I wrote this article first for Ask Men India “ Here’s How A Gap Year Can Change your Life Forever” and I thought why not share these benefits with my audience too. So, here we go!
‘Gap Year Travel’ is a fairly popular concept in the developed world and is just picking up interest in India. Either taken straight after completing one’s education or taken in between jobs, this involves the person traveling to some of their favorite destinations for about a year or more. It could be for a cause, to learn something, to contribute to society or simply to explore our gorgeous planet. Sounds fabulous right? Wouldn’t it be totally awesome if I told you that not only can you have loads of fun during your gap year holiday, but it will also provide you with these 5 astonishing benefits that will augur really well for you in the long term.
1) You add serious value to your resume
Surprised that a fun trip adds value to your resume? Well, when companies or HR agencies hire someone, they not only look at skills, but see if he or she is a well rounded personality who can adapt to the changing needs of the organization and who will add value to the company in the long term. And that’s why they like people who have undertaken gap year travel projects as these folks are flexible, adaptable, might dibble and dabble in more than a few languages, appreciate foreign cultures, think on their feet, are fearless, find it easy to break the ice, have decent international exposure, have good people skills and last, but not the least, know how to contribute to a cause. In simple words, such a person is a well rounded international personality with a flexible nature and an eager mind. And this something that companies love in their potential hires!
2) You lose your fear
When you are in the comfort of your family and home, all your needs are well taken care of. While, this is certainly good to have, it usually builds fear in the mind of the person especially about the unknown and what better unknown element than international destinations with different cultures, geography, demography, languages, food and so much more. During the course of your gap year, you start losing the fear about the unknown. It could be as simple as successfully exploring a country where you know absolutely nothing about or it could be attempting an activity that was set as a phobia in your mind or even as simple as traveling far and wide all on your own. Once you overcome this unknown, you become fiercely independent and fearless. And there is no doubting this feeling of elation. Once you taste this fearlessness, you will treasure it for your entire lifetime.
3) You learn to break the ice
This is one of the best perks of gap year holidays, but it usually slips under the radar. In spite of all the travel guides, travel apps and internet connectivity, you most certainly need to know how to start a conversation in a strange and foreign environment. We human beings are social creatures and are genetically programmed to communicate. This gene memory allows us to learn how to break the ice when pushed into an alien environment. After all, we need company irrespective of geography or demography. Gap year travel enables you to bring out this skill of yours. So, whether you are in Japan, Scandinavia, Africa or South America or any where in our vast planet, you will know how to break the ice, communicate and get your needs met.
4) You learn new languages and cultures
Unlike a short holiday, where you are visiting a destination for a few days to a few weeks, in gap year trips, you certainly have the comfort of time. This time allows you to immerse yourself in your local environment. And that enables you to learn a new language or may be learn it enough to get your way around. You start understanding the local religion and cultures. And their history and current state of affairs. You could learn a dance form native to that country or learn how to cook a dish that you have taken a fancy to. Gap year travel accelerates your international learning like none other. To me, this is one of the inherent joys of long term travel.
5) You make diverse friends
How many of us can claim to have a diverse group of international friends? Gap year travelers can certainly stake claim. That random stranger whom you learnt to trust, that random travel partner from an exotic country who shared your travel and life philosophies or that interesting connection you made in that new country, all these can be nurtured into long-standing friendships. And when they visit you at your home town or country or you meet again, that international friendship only blooms.
I hope by now, you have enough incentive to plan your very own gap year holiday! As someone who has lived that life, I can certainly promise that it is one hell of a experience.
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