Behind the Scenes
There is an issue with social media -- it never tells the whole story.
In the following post, I raise the veil and share some of the not-so-glamorous pieces and parts that were oh-so-crucial in designing my successful gap year.
PLANNING
My parents and I were clear from the start that I would benefit further from designing my own experience rather than simply signing up for someone else's program.
To lay out my route, I ordered a giant, laminated world map, mounted it to a collage of cardboard scraps and impaled it with thumbtacks. I scoured the internet for the cheapest way to cover my airfare and settled on a "Round the World" ticket. I poured over travel books and studied the itineraries of existing tours online. I read up on travel dos and don'ts. And, it didn't end once I boarded my first flight -- I constantly adjusted and created plans according to the opportunities and complications that arose.
DEFENSE
In preparation for uncomfortable or even dangerous situations, I spent two months last summer training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and I completed two self-defense/sexual assault defense courses. Whenever I felt uneasy, I reviewed my repertoire and immediately felt confident in my ability to defend myself. I am grateful that I never had to utilize the skills I learned.
PACKING
I carried all of my belongings in this Osprey backpack plus one smaller day pack. In total, I lugged about 40-50 lbs on my back.
FOOD
If I could provide only one tip for saving money while traveling, it would be this: COOK YOUR OWN MEALS. It's harder logistically, not always the most delicious, and requires more time and effort more but it will stretch your money 5x as far. Some of my go-to meals were pasta with chickpeas, rice with sautéed veggies, and stuffed sweet potatoes.
THEFT
Sometimes your stuff gets stolen. Sometimes the police don't speak English. Sometimes you are very thankful for your years of high school Spanish. And when I say "you," I mean "me."
After being pick pocketed in Spain on my second night away from home, I figured out how to file a police report and did so all in Spanish. The phone never resurfaced but the insurance company accepted the foreign police report and replaced the phone!
HOSTELS
Mold. Vicious Snorers. ABC gum in my bed. Anonymous human in my bed. Strange smells. I've seen, heard, felt, and smelt it all.
Not ALL hostels are bad, though. I stayed in some that could have passed for hotels (minus the strangers sharing your room).
ALL ABOARD BUT ME
Using military time really threw me off at first. That confusion led me to still be sitting in the common area of my hostel as my 16:00 train departed from the station. Instinctively, I called my mother. I began to explain what happened, but then paused.
"Why am I calling you? You can't help me. You're half way across the world," I exclaimed. "I'll figure it out. Bye."
For the first time, the reality of my independence engulfed me. Panic began to rise within but I took a deep breath, pushed it aside, and created a new plan. I finally understood the conscious choice to be made when things go wrong -- panic or problem solve -- and that only one of those choices results in solution.
CPR
Before embarking, I created a document which outlined the Context I would hold on my gap year, the Purpose of the project, and the Results I wanted to achieve. I revisited, adjusted, and updated the document throughout the year. I owe a great degree of my success to this document, as it brought intentionality and commitment to my gap year. I set out to achieve many results, some of which felt impossible at the start, and I achieved them.
Each of these pieces challenged me in ways I had never been challenged before and for that, I am grateful. I do not attribute my growth over this past year to the times of smooth sailing. I attribute it to the times when only deep breaths kept me from spilling into panic, the times when I had think on my feet, the times when I was violently thrust from my comfort zone. Each challenge tested the elasticity of my being, forcing it into new shapes and sizes, and pushing the limits of its resilience. In the end, I am left thoroughly exhausted but beyond that tire lies strength, flexibility, confidence, and drive.
