4. Discover a New Language
Many gap year travelers decide to use the opportunity to broaden their future career prospects or even find a place to permanently resettle. If your goals include either of these, learning a new language is an excellent place to start. If you’re not sure which language to learn, consider a major language such as Spanish, French, German, Russian or Chinese. Many capitals and major cities have language schools for foreigners. There’s plenty of time for fun on the side, but taking some language lessons can help give your gap year a little structure and purpose.
5. Set a Personal Goal
A carefully planned gap year trip should be something that you will come to treasure for a lifetime, so it’s a good time to set a lofty but achievable personal goal. Whether it’s hitchhiking from North America all the way down to the tip of Chile, traveling thousands of miles by bicycle or attempting to live off $10 per day for a year, you’ll never run out of challenges to set for yourself. The achievement will leave you proud and confident and better equipped to face your future studies, career or life in general.
6. Work Abroad
You don’t always need to spend a fortune to enjoy the pleasures of a gap year. By working abroad, you’ll have the chance to earn some money to fund your travels and your upcoming studies. There are plenty of temporary job placements available all over the world. Some of the more common jobs include restaurant work, fruit picking or tree planting, hostel or hotel staff, language teachers, retail assistants and even sports instructors. Alternatively, you could try being your own boss with online freelancing.
