My Gap Year Hasn’t Opened My Eyes to the World by Prathana Shrestha, Winterline Alum Finding Acceptance My Gap Year has felt more like a holiday, getting to travel for a short vacation away from my reality that is home in Nepal and the struggles that I can see and feel there. Finding My Comfort Zone I’ve always been out of place, a stray puzzle piece that doesn’t really fit in anywhere. Back in Nepal, boarding school in India – it didn’t matter where I went, there was always someone who didn’t like what I wore or what I represented….
Interview With a Gap Year Student with Kai Millici WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOU? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS YEAR? I am living in a small town called Imbaya in a northern region of Ecuador. My program, Global Citizen Year, placed me with a host family where I have a mom, dad, a brother and a sister who are all really involved in the community. I live with them and work in the afternoons with my mom at the Caja de Ahorro y Credito, which is a small credit union for the town. Right now the members are…
Carpe Diem Education: Six Months in Ecuador, Peru, and Tanzania by Jack D, shared with us by Carpe Diem Education. You can read the original here. “So, how was your year abroad?” It’s a loaded question, and one that I still – three months after landing back in New Orleans – struggle to answer adequately. I haven’t given up, though; whenever it comes up, I sing the year’s praises as loudly as possible. “It was absolutely phenomenal. I’d recommend it to anyone. Complete game-changer. The greatest year of my life.” But really – how do you describe an experience like this?…
Attending University Abroad: How & Why by Sophia de Bruin The university or college experience is life changing for many, and with more and more opportunities available for young adults to study abroad, as part of, or in addition to their Gap Year, having an affordable and memorable post secondary education in a country other than your own is easier than ever. Over 313,000 students studied abroad in 2014/15 alone, with 63% of these students studying abroad for up to three weeks, and 3% studying abroad long term, for a full academic or calendar year. However, besides the benefits of…
An Internship in Washington D.C. byJoseph Caplis Getting Started in the AU Gap Program As a newcomer to the American University Gap Program this spring, I was a little unclear on what to expect. Sure, I had read all the materials provided and looked at what past students had to say about their experience, but nothing I read could have foreshadowed the excitement that was to come. The first few days were dedicated to preparing for the Internship Fair where about 50 different organizations would be coming to recruit us bright-eyed and bushy-tailed students. I walked into the internship fair…
Planning your Gap Year Airfare by GYA Staff Airfare remains one of the most expensive considerations even on academic study abroad programs. That being said, there are many ways to save money on your flight. We highly encourage you to start your airfare search early given not only the volatility of the market, but also the constant changes that the airline industries seem to be going through. Here are a few tips gleaned from years of banging our heads against the proverbial walls of travel: Know your rights! The Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division lays out certainties of compensation…
Volunteering During your Gap Year: The Refugee Crisis by Sophia De Bruin Over one million people were forced to flee to Europe in 2015, according to a report from the United Nations Refugee Agency. Ongoing conflict and violence in Syria, Iraq and other parts of the world is causing many to risk the perilous journey over the Mediterranean to Europe in their attempts to reach safety. The European Union has struggled to cope with the crisis since April 2015, when the number of deaths at sea rose to record levels and asylum applications increased by more than 80% from the…
Gap Year Travel Safety by Hannah Miller Traveling safely is no joke. In all honesty, half of our lists here have been learned the hard way – so please take our word from it that if the fire is hot, there’s no need to burn yourself to be sure. International & Domestic Check the medical situation Does the region you’re visiting recommend certain vaccinations or medical supplies be on hand before you arrive? Do you have any personal medical concerns that need to be addressed before you travel? Keep in mind some medications (like malaria pills) will need to be…
What to Do When Your Student Comes Home a Different Person by Megan Lee The countdown has dwindled (to your great joy, to your kid’s great despair) and the end of the gap year is now upon us! You look up from the kitchen table to see your child on the couch and it’s like a year hasn’t passed. But it did, and while your child might look the same more or less (save for that new tattoo?!), their mind and soul might be a little different. Getting to know that new person takes time. We know you love them,…
What Matters More Than Talent: Meta-Learning By Blake Boles I once led a six-week leadership retreat for five young people taking self-directed gap years. I rented them their own apartment in the bustling town of Ashland, Oregon, and challenged them to devise a clear set of independent learning goals, which they would pursue with daily mentorship from me and my co-leader. One student wanted to learn about biology and Kendo; another wanted to improve her photography and web design skills. So I sent them away to interview biologists, martial arts instructors, photographers, and designers. My students boldly introduced themselves to…