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#Overcame fear of foreigners; became more cheerful #A freer lifestyle and diverse first experiences #Nostalgia; relaxed happiness
[Europe — Malta / Language Study] Best value for money! Learn English safely in Malta in the Mediterranean. Kwon Ji-yoon, gap-year participant (24, on leave from school) / 12-week gap year.
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# A gap year I applied for to overcome the hollow feeling from giving up a long-held dream and to get past ''burnout''.
Hello, I’m 24-year-old Kwon Ji-yoon, currently on a leave of absence. I’m majoring in English language and literature at university, and I applied for a one-year leave — my dreamlike break is now coming to an end. I took the leave during the first semester of my third year when I was getting exhausted, and when I return to school I’ll be in the second semester of my third year.
I was one of those who competed fiercely in the Korean college entrance process, and I feel like I poured all my energy into the CSAT and college admissions. Even after the exams were over and I entered university, that emptiness — that hollow feeling — wasn’t filled. And when I gave up my long-held dream of becoming a teacher, that emptiness grew, and I realized, ah, this is what burnout is.Really! Really! I didn’t want to do anything, had no motivation, didn’t even know what I wanted or liked, and felt so depressed I knew I couldn’t go on like that, so I applied for a gap year.So I applied.
* To help her understand herself and move forward independently, Kwon Ji-yoon was given daily customized one-on-one personal missions related to self-reliance and self-reflection, and was also provided with a gap year notebook to reflect on herself and make plans.
Of course I was worried about staying abroad for a long time. I had some experience living on my own, so I wasn’t too afraid of living alone, but memories of having a hard time at first in Korea came back and I often thought, how will I manage alone, especially overseas? Also...I was going to learn English and wasn’t very proficient, so that was a worry too. It was my first time in Europe, my first long flight, and I even had to transit... until I left I was really full of worries.However, once I went, I ended up eating better than in Korea and staying healthy.
As for preparations before departure, a few weeks before leaving, whenever I thought “I’ll need this!” I wrote it down on a note and slowly made a packing list. Since it wasn’t luggage for just a few days but for several months, I think I packed carefully over about three days. I also studied Malta in blogs and books in my spare time. I mainly got information from the internet and blogs, but to be honest they didn’t help that much.
I planned to study English beforehand, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought so I didn’t do much... lol. I reviewed daily conversational expressions and vocabulary little by little.
First, the main goal of my gap year was to reflect on myself. I needed a short break to shake off burnout and regain motivation and passion. Therefore...My goal was to learn how to take things slowly and be more relaxed.That was the goal.
Also, I wasn’t confident in English, especially speaking, but I had always wanted to go to an English-speaking country at least once to learn English. So I set a goal to improve my spoken English during the gap year; I wanted to change my shy personality, and in doing so...My first aim was to get rid of my fear of foreigners and my fear of speaking English.
# Experiences of doing ''first'' things like clubbing and scuba diving with foreigners, in another language!
I attended school five weekdays a week and had weekends free. During weekdays I lived in Sliema, so I had to allow a full hour to get to Valletta where the school was, so I would wake up around 7, get ready, and take the bus to school around 8.
Classes started at 9. The morning session had two lessons, each 90 minutes, with 15-minute breaks in between. So classes finished at 12:30, but for a month I had signed up for one-on-one lessons, so when I had afternoon classes they usually ended at 3:00 PM.
After that I had free time; I toured Valletta, shopped in Sliema downtown or did grocery shopping, and when I got home I made a late lunch. Then I’d take a nap, review lessons, sit on the balcony looking at the sea, space out or listen to music and relax, or sometimes my friends and I would go explore different parts of Malta after class.There were evening plans or parties sometimes, and what I liked most was that it wasn’t very dangerous to be out late at night.
If I didn’t have evening plans, I usually went jogging.I’d finish the day by exercising in the evening, showering, having a beer and a little snack, and going to sleep. On weekends I had all my time to myself — I’d wake up slowly in the morning, go jogging, and spend time leisurely, or I often went to other islands like Gozo or Comino or to the countryside. Sometimes we’d have BBQ parties on the beach in front of the house or on a rooftop. It was the same 24 hours as in Korea, but I feel like I made more of them.
During my language study in Malta, first of all, leaving the suffocating environment of Korea and my home and living freely on my own was, looking back now, so nice. Also...I loved how my conversational skills kept improving, and it was so exciting and fun to be able to speak English in front of foreigners without trembling.
Also, I went to a club for the first time in Malta, and went snorkeling, scuba diving, etc.I loved being able to do ''first-time'' things in Malta in a foreign language with foreigners.Also, talking with friends, what I felt most was that Korea''s recognition is much lower compared to Japan... I kind of knew it, but I didn''t realize it was that much, so I was a bit upset a few times.
