea. Maybe because of that there are many Korean restaurants, and you can easily buy Korean instant noodles or snacks at convenience stores. So food won''t be a big problem. Also, after work there are often many evenings going out with friends to drink or go to clubs!
I also recommend bringing clothes and cosmetics. During the day it''s hot and people may dress casually for work, but in the evenings everyone really gets ready to go out and have fun (laughs).
My gap year was
Experience★★★★★
I felt many things spending each day with various people. Being with the children I could discover sides of myself I didn''t know, which was nice.
Learning★★★★☆
Unlike the first project, this time I learned a lot about interpersonal relationships. It was a time when I could further strengthen myself, so I give it 4 stars.
Environment ★★☆☆☆
The air pollution is severe, and there are many motorcycles, so you hear a lot of honking. Therefore it doesn''t feel like a relaxed, comfortable environment.
Safety ★★★☆☆
The air isn''t very good because of the motorcycles, and if you get distracted on the road there''s a risk of accidents. Please be careful!
Leisure ★★★★☆
Hanoi was a great place to travel or hang out. In the busy areas you can find most restaurants, and it''s convenient for visiting other parts of Vietnam!
Since you''re going to Vietnam, be sure to enjoy it a lot! What I was most impressed by when watching my foreign friends was that they enjoy both having fun and volunteering. Recharging warm love with children in Hanoi, Vietnam Jo Hye-min — Gap Year family gapper (26, university student) / 4-week gap year |
# Looking back now, it''s another precious time that brings up regrets and longing.
Hello! I''m Jo Hye-min, participating in the gap year project for the second time!This project gave me an opportunity to think deeply and consider the direction I will take going forward.
As mentioned in the mission, while the first project (language study in Malta) provided the environment and time that allowed me to love myself,the second project (kindergarten volunteer work) became a period in which I could accept myself as I am and strengthen myself.
Perhaps because of that, this project was actually a bit difficult (laughs), butLooking back now, it''s another precious time that brings up regrets and longing.
* For Jo Hye-min, who had a strong desire to change herself, a personalized 1:1 daily mission related to expressiveness and new experiences was provided, and a gap year notebook to reflect on herself and make plans was also provided.
# By experiencing how I feel, I came to know what I like and dislike.
I chose this project because I wanted to try to solve the concerns I had about myself.When I received gap year counseling, the consultant recommended it, but at first I hesitated.At that time, it was a challenge of something new I hadn''t considered, so I was very afraid,and I couldn''t grasp how volunteering would help solve the parts of my worries.
But I made up my mind to take the gap year,I decided to do it because I was curious how I would change. Looking back now, I really think it was the right thing to do.Of course, my five months of living abroad (including language study) didn''t solve all my worries, butI gained the ability to look at myself objectively.Actually, I''m someone who isn''t good at expressing myself in words,and my goal through this project was to properly express my emotions to people.
So I expressed my emotions without holding back. Sometimes I clumsily expressed them as they were, but by practicing like that, trulyby experiencing how I feel, I got to know what I like and dislike.
The kindergarten children helped me a lot too!!Because the children sincerely expressed what they felt to me, I responded in the same way; as we connected and grew closer, we built affection.Although it was a short time of just one month, it was a good time. I hope to become someone who expresses emotions more maturely and naturally in the future (laughs).
# I became closest with my accommodation friends.
When I left for Hanoi it was the second foreign country I''d been to, so I was confident because I had a fairly good sense of how I would think and act during a long stay abroad and what items I would or wouldn''t need.
So I said goodbye to my parents and friends lightly, like someone going on a short trip: "It''s okay. I''ve done this before, so you don''t need to worry too much," and left. But you never know what will happen — expecting a relaxed, peaceful routine like I had in Malta, I ended up living each day like a roller coaster, full of thrills :-)
Thinking about the reason, it was probably because I worked and lived with a variety of people. Whether volunteering, eating at the accommodation, or resting in my room, there was always someone around.So naturally there were a lot of incidents and mishaps (laugh). For example, I watched roommates who shared my room argue in English and it felt like watching a foreign drama. It was a chance to realize once again how similar people''s lives are.
I shared a room with ten people, so there were many differences due to the variety of nationalities and personalities.Still, I became closest with the accommodation friends. We traveled together, went out for drinks, got coffee, and talked until the early hours before falling asleep.
# A Day in Vietnam
To explain the local project: I taught English and took care of children at a kindergarten. The kindergarten I worked at had two branches, unlike other kindergartens, so on Mondays and Wednesdays I went to ''Kindergarten 1'' and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I went to ''Kindergarten 2''.
Both kindergartens started at 9 AM, and until 11 AM we went to the assigned class to feed the children, teach English, and play with them. Then there was lunch and rest from 11:00 to 2:30 PM. From 2:30 to 4:00 PM we worked in a different class than in the morning. (Times may vary depending on the kindergarten you are assigned to!)
We usually traveled to the kindergarten by bus. (Sometimes, if we overslept or it was raining heavily, coworkers would take a taxi together.) One more thing: the kindergarten I was assigned to hadn''t been working with the local organization for long, unlike other kindergartens, so things weren''t well organized.
So the class I was assigned to wasn''t fixed; each morning or as needed the local supporter (local coordinator) would check and assign a possible class for me to lead the lesson or assist the teachers. That was somewhat inconvenient.
But I had discussed this part with the local person in charge, soit should be more organized for participants who come after me.(I hope so ☺)(*Person in charge: currently in discussion with the local organization.)
