I’m
drawing to the end of my university career and am counting down until the 18th
of May when my dissertation will be handed in and I am free of essays. But then
what?
A
Master’s degree? Internships? A real job? As exciting as these sound I think
I’d rather go away. Far away. For a while.
It’s
not that I want to escape London, or even England. But I never took a gap year,
so now seems like the ideal time to go somewhere spectacular. But I have no
idea about where I want to go. So many people I have met over the last few
years have told me of the time they had on their gap year: partying in
Thailand, working in Australia, have their passport stolen in India, drinking
with the locals on the beaches of the Cook Islands. The list is endless. But
the one constant through everyone’s stories is the look in their eye that
appears as soon as the memories come flooding back. I want that. I want to
experience the world before it disappears!
The
hardest part for me is choosing where I’d like to go. I mean, the world is
huge! State the obvious I know, but attempting to pick one part, a handful of
cultures is very difficult. Gap years can range from InterRailing around Europe
to flying to the other side of the world and trying to pick one over another is
hard. For instance, I want to go to Peru to see the Incan ruins, but I also
want to visit Eastern Europe before its natural beauty is replaced by hotels
and industrial estates, as well as wanting to unwind on the Caribbean beaches
after my pesky dissertation is handed in. As much as I’d like to do all of the
above in the next 12 months I think I’m getting a little ahead of myself as
finically speaking (like most final year students) I’m a little tiny bit in
debt!
So,
while I’m meant to be studying hard, reading books about classical receptions,
I’m going to continually refresh skyscanner.com, statravel.co.uk and various
other travel websites in the hunt for bargain flights and accommodation. I am
determined to enjoy myself as much as I can before I get a real job.
But
why take a gap year? I’m applying for master’s courses for 2012/13 while I’ve
told everyone that I’m not bothered if I get in or not, I’d love another year
of studying books, and I’m actually quite excited about getting a job and my
own place. Yet I want the year-off release from deadlines. A gap year, if you look
at it literally, is a long summer holiday between one educational institute of
stress and the next or, a last extended period of self-indulgent freedom before
serving ‘the man’ and paying taxes. It's an announcement of the fact that
you're only young once; so glory in it. I mean, why not? Why not have fun?
To
help me (and possibly you) I’ve devised a list of the 5 places I’d most like to
visit:
1.
Peru
From amazing
rainforests to golden beaches and majestic mountains, Peru seems to have all
you could ask for, and most interestingly to me, landscapes untouched by time.
The country’s intriguing and ancient history is scattered throughout the
country and activities from trekking to relaxing are all an adventure here.
2.
China
From the wide open and empty panoramas of Tibet to the hustle and bustle of Shànghǎi,
from the volcanic dishes of Sìchuān to beer by the bag in seaside Qīngdǎo.
China has amazing food, an amazing history and an amazing culture. I want to
see everything: the Terracotta Army, the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
3.
Canada
This might seem a
bit odd; but the reason it’s on the list is that from the north of the country
you can see the northern lights 350 days of the year: much more of a chance
than in Iceland. As well as this, Canada has some phenomenal countryside. You
can go skiing, snowboarding or road trip and see wild bears, moose, polar
bears, whales and wolves.
4.
New Zealand
New Zealand presents the world with outlandish scenery, fantastic
festivals, impressive food and wine, and phenomenal outdoor experiences. You
can be stood on a beach one moment, and on a glacier the next.
5.
Go InterRailing across Europe;
finishing at a festival.
An InterRail pass it cheapest to those under 26.
So make the most of it. It is a once in a life time experience. You can travel
from rural Portugal to the busy city of Rome in a day. It is a brilliant scheme
which allows for an incredible experience of the best of Europe. I’d love to
travel around for a month, stopping in Greece, Italy, ending either at the
Hideout or Garden festival in Croatia or Benicassim festival in Spain.
