Advice for future Gap Year Adventurers

Disclaimer: all recommendations are based on personal experience, and some experiences you just need to make on your own. However, knowing these kinds of things may have benefited me going into my gap year, and so I am writing them for you. I spent my gap year in the tropics, so many pieces of advice are based on experiences in that kind of environment. Even if you are not going to the tropics, this knowledge could nonetheless come in handy.

Come home for holidays. This is the biggest thing I wish I had done differently. You may think that you are ready to leave your family for a while; I thought the same thing. I was lonely and missed my family and holiday traditions of home. However, you may find it a good experience, unlike mine.

Bring light clothing that dries fast for tropics, but do bring a thick jacket just in case. I bought several shirts and pants made from non-cotton material that would dry quickly, and I was very thankful for them. Tropical moisture can make it difficult to dry clothes, as dryers are uncommon and it can be rainy for days on end. If there is sun, use it to your advantage to dry your clothes! However, I did not bring much more than those thin clothes, and it turned out to be a lot colder than I expected at times. Plan for various kinds of weather, even in hot countries.

Learn at least some of the language. I do not recommend duolingo. Several people I was volunteering with had very limited knowledge of the local language, even after weeks or months in the country. This made it difficult for them to really connect with the local people who weren’t fluent in English, and, in my opinion, greatly diminished their experience. These same people had often been using duolingo to learn, and I have found that duolingo is pretty bad at actually teaching a language you have no prior experience with. It is good for practicing, once you have the basics down, but it never teaches you things like verb conjugation or sentence structure. I recommend ordering a language learning book at least 6 months before you leave and working through some of the basics. Additionally, the best way to learn a language, in my opinion, is to consume media you are familiar with in that language. For me, that involved listening to the 1st Harry Potter audio book with subtitles in the same language (I was familiar with the story so I was able to keep up with the plot). It taught me vocabulary, grammar, verb conjugations, and how to bridge the gap between spelling and pronunciation. Movies are also good.

Bring anti-itch cream. My small tube of CVS anti-itch cream spared me so much misery. So many things can make you itch, and it is an awful sensation because it is CONSTANT. I got many mosquito bites in my first few weeks in Brazil an was miserable, but the anti-itch cream made it possible for me to fall asleep and live my life.

Take insect protection seriously, bring your own mosquito net. I brought a net upon my dad’s recommendation, even though I thought it would likely be unnecessary. However, some of the places I was staying did not provide nets, and I strung up mine. Even though mosquitoes weren’t much of an issue in those places, a net protects you from so much more: beetles, spiders, rats, etc. are all kept off your bed, and you can sleep at night knowing that you are safe from whatever may want to bother you. Also, if there are mosquitoes and other biting insects, wear long sleeves/pants and apply insect repellent. Some areas of the world have nasty diseases that are carried by insects, and preventing insect bites dramatically reduces the chance of you contracting one.

Ropes. My dad gave me 4 little ropes to bring, each about 4 meters long, telling me “they will be the most useful thing you have”. I didn’t think much of it. Turns out they were indeed incredibly useful: I used them to make clotheslines, string up hammocks, hang up my mosquito net, tie things together, etc. They were almost always in use.

Do not bring leather things if you can avoid it, they will mold. Leather does not do well with humidity and is especially susceptible to mold and deformation. I brought a leather belt which was frequently covered in white fuzz, other people had leather wallets and hats and hiking boots, none of which fared well.

Anti-fungal spray is a good idea, for your body and belongings. I bought some before going to the Amazon rainforest upon the suggestion of one of the people who lives there. Your feet are susceptible to fungal infections like athlete’s foot when you spend all day in moist rubber boots, and giving them a dose of anti-fungal spray can help with that. Also, it can get rid of mold on your belongings. I frequently sprayed down my ukulele case, backpack, and hat, as well as directly into my shoes, among other things.

Plastic Ziplock bags will save your life, zip clothes you’re not using into them. They can be used to organize things, and they will keep your clothes dry and wearable (and away from spiders).

Keep electronics in plastic bags. Moisture in the tropics can severely damage your electronics, especially over an extended period of time. Keeping them in plastic bags and/or rice can help you avoid that.

