Gapping in your teens and twenties is like a rite of passage, but just to make sure it all goes alright after the flight we’ve installed the help of Dr Max Tookey, our resident psychologist. Dr Tookey has been hanging out with us for the last few weeks and giving us his expert insight, and today’s post is for first time backpackers – those new kids off the block who want to make their 12 month stint the ultimate adventure!
We hear you, you can’t wait, but before you go there are a few things you should bear in mind: namely Mum & Dad. While they will undoubtedly be thrilled for you, they will also probably feeling a hint of concern, so the more you can do to stem the tidal wave of parental fear, the better your trip will go.
* Get a part time job: you may be studying, but putting your time to good use and taking on a paying job to supplement the trip will let your parents know how much it means to you. Taking responsibility for your own endeavours will also help to show them you’re truly independent and you can take care of yourself.
* Start off your gap year with a short group overland tour so you can acquainted with travelling alone. On overland expeditions you will avoid the supplement (caching caching!) and ranging from one week to two or three months parents will be able to ease themselves into your gap year and have peace of mind that you’re travelling with a registered tour operator at the start of your year long jaunt.
* Bring your BFF along for the ride: Taking a known entity on the trip will take the edge off you fleeing the nest for a whole year, plus you’ll be able to share this unforgettable experience with someone close to you – memories which will last for years to come!
* Blog about it: While there is no guarantee on an Internet connection when you’re away from home, by updating your blog you’ll be updating family on your adventure and letting them know everything is just as amazing as it sounded before the tearful goodbyes
* Gap back up: An added bonus for anyone hoping to ace their degree course, research suggests that those who gap before hitting university often achieve better results, in fact overseas travel in general was a major positive in a 2013 study by Zimmermann and Neyer. Based on a series of psychometric tests that measured the “Big Five” personality dimensions (i.e Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability) prior to a period of foreign travel, it was found that after periods of travel abroad participants tended to show an increase in Openness to Experience, Agreeableness (which reflects a need to get along with other people) and Emotional Stability relative to those who did not travel. The study also found that foreign travel had a profound effect on the ability form social networks with people.
Good Gap Vibes
* Take yourself out of your comfort zone: If you’ve made it this far do something out of the ordinary. That doesn’t mean you have to bungy jump off Victoria Falls Bridge as there are plenty of other adrenaline fueled options if you’re not up for the 111 metre drop. Maybe take on a white water rafting trip in Zambia, spend a day as a volunteer in Uganda or sand board down a dune in Namibia. Once you’ve met the challenge head on you’ll feel empowered and it will be ready made inspiration to take on the next one.
* Get cultured: There are some areas where you’ll need to think about the dress code. Africa is a real melting pot when it comes to culture so plan ahead. Zanzibar’s Stone Town is a good example. Swap the skimpy tee for a long sleeve silk blouse to keep you cool, and a short skirt for a sarong (a nifty piece of kit which takes up almost zero packing space and doubles as a shoulder wrap for the evening). Learning a little of the basic lingo will go a long way too!
* Jump in: It all sounded like a great idea, but now you’re faced with a host of unknowns – unfamiliar people to be exact. Take a deep breath. On an overland safari there will be a meet up before you’re ready for the off and that’s a ready made ice breaker, but if not, the hostel coffee shop could be a great place to make new friends and get some up to the minute tips on your destination even before they make it into the Twitterverse!
* Down Time: Make time for yourself and don’t be afraid to wander solo. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to sneak off and lose yourself in a good book on the beach, in fact it can be refreshing to take time out from the social travel circuit every once in a while. You can also catch up on those blog posts (journal at the ready!), contemplate how far you’ve come on your gap and plan the next adventure!
Dr Max Tookey is currently a Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Psychology at the University of Greenwich. He has expertise in the areas of careers, the dark triad of organisational life and the psychology of leisure, and he has contributed to various national newspapers and magazines.
Written by: Sales and Marketing team.