Storytime.
Once upon a time, there was an indecisive 17-year-old girl who was given a lot of great opportunities by her parents. For a reason still unknown, they also trusted her blindly in her choice to not immediately get an utterly decent degree in science or economics at a renowned, yet inexpensive university in her home country.
To give you some background, this girl lives in Belgium – where there is no such thing as college applications in your senior year. Belgians and other nationalities that are blessed with the option to study in this country, just register for college right before the start of the academic year.
To get back to the matter, on September 21st I found myself at Brussels airport. I chose the location of Boston, partially because my stepmom encouraged me to apply to U.S. colleges and the chemicals in my brain were hyping me for the terrifyingly scary but awfully exciting idea of studying abroad. Living mostly independently outside of Belgium, for the first time in my life, was an awesome experience.
There’s a chilling paradox in feeling at home in a place where none of the fundamentals of your childhood are rooted, let alone any of the people who shaped much of who you are today. I applied to U.S. colleges (I was totally going to get into that Ivy – yes, I’m that kind of international student). At the end of January, post-project emptiness hit me: I had been so occupied with applications that now that they were done, I had lost my purpose.
Although I’m fully aware that making the decision of taking a year off and/or traveling during that time is not a given opportunity to everyone, I would still totally recommend it every day of the year. Be creative, find an au pair-job (just don’t have an affair with one of the parents and you’ll be good) in Australia, go volunteer in a bird sanctuary in South-Africa, or work on a boat in Iceland.
One of the things I don’t like about myself is how quickly I get bored of things – which sounds bad, although I will argue that it is different from entitlement. I just experience this hybrid of a forbidden fruit complex and neophilism that drives me to try new things whenever I can.
“What about changing your timeline and learning Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country for an additional two months?” someone suggested. As my dad would so lovely phrase it: “My mind said no, yet my mouth said yes.” Actually, he would say “Mijn hoofd zei nee, maar mijn mond zei ja,” given that we converse in Dutch.
I flew South. Not that South. Bienvenida a Costa Rica, donde las bebidas son baratas y la naturaleza es tan bonita que me duele. Fun fact: Costa Rica does not have an army- THE answer to war if you ask me! Take notes, orange-faced puddle of hatred!
What I learned during my five months in Boston and my two months in Costa Rica:
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You will meet people who support a leader that promotes all kinds of discrimination. Those people may be older, smarter, and richer than you, which gives you a certain expectation of them. Do not try to understand. Just don’t.
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Being vegetarian/vegan in the U.S. is such a blessing… Finally, people don’t ask me if I still eat fish.
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Unfortunately, not all kinds of flirting are universal. I would say your best shot is smiling and showing interest. Reminder: body language is universal though ;-).
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You will never regret spending money on museums.
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Do not get in the car with people that are intoxicated, just because you want the free ride.
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Pura Vida! Pura Vida is like the Spanish C’est la vie. It can answer each and any question in existence. (Scenario: someone asks you if you’re pregnant. You respond “Pura Vida!”)
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I will not be attending an Ivy, and I will live an equally happy life
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Tico Time! If the person you’re meeting arrives 2 hours late, your schedule is going to move up by 2 hours. There’s nothing more to it, plus there’s nothing you can do about it. You’ll live (Does. Not. Apply to meetings outside of Central America).
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People in Costa Rica eat iguanas (How!!! They!!! Are!!! So!!! Cute!!!).
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Wherever you go, with however much physical baggage, you always have your background and manners with you. Show people your nice side.
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Do not impulsively go on a trip with a stranger for 6 days. You’ll hit it off really well at first and then you will start hating the sound of each other breathing.
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There’s no such as thing as too many sunsets.
Tougher pills to swallow include:
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The sun still rises and sets without me in Belgium (really?! You all don’t stop living your life for six months and start when I am back again? How dare you).
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I am missing out on essential moments in people’s lives, such as everyone’s birthdays, breakups, car accidents, pregnancy scares, etc.
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Every person in existence is attractive to at least someone else in this world, if not more than one. To get to the point, even if you believe no one is chasing after you, still watch your drinks. Be safe at all times.
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Lack of sleep, overabundant sunlight and giggle water are no match made in heaven. Thanks Sunday Funday in Nicaragua for making my 2017 consist of only 364 days I can recall.
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Pets do not grasp the concept of Facetime. Bless their lovely souls, and bless the hours I spent being sad over realizing that they probably think I abandoned them (I type this as I wipe away a tear).
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I am not the person who I thought I was one year ago. I will also not be the exact same person in a year from now.
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It’s okay to feel a little lonely, even when everyone else around you is having the time of their life. Spending alone time will force you to be confronted with your own personality and thoughts, which can be such a growth experience (when you’re in the right mindset, that is). Question thyself!
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After one year of little academic learning and an overkill of parties, I can truly say that the societal concept of happiness (i.e. an awesome social life and partying like there is no tomorrow) does not apply to me. Instead, going back to a life that also consists of academic challenge and beyond-the-self commitments was satisfying.
Although I’m fully aware that making the decision of taking a year off and/or traveling during that time is not a given opportunity to everyone, I would still totally recommend it every day of the year.
Be creative, find an au pair-job (just don’t have an affair with one of the parents and you’ll be good) in Australia, go volunteer in a bird sanctuary in South-Africa, or work on a boat in Iceland.
The globe could be yours!
And if you’re reading this, mom, dad, dad’s wife (dear Lin, to my 2 or 3 readers you are only “dad’s wife” but I deeply appreciate you): Thank you. Muchas Gracias. Heel erg bedankt.
See!!! That Gap year totally paid off!!!!