And beyond individual countries, I really felt the cultural differences between the West and the East. From ways of greeting to education styles, food, etc. In particular, I realized that physical contact—''touch''—which can be somewhat sensitive in our country, is very different. Also, When I told my classmates about my worries, they took them quite seriously and tried to understand and empathize more than I expected, and I was moved.
During my Malta language study, the enjoyable experiences were ourhaving a barbecue party on our accommodation''s rooftop with friends, the moments of swimming right in front of the house, and the Mediterranean and sunset I watched while sitting on a balcony chair are things I probably won''t ever forget.
Also, a neither-pleasant-nor-unpleasant-but-never-to-be-forgotten incident was when my phone fell into the Maltese night sea and got submerged...?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I managed for about a week with a spare phone I brought just in case, but even that broke and I had quite a hard timeㅠㅠ
Places I''d recommend visiting while in Malta are, um..I recommend two routes: Dingli Cliffs and the Marsaxlokk Sunday market followed by St. Paul''s Bay.Do it! Dingli Cliffs is a spot famous for sunsets, so I recommend going on a very clear day. It''s also famous for trekking routes, so go a bit early to hike and then enjoy the sunset at that ''this is the place!'' spot you find. Be sure to bring simple drinks and snacks!
Marsaxlokk is famous for its Sunday market, but you should go a bit early to avoid the overflowing crowds... Around noon it becomes less of a market visit and more of a people-watching event. If you''re not specifically going to see ''that'' Sunday market, you might not need to go on Sunday. I thought the market only opened on Sundays, but once after class on a weekday my friends and I went there spontaneously, and although not everything was open, several markets were there.
Therefore, going on a weekday afternoon around Thursday rather than the weekend will let you enjoy Marsaxlokk''s beautiful scenery more leisurely, and with fewer people it''s better for taking photos. If you have time, walking 20–30 minutes to St. Paul''s Bay to swim or sunbathe is also a great route. This course is so famous you''ll find it with a little searching, and I really recommend Marsaxlokk on a weekday!
I made new friends and took up new activities, and returned with a brighter personality!
Comparing before and after participating in the gap year, first, I gained confidence in traveling abroad?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I''m no longer awkward about flying, and I''m much more used to eating and getting around in foreign countries, which is greatㅋㅋㅋ
Also, my fear of foreigners has decreased a lot. I still get nervous sometimes, but compared to before the gap year it''s much, much better. Also,I had become timid and reluctant to meet new people, but during the gap year, as I made new friends and tried new activities, I feel like I''ve returned somewhat to my old, brighter personality.
For those planning to participate in a Malta language study in the future,Make time to focus on yourself a lot. I hope you spend that time fully on yourself and on reflection.
Um.. I want to tell you that there''s no need to worry in advance at all, but I know better than anyone how hard that isㅋㅋㅋㅋI was like thatㅜㅜ But often the things you worried about don''t happen, and things you never expected do. So I hope you don''t fret and worry ahead of time. Also, paradoxically but in a similar vein, don''t have huge expectations. If you let go of greed, you might actually gain more.
Another thing I most want to say is: if it''s hard — no, there will definitely be hard times. If you don''t have them, that''s great.. hehe. Anyway, when you''re struggling, express it. When I was really having a hard time and felt in a slump, I would confide in parents'' friends I met for the first time, teachers, even newly-met foreign friends. It''s not whining about being tired; by telling others how you are, you can receive comfort and also look at yourself objectively.
Talking with others can also bring solutions you hadn''t thought of.No matter how hard it is while you''re there, when you return you''ll have gained at least one thing and you''ll come to miss those times. Be sure to remember that you are not alone!
# My gap year tips
(How to get there)
When I arrived at Malta airport, the pickup taxi driver was there right away, so getting to the apartment was not difficult.
(Language)
In my case, English was my major and I had studied it for quite a long time, but speaking at first was still quite difficult.
Still, after living there I loosened up and it became fine, but those who hadn''t studied English struggled for quite a long time, and even if they wanted to take other conversation classes or one-on-one lessons, their level wasn''t enough, so sometimes they couldn''t take them because it would not have helped.I recommend studying basic grammar and vocabulary almost as a must before coming.Do it.
(Accommodation)
If you go in the summer (from June), be sure to check whether the room has air conditioning....! I left Malta before it got seriously hot, but even then it was really hot in the room with just a little movement. If you go in midwinter, getting an electric heating pad or buying a small heater locally is also a good idea. Malta''s winter isn''t that cold, but it can be quite chilly when sleeping at night.
