What is a “gap year”?
So you may have heard the term thrown around a lot. The proverbial “gap year”. What is it???
In the USA, it is effectively a year taken out between high school and college in order to broaden person’s cultural, professional, personal and practical awareness.
Gap Years actually started in the UK in the seventies as a way to fill the 7/8 month gap between student’s final exams and them starting university. In the UK, that gap was to be used to help students in their development, usually through an extended international experience, typically volunteering or doing some kind of different work away from the areas of their intended studies.
Solo or group travel?
Deciding whether to go alone or to find a group of like minded people, all interested in doing a gap year away in the destination or multiple destinations is down to personal choice. Some people prefer to go alone and it acts as journey of self discovery and development, whereas other people are happier in groups and can build new friendships that can last a lifetime. Going solo or in a group is not set in stone, maybe you could start off solo and make new friends quickly and then travel and work with these new friends. Or vice versa, you might get tired of the same people and routine so you can venture out on your own to a new location and do some solo travel to clear your head. Regardless of going solo or in a group, you should take out specific gap year insurance. Investigate your gap year travel insurance before you go!
Some pre-checks to consider
- Location/destination culture: There may be certain norms and traditions in the country or location you intend to travel to. Knowing some of these basics will help you fit in and make sure not to offend any locals. After all, you are coming in on their territory! So learn the norms and know what behaviour is allowed and not allowed.
- Food and drink: If for example, you are travelling to Asia, there may be very different foods on offer that you wouldn’t get as normal in the Western world, such as street food with different meats and seafood. Be aware that your digestive system might not be used to this and you might be sick for a day after trying exotic foods!
- Healthcare standards: Do your research on the healthcare provision of the country and specific location you are travelling to or working in.
- Safety & crime rates: Knowing if it is safe to walk around at night or particularly if you are a girl, is certainly a consideration. Some parts of the world have much higher street crime rates and will mean you’ll have to be extra vigilant with your belongings and how you conduct yourself in public.
Most of all, your gap year will change you for the better and you will fondly look back on it in years to come and remember all of the great things you did, places you saw and friends that you made for life. So enjoy!