Make sure to get plan things like vaccinations in advance, you don’t want those things to be last minute. Things like visas and vaccinations can be unexpectedly complicated, so make sure you check up on the requirements well in advance so you don’t get any nasty surprises.

When traveling to organizations, call ahead with a list of questions, like: what does an average day look like? What’s the food like? What are some suggestions for things to bring that I might not come up with on my own? What do you provide in terms of bug protection? What is the insect/parasite situation like? How many other volunteers will be there? How do people usually spend their free time? Will I need to bring my own computer? What is internet access like? Is there a store nearby I can buy things at, and if so, what kinds of things can I buy there?

Some of these may seem like inconsequential questions, but they will be your reality once you arrive. Knowing about them ahead of time will allow you to prepare, even just mentally.

Organizations are made up of individual people. It can often seem intimidating to email an organization or get into personal contact with them. However, your email is being answered by a (probably very nice) person whose job is to help you. Do it. Reach out.

Things are often much less rigid than they seem with organizations. I went in with the assumption that I had to plan things way in advance and had to arrive on a specific day and would be doing specific tasks. While some are more rigid than others, I observed things like people asking if they could come to volunteer a week in advance, extending their stays, working on their own projects, etc. If you would like to do something you think might be out of the ordinary it never hurts to ask.

Be ready to learn things you don’t know or relearn things you thought you did. Going in with an open mind will also make people a lot more patient and receptive of you.

Ask for a thorough run-through when relearning something or learning something new. It’s easy to think you know how to do something, or for someone else to assume that about you. Ask for a complete demonstration, even if its boring or redundant. There may be small details you don’t know about that can make all the difference in a job well done. This can include even simple tasks like washing dishes, watering plants, planting seeds, or sweeping.

Be ready to have to adjust to different culture around time and timeliness. I came from a culture of punctuality, especially having done a lot of music. The motto there is “Early is on time, on time is late, and late is dead”. However, tropical countries often operate more on a “on time=10-60 minutes after the agreed upon time” basis, which means that if you arrive to somewhere on time, no one will be there. This was a very difficult concept for me to get used to.

People are most motivated to do things when they first arrive. They come in with eyes untainted by normalcy and a desire to help and generally be busy. This energy usually lasts around 3-7 days, and should be put to good use.

Local people are wonderful resources: talk to them, ask them questions, go places with them. Pick their brains about stories and information about the culture and area you’re in. You may learn some surprising things.

Go to local holidays/fairs. That’s where you’ll really see the culture of a place come out. Places vary greatly in how they put on large organized events, and you can learn a lot by observing people at these types of events.

Buy from local artisans and not stores if you can. Your money will go straight into the community, and many communities depend on tourism for income. At some stores, especially chain stores, the money is siphoned out and does not benefit the community.

Haggling: in some cultures, it’s expected to haggle over the price of a product, especially in unofficial stores. If there is no price tag, ask the seller how much it is, and then state a price a bit under how much you are willing to pay. If the seller will not come down, begin walking away. Usually that will result in a lowering of the price to something closer to what you said.

Example:

You: “How much is X?”

Seller: “That’s 40.”

Y: “How about 30?”

S: “38.”

Y: “Oh, no thank you then.” Start walking away.

S: “35, 35!”

Y: “34?”

S: “OK!”

You just got yourself X for 6 less than the original price.

Safety. The biggest advice is, of course, don’t be stupid. Be alert, think ahead. Think about how someone could take advantage of you; putting yourself in their shoes can help you avoid scenarios before they happen. When traveling, hook your arms and legs through the straps of your backpacks and bags so someone can’t just run off with them. Watch for people who are watching you, and if you notice anything strange, make eye contact with that person to show them that you are aware of them. This can help deter them, because someone who is aware is harder to take advantage of. I found that fanny packs are the best way to keep your valuable possessions close to you and safe. By keeping things like your phone, wallet, and passport in your fanny pack, you are ensuring that they are close to your body, and always in sight and reach of your hands. It is much more difficult for someone to detach or reach into a bag that is just above your crotch than a small backpack, shoulder bag, or purse, which you may be less aware of since you can’t see it at all times.

