Are you considering a gap year? If you’re seeking adventure, personal growth or just a change of scenery, the answer is simple: stop considering and start planning. Having at least a loose plan is essential for making the most of your travels. However, “preparing” can mean a lot of different things.

For some travelers, renewing their passport and buying a ticket is all that planning entails. Others might spend months reading the minutiae of their travel insurance policy, researching the most trusted brands of bug spray, and memorizing common phrases in a smattering of languages. Just in case.

Before you board a flight, certainly do your research. But when it comes to preparing for time abroad, it is helpful to contemplate the difference between what you could do and what you should do. The coulds and shoulds will be a little different for everybody, particularly depending on the purpose of your travels.

Making the Most of Your Gap Year Abroad

Is your gap year wedged between high school and college? Are you taking a year to explore the world after graduating from university? Or are you pushing yourself outside a timeworn routine that doesn’t feel as fulfilling as it used to? None of these is the wrong answer, nor is any other.

However, with your motivation in mind, I encourage you to expand your definition of “research.” As you plan for your gap year, don’t only look at currency exchange rates and vetted volunteer programs; also do some seeking inside. There is no better preparation than being in tune with your expectations for what lies ahead.

What’s holding you back? 

If you’re still on the fence about leaving normal life behind, that’s the first order of business to take up with yourself. What’s holding you back? And more importantly, are your reservations valid? Are they concerns you’ve arrived at on your own accord or have other people gotten you thinking?

At the end of the day, whether or not you go abroad will always be your choice. It is one thing if compelling career opportunities or family obligations are holding you back. However, it is quite another if you’ve let doubters get you down.

Tired of hearing that gap years are too expensive or that your career will never recover from the time off? Then stop answering questions and start asking them! Mull over all your “what-ifs” and formulate an educated opinion on your own terms.

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Check Your Boxes 

Just for a moment, step back into your freshman English class. The very question words that haunted you and filled your margins with red ink while you were analyzing To Kill a Mockingbird could be the key to what’s next.

Start by asking yourself who? The personal nature of travel is one of the most important and most overlooked aspects of choosing the right trip for you. Who are you now and who do you want to be at the end of this experience? Who do you want to travel with or is this something you need to do alone?

After gazing inward, begin to explore the what. There are many ways to spend a gap year, and there is no limit to the passions you pursue. Start researching language courses, volunteer projects, internship programs, group travel, part-time jobs. As you explore what’s available, your trip will likely start to take shape.

Now that you’re juggling program options, iron out the when. For some this is a general question. For example, many travelers opt to travel directly after graduating from university. However, this can also be a more detailed question to explore. Are there any festivals or cultural events you’d like to be a part of? What seasons are best for traveling where you’d like to go?

And now you’ve arrived at the elephant in the room: where? There are many factors to consider when looking at locations. The cost of living and primary language are two key examples. Latin American countries, for instance, are an obvious choice if you are looking for Spanish immersion and an affordable lifestyle.

But the answers to all of these questions hinge on one guiding consideration: the why. Motivation is vital for finding a fitting gap year experience. I suggest writing down your answer to this one. Are you traveling to learn a language? To gain professional experience? To volunteer in a particular field?

And finally, ask yourself how? You’ve probably already been asked how you will support yourself. Not sure? Don’t give up before you go! Start saving now. Look into cheaper accommodations such as homestays. Explore scholarship opportunities. If not in person, it is very likely that you could work online. If you’ve made it this far, I suspect you speak English. Why not teach it?

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Explore Your Options 

Your reasons for traveling in the first place will naturally help you narrow down your program options. And now that you’ve checked in with yourself, you probably have a better idea of what an ideal gap year would look like for you. But don’t sell yourself short!

Gap years aren’t just about filling time; they are about finding the most fulfilling use of your time. As you explore, remember to think flexibly! Create a customized travel plan that fits your vision. You don’t even have to choose one country let alone one program! Gap year travel is education through exploration.

Maximo Nivel’s customized gap year programs, for example, allow you to individualize your itinerary based on your interests and learning goals. Study Spanish, volunteer, and/or get TEFL certified. Find the perfect combination! You can even hop between Costa Rica, Peru and Guatemala with the country jumper Gap Year program.

But as you research what the world has to offer you, don’t forget to reflect on what’s going on inside yourself. Silence misconceptions while contemplating your genuine fears to their rational end. Think proactively and responsibly but not apprehensively. Plan. Go. Experience. What’s next is up to you!

GAP YEAR IN COSTA RICA
GAP YEAR IN GUATEMALA
GAP YEAR IN PERU