[Europe — Malta / Language Study] Best value for money! Learn English safely in Malta in the Mediterranean. Kwon Ji-yoon, gap-year participant (24, on leave from school) / 12-week gap year.
|
# A gap year I applied for to overcome the hollow feeling from giving up a long-held dream and to get past ''burnout''.
Hello, I’m 24-year-old Kwon Ji-yoon, currently on a leave of absence. I’m majoring in English language and literature at university, and I applied for a one-year leave — my dreamlike break is now coming to an end. I took the leave during the first semester of my third year when I was getting exhausted, and when I return to school I’ll be in the second semester of my third year.
I was one of those who competed fiercely in the Korean college entrance process, and I feel like I poured all my energy into the CSAT and college admissions. Even after the exams were over and I entered university, that emptiness — that hollow feeling — wasn’t filled. And when I gave up my long-held dream of becoming a teacher, that emptiness grew, and I realized, ah, this is what burnout is.Really! Really! I didn’t want to do anything, had no motivation, didn’t even know what I wanted or liked, and felt so depressed I knew I couldn’t go on like that, so I applied for a gap year.So I applied.
* To help her understand herself and move forward independently, Kwon Ji-yoon was given daily customized one-on-one personal missions related to self-reliance and self-reflection, and was also provided with a gap year notebook to reflect on herself and make plans.
Of course I was worried about staying abroad for a long time. I had some experience living on my own, so I wasn’t too afraid of living alone, but memories of having a hard time at first in Korea came back and I often thought, how will I manage alone, especially overseas? Also...I was going to learn English and wasn’t very proficient, so that was a worry too. It was my first time in Europe, my first long flight, and I even had to transit... until I left I was really full of worries.However, once I went, I ended up eating better than in Korea and staying healthy.
As for preparations before departure, a few weeks before leaving, whenever I thought “I’ll need this!” I wrote it down on a note and slowly made a packing list. Since it wasn’t luggage for just a few days but for several months, I think I packed carefully over about three days. I also studied Malta in blogs and books in my spare time. I mainly got information from the internet and blogs, but to be honest they didn’t help that much.
I planned to study English beforehand, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought so I didn’t do much... lol. I reviewed daily conversational expressions and vocabulary little by little.
First, the main goal of my gap year was to reflect on myself. I needed a short break to shake off burnout and regain motivation and passion. Therefore...My goal was to learn how to take things slowly and be more relaxed.That was the goal.
Also, I wasn’t confident in English, especially speaking, but I had always wanted to go to an English-speaking country at least once to learn English. So I set a goal to improve my spoken English during the gap year; I wanted to change my shy personality, and in doing so...My first aim was to get rid of my fear of foreigners and my fear of speaking English.
# Experiences of doing ''first'' things like clubbing and scuba diving with foreigners, in another language!
I attended school five weekdays a week and had weekends free. During weekdays I lived in Sliema, so I had to allow a full hour to get to Valletta where the school was, so I would wake up around 7, get ready, and take the bus to school around 8.
Classes started at 9. The morning session had two lessons, each 90 minutes, with 15-minute breaks in between. So classes finished at 12:30, but for a month I had signed up for one-on-one lessons, so when I had afternoon classes they usually ended at 3:00 PM.
After that I had free time; I toured Valletta, shopped in Sliema downtown or did grocery shopping, and when I got home I made a late lunch. Then I’d take a nap, review lessons, sit on the balcony looking at the sea, space out or listen to music and relax, or sometimes my friends and I would go explore different parts of Malta after class.There were evening plans or parties sometimes, and what I liked most was that it wasn’t very dangerous to be out late at night.
If I didn’t have evening plans, I usually went jogging.I’d finish the day by exercising in the evening, showering, having a beer and a little snack, and going to sleep. On weekends I had all my time to myself — I’d wake up slowly in the morning, go jogging, and spend time leisurely, or I often went to other islands like Gozo or Comino or to the countryside. Sometimes we’d have BBQ parties on the beach in front of the house or on a rooftop. It was the same 24 hours as in Korea, but I feel like I made more of them.
During my language study in Malta, first of all, leaving the suffocating environment of Korea and my home and living freely on my own was, looking back now, so nice. Also...I loved how my conversational skills kept improving, and it was so exciting and fun to be able to speak English in front of foreigners without trembling.
Also, I went to a club for the first time in Malta, and went snorkeling, scuba diving, etc.I loved being able to do ''first-time'' things in Malta in a foreign language with foreigners.Also, talking with friends, what I felt most was that Korea''s recognition is much lower compared to Japan... I kind of knew it, but I didn''t realize it was that much, so I was a bit upset a few times.