Your phone is an important thing to consider. Especially in big cities, it is important to be aware of how you are using your phone to limit the possibility of someone grabbing it out of your hand and running away with it. (These tips were told to me by someone who lives in a big city in Brazil). Keep your phone of a string or chain that is connected to you, either around your neck or to your belt. Also, don’t use phone on street or in crowded places; if you do need to use it, step into a store. Additionally, make sure that “find my phone” is activated. If something does happen to you or your phone, this can help you or someone else locate you or your phone.

When going out, make sure to tell someone where you are going, and ideally go with someone you trust. If something does happen to you, these measures will ensure that there is a fast response time, which can make a big difference in an emergency situation.

You will become a lot more tolerant of dirty clothes. Before leaving for South America, I was the kind of person who wore a different pair of socks every day, washed shirts frequently, and generally cared much more about the cleanliness of clothes. However, when you have a limited number of clothes, are doing work that tends to get those clothes dirty and/or sweaty, and have to handwash clothes (and drying them takes 4-7 days), you get a lot less picky about what you are wearing. My standards for what clothes are acceptable to wear went wayyyy down, and nowadays I catch myself wearing shirts or socks for a whole week, because I’m not doing anything that gets them dirty enough to be worth washing. My strategy for wearing a limited amount of clothing while doing different activities often included changing clothes multiple times a day. I had a set of clothes for working, a set for exercising, a set for leisure, a set for going out in public, and a set for sleeping. For every part of the day I would wear a certain outfit, but then those same outfits for the entire week. This worked very well because there are also different cleanliness standards applied to different activities. For example, clothes I would work in would get dirty quickly, but no one cares if you are working in dirt-stained pants. By the same token, clothes to wear out in public need to be cleaner, but they also don’t get dirty as fast.

It is best to go along with the flow, even when plans change in unexpected ways. It’s usually not worth the effort to get upset over. Sometimes, things will happen that you have no control over. It’s easy to get upset about yourself or others who caused the situation, but the best response is to pinpoint what you could have done differently to avoid this kind of situation in the future (if anything), and then quickly move on to what you can do in the moment to overcome the situation. Here’s an example: you missed the bus. Incorrect reaction: anger and despair over your situation, curse yourself out. Better reaction: realize that there is nothing you can do now, but plan to get started a little earlier in the future towards the bus station, maybe plan to get there 10 minutes earlier instead of 5, make your breakfast the night before, etc. Then, figure out when the next bus comes and if you can wait until then, or see if you can call a friend or taxi to take you to where you need to go.

Basic necessities kit to carry with you. I always carried a plastic bag with a variety of items on me for emergencies. Many times, I did not need it, but several times I would have been very screwed without it. Your kit will vary based on your needs and where you are, but here’s what I had in mine, as a reference.

· Pocket knife (swiss army knife with scissors, great for cutting fruit, packaging, bandages, and anything else. Also handy when prying open things, whittling, or opening cans).

· Band-aids: great for keeping dirt out of wounds, which is vital in the tropics. I gave them to other people more than I used them myself, and was greatly appreciated.

· Anti-biotic cream (not ointment): to put on cuts/scrapes. Preventing infection is key in the tropics.

· Anti-itch cream: nothing ruins your day like an incredibly itchy mosquito bite.

· String/rope: you never know when it will come in handy. See above.

· Adhesive tape and gauze: for cuts that are too big for a band-aid.

· Tissues/toilet paper/wet wipes/antiseptic wipes: a necessity. Things like a runny nose, bloody nose, bleeding cut, or food/drink spill can be difficult to handle without something to wipe it with. Additionally, diarrhea can strike randomly (especially in foreign countries), and not all bathrooms have toilet paper, which can be incredibly difficult to handle without emergency supplies (I speak from first-hand experience).

· Mole-skin: the best thing for blisters. New shoes or new activities like sweeping can cause blisters, and mole-skin will make sure there is a layer of protection between your skin and the offending object.

· Menstrual products (females): your period can surprise you at incredibly inconvenient times, and it is always a good idea to have a pad and tampon on hand. And if not for yourself, for others.

