Gap Year Travel is the New Work Abroad
Adventure, Volunteering, Language Learning during a Year Abroad
Feb 24, 2009
Taking time off work or study in one's own country for volunteering internationally has come to be called a "Gap Year" since it may come between high school and college, or between college and work, or even between jobs later in life. A Gap Year abroad can be a life-changing experience with careful planning and preparation. How will you decide what kind of a Gap Year program to embark on?
Some begin with a place: “I’ve always wanted to go to China.” Some begin with an activity: serving humanity, say, or outdoor adventure. Some begin with a need: “I want to improve my Spanish.” Whatever your starting point, Gap Year travel abroad can further your goals, employability and career success if it’s well thought out and if you are prepared for an overseas sojourn.
Preparing to Go Abroad
Critics of the Gap Year concept point to high numbers of young graduates plunging into complex situations in distant lands without either the skills or analytical abilities to make sense of this new world and their place in it. Employers also may question whether important skills have been gained that will be of use in the workplace later on.
In order to address these doubts, gappers must plan carefully before going: ask questions about the program, its structure, objectives, and management. While abroad, keep a journal in which you note your observations, thoughts, and activities. This will help you later when you need to be able to explain how the Gap Year made you grow in skills and abilities.
Being in the International Community
John, who spent a Gap Year volunteering in Japan, has this to say in a Dec. 17, 2001 interview: “It’s the meeting of people, sharing together, working together and seeing the world for what it really is, not for what we see on the news.”
Mike, another Gap Year participant, said in an Aug. 23, 2001 interview: “The practical training…has been valuable, but the shift in perspective because of being in the international community is the most precious thing I will take home with me.”
To achieve results like these, each gapper needs to think carefully about what the goals of going abroad really are. Consider your own motivation: are you really just looking for fun in the sun? Exotic people and locales? Or are you expecting a life-changing experience for yourself, or hoping to give a helping hand to others? There’s nothing wrong with your motive or motives, whatever they are, but be honest, at least with yourself, about your real reasons for traveling.
Multitudes of websites offer help with finding the volunteer, work, or study abroad program that is right for you. Talk with people who have just come back from their Gap Year to get their perspective on what factors to consider. Try the Transitions Abroad website for a good overview. Then, don’t hesitate, go for it!
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