And beyond individual countries, I really felt the cultural differences between the West and the East. From ways of greeting to education styles, food, etc. In particular, I realized that physical contact—''touch''—which can be somewhat sensitive in our country, is very different. Also, When I told my classmates about my worries, they took them quite seriously and tried to understand and empathize more than I expected, and I was moved.
During my Malta language study, the enjoyable experiences were ourhaving a barbecue party on our accommodation''s rooftop with friends, the moments of swimming right in front of the house, and the Mediterranean and sunset I watched while sitting on a balcony chair are things I probably won''t ever forget.
Also, a neither-pleasant-nor-unpleasant-but-never-to-be-forgotten incident was when my phone fell into the Maltese night sea and got submerged...?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I managed for about a week with a spare phone I brought just in case, but even that broke and I had quite a hard timeㅠㅠ
Places I''d recommend visiting while in Malta are, um..I recommend two routes: Dingli Cliffs and the Marsaxlokk Sunday market followed by St. Paul''s Bay.Do it! Dingli Cliffs is a spot famous for sunsets, so I recommend going on a very clear day. It''s also famous for trekking routes, so go a bit early to hike and then enjoy the sunset at that ''this is the place!'' spot you find. Be sure to bring simple drinks and snacks!
Marsaxlokk is famous for its Sunday market, but you should go a bit early to avoid the overflowing crowds... Around noon it becomes less of a market visit and more of a people-watching event. If you''re not specifically going to see ''that'' Sunday market, you might not need to go on Sunday. I thought the market only opened on Sundays, but once after class on a weekday my friends and I went there spontaneously, and although not everything was open, several markets were there.
Therefore, going on a weekday afternoon around Thursday rather than the weekend will let you enjoy Marsaxlokk''s beautiful scenery more leisurely, and with fewer people it''s better for taking photos. If you have time, walking 20–30 minutes to St. Paul''s Bay to swim or sunbathe is also a great route. This course is so famous you''ll find it with a little searching, and I really recommend Marsaxlokk on a weekday!
I made new friends and took up new activities, and returned with a brighter personality!
Comparing before and after participating in the gap year, first, I gained confidence in traveling abroad?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I''m no longer awkward about flying, and I''m much more used to eating and getting around in foreign countries, which is greatㅋㅋㅋ
Also, my fear of foreigners has decreased a lot. I still get nervous sometimes, but compared to before the gap year it''s much, much better. Also,I had become timid and reluctant to meet new people, but during the gap year, as I made new friends and tried new activities, I feel like I''ve returned somewhat to my old, brighter personality.
For those planning to participate in a Malta language study in the future,Make time to focus on yourself a lot. I hope you spend that time fully on yourself and on reflection.
Um.. I want to tell you that there''s no need to worry in advance at all, but I know better than anyone how hard that isㅋㅋㅋㅋI was like thatㅜㅜ But often the things you worried about don''t happen, and things you never expected do. So I hope you don''t fret and worry ahead of time. Also, paradoxically but in a similar vein, don''t have huge expectations. If you let go of greed, you might actually gain more.
Another thing I most want to say is: if it''s hard — no, there will definitely be hard times. If you don''t have them, that''s great.. hehe. Anyway, when you''re struggling, express it. When I was really having a hard time and felt in a slump, I would confide in parents'' friends I met for the first time, teachers, even newly-met foreign friends. It''s not whining about being tired; by telling others how you are, you can receive comfort and also look at yourself objectively.
Talking with others can also bring solutions you hadn''t thought of.No matter how hard it is while you''re there, when you return you''ll have gained at least one thing and you''ll come to miss those times. Be sure to remember that you are not alone!
# My gap year tips
(How to get there)
When I arrived at Malta airport, the pickup taxi driver was there right away, so getting to the apartment was not difficult.
(Language)
In my case, English was my major and I had studied it for quite a long time, but speaking at first was still quite difficult.
Still, after living there I loosened up and it became fine, but those who hadn''t studied English struggled for quite a long time, and even if they wanted to take other conversation classes or one-on-one lessons, their level wasn''t enough, so sometimes they couldn''t take them because it would not have helped.I recommend studying basic grammar and vocabulary almost as a must before coming.Do it.
(Accommodation)
If you go in the summer (from June), be sure to check whether the room has air conditioning....! I left Malta before it got seriously hot, but even then it was really hot in the room with just a little movement. If you go in midwinter, getting an electric heating pad or buying a small heater locally is also a good idea. Malta''s winter isn''t that cold, but it can be quite chilly when sleeping at night.
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