· Sugar tablets: I sometimes struggle with low blood sugar, and sugars like dextrose go quickly into your bloodstream. Carrying a few of these can come in handy in situations where there is no access to food and you are doing physical exercise.

· A snack: things like cookies and chocolate are great to boost blood sugar and give a little burst of energy when you need it.

Schedule a time to talk with family. I had “dinner” with my family once a week; they would eat dinner and have a computer set up at one end of the table and we would have a long conversation. Because of the time difference, this would often mean me waking up at midnight to talk to them, but it was worth it every time. This also guaranteed that I would definitely be free to talk to them. Also, talk to your family members individually every once in a while. This is something I wish I had done more, because during these conversations is when you hear how they are really doing.

Keep your friendships/other relationships to a minimum. You are taking a gap year to invest time into yourself, and maintaining other relationships will only interfere with that. In this day and age, it is easy and almost expected to keep in constant contact with other people your age via our phones. I suggest talking to your friends and others and telling them that you will not be in constant contact with them. This doesn’t mean that you should never talk to them; calling them every few weeks is not a bad idea. Being in contact with them all the time will just waste your time, however. This also goes for romantic relationships. If you have a partner and will be long distance for the time you are travelling, consider just taking a break. A long-distance relationship will suck away your time and energy even more than long distance friendships. You will give away your time willingly, only to look back and realize that you would have been able to have a much fuller experience without it.

Menstrual care. Months ahead of my gap year trip, I started using a menstrual cup, which is a rubber or silicone cup you insert into your vaginal canal and empty out 2-3 times a day. Learning how to use it was not easy, but I got the hang of it and I’m so glad I did. It saved me many disposable menstrual products, is very easy to clean, and hardly leaks. I highly recommend anyone planning to travel for an extended period of time switch to menstrual cups (if you haven’t already). It saved me so much worry and money during my trip, and it’s eco-friendly! Also, re-usable pads/liners exist and are a good option too, as back-up for a cup.

Kindles (or other e-readers) are great for off-line entertainment. I have had a simple kindle since I was 11 and I take it with me whenever I travel. It does not need internet to function once you have your books loaded onto it, does not need to be charged often, and it can hold as many books as you could possibly want to read. Books can also be susceptible to mold in the tropics, which a kindle is not.

Keep a journal. Keeping a daily journal of your activities is very helpful. Not only do you know what you have done everyday (which I couldn’t remember without a journal), it can also help quantify time in looking back at what you’ve done, and help you remember the order of things. Personally, I set aside a few minutes every night right before I go to sleep to record in basic terms what I’ve done that day. I also rate how I felt that day on a scale from 1-10, where an average day should be a 6 or 7. This helps me keep track of my mood over time without keeping an in-depth mood diary.

Make a blog. I originally made this blog with the idea that I would not want to update friends and family on my activities and give each person a slightly different version of what I was up to. Instead, I could just make a generalized blog, and if anyone from home talked to me, they would already know some of what my life was like. It also provided me a place to put pictures in order, and visually illustrate my adventures. Several other travelers I met also had blogs. Making the blog also came with the benefit that people who I normally wouldn’t talk to, like (great) aunts, uncles, parents of friends, and former teachers also followed along with my journey and would reach out to me every now and again. It was always reaffirming for me to know that people were reading my blog and felt closer to me because of it. I had a couple of “rules” I followed for what I would post on my blog. These basically boiled down to this: (1) I would be honest. I would not pretend everything was great when it was not, because I did not want to present a “picture-perfect” version of myself. (2) I would not complain. Sometimes it is difficult to be honest without complaining, but there is a positive aspect to every situation, and it is your job to find it. Even if that positive aspect is “I learned that I never want to do this again”. (3) I would not write anything negative about others on my blog. This sometimes resulted in omissions of details, or not recounting good stories (ask me about Robert, in person). However, since my blog is technically accessible to everyone on the internet, I wanted to make sure that others would never be unhappy with the things I said about them.

If you are planning on taking a gap year, I would love to talk to you, tell you more about my experiences, and answer any questions you might have! And if you're on the fence about taking a gap year and travelling, my advice is to go for it. I learned so much, have many stories to tell, and overall feel like a much more experienced and well-rounded person.