Gap Year Abroad

The notion of taking more than two weeks of vacation time, even taking a gap year, may be common in other parts of the world, but in the United States it has been increasingly blunted by the tough economic times affecting nearly everyone.

Many are either out of work and looking for work, or those who have a job either cannot afford a long vacation, or are afraid that a long absence will be used against them.

There also seems to be a social norm that says you should get your trekking and backpacking dreams out of your system during your college years at the latest. After that you are expected to join the corporate world, settle down and raise a family, and stay in the "Real" world.

Having to make excuses for long blank stretches of time was the scourge of every job seeker. You were expected to account for your last ten years of employment, or beyond. Not too brief times between employers was suspect of laziness, incompetence, rebellion, or worse.

Today a mid life gap year adventure is a lot more common than it once was, as many boomers, by choice or otherwise, are forced to make career changes. Many have even welcomed unemployment, as it has freed them from boring, stressful jobs and given them time to explore new options by seeking gap year ideas.

Gap year work leading to self-employment will be a beacon of hope for many, and finally give them the opportunity to live life on their own terms.