Oh! And because English is not the official language in Vietnam, many kindergarten teachers aren''t good at English, so a local supporter (local coordinator) accompanies us :)
# I gained the space to focus on myself.
For those who will participate in this project, I think "letting go" is really important.During orientation the Korea Gap Year staff repeatedly emphasized letting go; at the time I didn''t think much of it, but after living there I understood what it meant.
Um... rather than trying too hard to do everything perfectly, I hope you''ll live in a way that naturally blends into the situation, environment, and the people around you.If you try to accept, understand, and acknowledge things, each day will be really enjoyable.
At first I had trouble adopting this mindset and worried a lot, but at some point I accepted and acknowledged things and was able to enjoy myself.Anyway, now that you''re going to Vietnam, please enjoy it a lot!What impressed me most about foreign friends was that they enjoyed both partying and volunteering.
They traveled a lot for their own enjoyment, and often with friends would go near the accommodation or to the Old Quarter to drink, dance, and stay out late, and yet they still worked hard at volunteering.''They really know how to balance their life.''I felt envious. So volunteer hard and play hard!!
Comparing before and after participating: before volunteering, my actions and feelings varied by situation and were unclear and hard to recognize, but now I can somewhat clearly express them in words and I know why I feel that way,so I gained the space to focus on myself.
I feel like I''m getting to know myself better. I''m still taking baby steps forward, though.I felt proud to be moving forward step by step on my own strength!
# I hope you fully feel and enjoy everything you can during the time you''re given!
When I think about my gap year, Vietnam was completely different from Malta in environment, weather, accommodation, and even people. So it took me longer to adapt than in Malta. So the first thing I thought as soon as I arrived was...''Wow... can I really handle living in Vietnam?!'' (laughs)
And the day I started happened to be the day when the local organization had the most volunteers, so I met people from many different countries; most were from Europe, and about half of those were British. Since many were native English speakers, the topics of conversation, the words used, and the accents were definitely very different.
So it felt like being in a small British town, I guess. Thanks to that, I learned a lot of practical, everyday English. There were relatively more things to adapt to, and...At the time it was hard and exhausting, but looking back now I recall many good memories and things I wish had been different.
So to future participants, put your worries aside for a while andfully feel and enjoy everything you can during the time you''re given!
# My Gap Year Tips
- Language
Because you''ll be sharing accommodation and living with friends from various countries, English is necessary. While doing the project you''ll need to talk with staff and coworkers, so it''s good if you study English before coming.
I took a three-month language course before joining the project, so it was easier to adapt. Even if you don''t do a language course, being able to handle basic everyday conversations before you go will help a lot. So it''s best to focus on speaking rather than anything else! For listening, because the accents vary so much, it''s better to learn by exposure and training your ear.
- Accommodation
Rooms are separated by gender, but you live together in the accommodation. Like in Korea, people in Vietnam don''t wear shoes indoors. However, the floors can be dirty, so it''s good to bring indoor slippers to wear inside!
- Meals
The meals provided at the accommodation don''t use a lot of spices, so they were easy to eat, but since it''s Vietnamese food, many people still couldn''t get used to it. If you try it and it''s not to your taste, there are plenty of Korean restaurants nearby and delicious street food, so it''s fine to buy meals outside! I don''t particularly fuss about food, so except when I had plans or wanted something different, I ate the meals provided.
- Things to Bring
The thing I lacked and found inconvenient was a mask. Vietnam has a lot of vehicle exhaust so locals always wear masks. If you bring a proper dust/exhaust mask, you can protect your throat when going to work.
A convenient item was slippers. You have to take off your shoes indoors, but the floors aren''t as clean as in Korea, so if you don''t wear slippers your feet get dirty quickly (lol). So I always wore slippers in the accommodation. Also, July in Vietnam rains a lot but it''s summer so the sun is intense. So it''s handy to bring something that can be used as both a parasol and an umbrella when going out.
The item that caused trouble was the pre-purchased SIM card. In the previous project the accommodation''s Wi‑Fi was so good that we didn''t even use 3GB a month, so I pre-bought a Vietnam SIM (3GB per month) at Incheon Airport before going this time, but the accommodation''s Wi‑Fi turned out to be unreliable and I ended up using more data than the SIM I brought. So you don''t necessarily need to prepare one in advance — when you arrive they''ll give guidance during orientation and buying one locally may get you better conditions.
Vietnam really likes Korea. Maybe because of that there are many Korean restaurants, and you can easily buy Korean instant noodles or snacks at convenience stores. So food won''t be a big problem. Also, after work there are often many evenings going out with friends to drink or go to clubs!
I also recommend bringing clothes and cosmetics. During the day it''s hot and people may dress casually for work, but in the evenings everyone really gets ready to go out and have fun (laughs).
My gap year was
Experience★★★★★
I felt many things spending each day with various people. Being with the children I could discover sides of myself I didn''t know, which was nice.
Learning★★★★☆
Unlike the first project, this time I learned a lot about interpersonal relationships. It was a time when I could further strengthen myself, so I give it 4 stars.
Environment ★★☆☆☆
The air pollution is severe, and there are many motorcycles, so you hear a lot of honking. Therefore it doesn''t feel like a relaxed, comfortable environment.
Safety ★★★☆☆
The air isn''t very good because of the motorcycles, and if you get distracted on the road there''s a risk of accidents. Please be careful!
Leisure ★★★★☆
Hanoi was a great place to travel or hang out. In the busy areas you can find most restaurants, and it''s convenient for visiting other parts of Vietnam!
What makes this project special
