Gap year travellers aren’t wasters

Matt Anstee argues that gap years are a valuable life experience.

Whilst in Peru I found out that I did not like the leathery taste of guinea pig and in Kenya I realised I preferred the taste of already dead, slightly salted termites to alive, unsalted ones. I’ve only had the intense dread of missing home a couple of times. One time was when my car broke down hundreds of miles away from the nearest mechanic in the Australian desert.

For me travelling is not just about getting on a plane and going somewhere, it’s about seeing and experiencing things that are different. It’s not about ‘finding yourself’ but more about finding out what you like and dislike and becoming more independent. I’ve travelled around Australia, Europe, Peru and Kenya and in each place I have enjoyed finding things out about myself that are impossible to find out at home. Whilst in Peru I found out that I did not like the leathery taste of guinea pig and in Kenya I realised I preferred the taste of already dead, slightly salted termites to alive, unsalted ones. This type of knowledge may not be vital for my overall survival but it did make me feel more alive and that’s what travelling to me is about.

Nowadays due to reduced airfares and globalisation there are more people than ever taking gap years. In my opinion, generally speaking, there are two types of gap year travellers; people who want to get out and experience as much as possible, and people who see a gap year as an extended school holiday. The first lot of people do not mind being taken out of their comfort zone; the second are more attracted to the things that remind them of home, namely clubs, pubs and hangovers. I’m not saying this is wrong; it’s all about personal choice. It simply boils down to an individuals’ likes and dislikes and what exactly they want to get out of their travelling experience.

One misconception about travelling is the belief you will always have fun and enjoy yourself. There are always times you feel like jumping on the next plane back home but this is all part of the experience. I’ve only had the intense dread of missing home a couple of times. One time was when my car broke down hundreds of miles away from the nearest mechanic in the Australian desert. The other time was when a friend and I picked up a severe stomach infection in Peru.

However, as anyone who has travelled before will know, solutions to these kinds of problems eventually appear. After waiting seven hours in the Australian desert we were rescued by a trucky who went by the name of Squeaky; he placed our car on his car-transporter and gave us a lift to the nearest mechanic; while driving he entertained us for hours with his tales of his seven sisters and all the road kill he had proudly created. In Peru, our saviour was Doctor Juan Cuba, who gave my friend, Ben, a hospital bed in a private room with a TV, a wheelchair and a drip in his arm; I was given some antibiotics and a stern look. After these experiences I truly believe in the saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

My belief is that neither type of gap year traveller has wasted their time if they have enjoyed themselves and have fond memories (be them good or bad at the time). The most important thing to remember about travelling is that it is all about doing what you want to do. You’re only a ‘gap year waster’ if you did not enjoy yourself.