Or 14,484 kilometers to literally everyone else in the world besides Americans. But seriously, that’s what I did! I decided to take the road less traveled out of Minnesota and head off to the opposite side of the world at 18 years old… and it was the best decision I could have made.
Don’t get me wrong though, it has been challenging.
So… you might be asking how did she do it? Or maybe how does she afford it? Or even how do I get to do that too? Well, as my VERY FIRST BLOG POST, I will share what my 9,000 mile journey looked like starting out.
STEP 1: It’s All You
First thing’s first. You have to actually get up the courage to make this decision for yourself. For me, almost everyone I knew was going off to study the next four years and it took me a while to realize that I didn’t want to do that. I did the college applications, I did the campus tours, I did the meeting with school counselors, until one day (ask my mom – she was there) I completely broke down.
I absolutely recognize how privileged I am to have been able to make this decision. I was incredibly lucky to have both of my parents in full support, I am so grateful to everyone who gifted me post-graduation money, and I am happy to have been in an environment where I could choose between various forms of education.
I genuinely don’t think I would have been able to move so far away if either one of my parents had not supported the idea. Support and validation is key to building enough confidence to push past any doubt or judgements that may come your way – find someone, anyone that is behind you 1000% and it will make all the difference in the world.
STEP 2: Researching
It’s annoying, but there’s a lot that goes into picking where you want to travel. Safety, price, opportunities, and visa were all major factors contributing to my selection of Australia.
SAFETY: Plenty of places are perfectly safe for solo traveling, but it is important to understand how being a certain gender, race, or faith could impact your safety in different locations. Additionally, looking into local methods of transportation is beneficial, although sometimes difficult if it’s less formally organized. Personally, I was not too concerned about my safety in this case, but I did read up on some Australian nature and wildlife since the country is known for its many deadly animals.
PRICE: If you are from the United States, the US dollar tends to be quite stable. This can make purchases in other countries seem much cheaper comparatively. Australia, however, is known to be pretty expensive and I would say it feels similar to being in the United States.
OPPORTUNITIES AND VISA: Although expensive to live in, a benefit of Australia is the opportunity to obtain a Working Holiday Visa. This visa, valid for one year, allows me to work any job in Australia. Different countries have different visa and working laws though, so be sure to do the research. Being able to work and earn money makes a huge difference in the experience and how long you are able to continue traveling.
(I originally thought I’d only travel for 6 months. I am now coming up on 5 months and plan on continuing simply because money is not an issue since I can work.)
Another option that does not earn you money, but rather saves it, is working in exchange for accommodation. I initially found a job through worldpackers.com, however, many hostels around the world offer such exchanges if you simply show up and ask.
STEP 3: Just Leave!
If you’re able and want to do it, do it! Be smart, be confident, book that flight, and have the time of your life. I have never felt more sure about something I am doing and I’d like to feel this way for a long, long time.
Sylvia's Gap Year 