Comments on: Returning from a Gap Year: 9 Tips to Starting Over

By: Lana

Lana — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 05:58:52 +0000

This post is so awesome. I will soon me transitioning, and I am asking similar questions. The last three years I have done grad; I am not sure i I am willing to give up grad school or the academic track, but I am also burned out and tired, and am asking myself, can I be happy with this rut for the next five years, or 10+ years if I got a job in the career.

I use to travel; I lived in Asia for three years; I tent camped all over Europe; I went all over SE Asia. I’ve done a lot of what you did. then I landed grad school. I miss the road; I miss the feeling of freedom; I miss hearing other languages.

But making the leap into the unknown is also scary, both because it means giving up comforts (namely a car), but also knowing that trips are temporary. When it all ends, then what?

Anyway – you write good; I enjoy it.

By: Christine Ka'aloa

Christine Ka'aloa — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:26:44 +0000

In reply to Rachel. @Rachel: Congratulations! Brilliant idea. Glad it all worked out for you.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:14:15 +0000

This post is great. I wish I’d have read it when I came home from mine. No-one prepared me for it. I ended up going back to college, a subject I was passionate about. Ended up getting funded to do it too, and making new friends gave me a whole new social life. It totally saved me.

By: GAPYEAR_JAPAN

GAPYEAR_JAPAN — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:42:33 +0000

RT @grrrltraveler: Returning from a Gap Year(s): 9 Tips to Starting Over http://t.co/HuKk1S5T #gapyear #expat #cominghome #jobtips #findajob

By: Christine Ka'aloa

Christine Ka'aloa — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:41:33 +0000

In reply to Barbara. @Barbara: Job shadowing is an excellent tip! Thnx for the add. =-)

By: Christine Ka'aloa

Christine Ka'aloa — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:40:51 +0000

In reply to Jen. @Jen: In a roundabout way... It charges the client a higher rate than what they've told you the client can offer. To be specific, you should negotiate w/ your agent and go for the rate you think you're worth vs. let them mandate the rate they'll send you out for.

By: Christine Ka'aloa

Christine Ka'aloa — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:38:20 +0000

In reply to Jo (The Blond). @Jo: Apologies for the delay... I've been offline due to travel. Thnx so much for your comment. lol. I think if you put your mind towards change, the universe opens up and invites miracles. Wishing many miracles your way!

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:39:21 +0000

This reminds me of the college years when we had to think of life, post-grad. I would also recommend job shadowing. I did that a few times prior to coming to Korea.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:34:58 +0000

Awesome tips. I didn’t know that temp agencies doesn’t charge you. I’ve always thought that the agency would take a percentage off your paycheck. Thanks. I’m pinning this for future reference.

By: Jo (The Blond)

Jo (The Blond) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:44:55 +0000

Love this advice! I think I should probably print it out and put it on my wall to read it everyday.
The thing is that after I came back from my last trip I was really, really depressed, mostly because I had to go back to a job I hate. And I’m still here. i hope I can change something after I come back, and that my next trip will change something in me and they way I think about myself.
Thanks for the post. It’s really helpful!