1. It’s your first time participating in global volunteering. How do you feel?
I feel myself panic while I also feel my heart flutter. I’ve been on a lot of trips in the past but never have left for such a long period such as a year. Rather than fancy and developed countries such as Europe or North America, I’ve always been interested in Southeast Asia or Southwest Asia more. I’ve always been attracted to the life style of escaping from civilization and being self-sufficient, but as it became reality to me now, it is true that I feel a bit worried. However, it is always vague and fearful when you’re starting something new. I look forward to the people I will get to meet and my life in Nepal, a mysterious and wonderful country.
2. What kind of training did you go through for the Nepal dispatch?
For 10 days starting from the foundation vision education, I’ve received various educations on development cooperation business, Nepal’s culture, promotion, finance, administration tasks etc. from the foundation. I was really touched as many people from the foundation including Manager Shin Sukyoung who returned from a dispatch for 3 years gave me special lectures. Also, at the beginning of June, I’ve received education from KCOC for 3 days. I’ve took lectures on introduction on international development cooperation and theories on voluntary service and safety education. The voluntary service lecture on what kind of mindset and attitude I should have in-the-field was especially impressive. Other than that, I was happy that there was some time to hear about experiences of senior dispatch members.
3. What are some ‘Soomi Project’s that are in progress for the dispatch and how did you come to do it?
Soomi Project is the abbreviation of “SukePohkari neighborhood’s smile(miso) Project”. SukePohkari is a small neighborhood in which I’ll be dispatched which is in the Sarlahi region of Nepal and has the meaning “dry pond”. You can see how much water is precious in the area just from it’s name. Also, this area has gone through a long civil war for 12 years that has made more than 200 thousand causalities. In this area, there is a children’s center that the Service For Peace foundation is running and 38 children who have lost their parents or live in harsh home circumstances due to the conflict are living in the center. Soomi Project started by the motivation of raising sponsorship funds for the children in the children’s center to at least be able to finish school.
4. What are your expectations and resolutions about the Nepal business place?
When I was talking to a friend, I have heard of this sentence. “She knows what she is doing.” This sentence which still is in my memory was a response of my friend to my question on her new workplace colleague. Knowing what I am doing seems like a really difficult thing to do. I’ve heard a lot of people tell me that when time passes and my body and mind gets so tired, I will forget what I am doing or why I am at the place. Of course there will be hard times; however, if I know what I am up to, wouldn’t I be able to endure the situation? Through the dispatch, I will endeavor to become that kind of person and in that process, I wish to overcome my limits know myself better and find my own pleasure.
