20 questions to wrap up my gap year
Today is May 13th, and I am sitting in a cafe at the London Gatwick Airport, one day earlier than intended. After taking the past 10 days traveling in Paris and London, I chatted with my mother about an upcoming event that would take some serious thought. After planning, booking, and cancelling flights, my mother told me that no matter the cost, these are times that I would never get back. So I had a choice, stay in London one more day and or book the soonest flight out to make it there in time, there was only one choice. I am on the way home, Coley gurl, there’s no way I would miss your big signing day!
As I wrap up my gap year, to review, I’ve compiled 20 “quick questions” to answer briefly about my year! So, ready, set, go!
What’s the weirdest food you tried while traveling?
Ahhh, I think 100% some of the things I tried in Spain. There was this fried mashed potato ball dish with a bleu cheese dip and beef with a runny egg situation that was interesting. Oh, and in Washington, DC, I had cauliflower gnocchi with Manchego cheese and apple chutney, which was weird and honestly not my favorite.
Did you pick up any new hobbies or skills this year?
Photography, of course, and perhaps gaining more experience in graphic design
Were you more of a planner or a spontaneous adventurer?
As much as I hate to say it, I am a planner. I don’t plan down to the hour, but I plan big attractions, and I love to have at least one dinner reservation booked before each trip.
If your gap year had a theme song, what would it be?
There’s a couple on repeat over this year that I’d say would be good for my year abroad “theme” - DtMF by Bad Bunny and Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen.
What’s the most meaningful souvenir you brought back?
My house in Malta was being repainted the same week that I departed, so the name plaque was going to be removed and replaced, BUT I kept it, so I will always have a part of my home in Malta to take home back to the USA.
Were you ever completely out of your comfort zone? What happened?
There were a couple of instances, but I always like to highlight my very first solo travel experience because it showcases how far I’ve truly come. When I visited Chicago and landed at the airport, I had an almost meltdown because I couldn’t order an Uber at the airport and was super super super scared for my life. My comfort zone was nowhere to be found, but hey, there’s a first for everything.
Oh, and I guess another would be when I had to attend and accept an award on behalf of my nonprofit at a conference dinner that was completely in another language, and I didn’t understand a word that was being said the entire evening.
Did your gap year change what you want to do next?
This year has been eye-opening, not only in how I see the world, but also in what I would like to pursue as a career. With the experience I have had with the nonprofit and trying to combine my passion for travel and culture, I’d like to see if I can take my major (Health Policy and Management) and potentially do something in global communications or media as well. I want to continue traveling and seeing the globe, so hopefully my future career will allow this.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone planning a gap year, what would it be?
Allow yourself to make mistakes. It’s a personal experience that should be specific and special for you, so don’t let others and the media influence how you see yourself and your gap year path.
If you could teleport back to one city right now, where would you go?
Wow. This one is really hard. But I’d say Chicago (gosh, that city is great) or Barcelona (there’s so much good food)
Did you experience any major festivals or events while abroad?
YES! I was in Malta during the carnival (Mardi Gras) period, and this was amazing! The streets were crowded with people, and the sky was full of confetti! It was great!
Was there ever a moment you thought, “What did I get myself into?"
Yep. The very first moment I landed in Malta. The architexture there and the concrete stone buildings honestly resembled a scene in the middle east, so I was scared shitless.
What’s one local word or phrase you picked up and still say?
Mela. This is a Maltese filler word that can mean multiple different things, such as ‘Okay, however, therefore, yes, no, alright, let’s go, what,’ - I even considered getting this word tattooed.
Was there a “pinch me” moment where you couldn’t believe it was real?
If you’d like for me to be for real, I’d say this entire year has been a “pinch me” moment but my very first time visiting comino/blue lagoon in Malta, I remember standing on top of that cliff looking over the island and the crystal blue water and asking myself if I was even on earth!
What’s one thing you learned about yourself this year?
I learned that I’m extremely more capable of doing a lot more than I imagined. Never did I think I, a little Greene County boy, would travel and leave such a great impact on a global scale at only 18 years old. I also learned that I can be extremely open-minded and lenient in several ways. I’ve always been very structured in the way that I think, and having this experience has opened my eyes and heart, and has shifted my focus to be more accepting and willing to take on different challenges that I would have immediately said “no” to before taking my year off.
Were you more hostel, hotel, camping, or couch-surfing?
Okay, see, this response might get some hate from other backpackers and gap year fellows, but I’ve never stayed in a hostel, and if I don’t have to, I don’t want to. In all of my travels, I’ve always stayed in an Airbnb or hotel. This way, I’ve always had my personal space and have somewhere safe to store my belongings and valuables.
What’s one story you always tell when you talk about your gap year?
I always like to tell the story of my first party/club experience in Malta. I will not go into detail here, but if you’re interested, just let me know and I’ll give a full debriefing. HAHA
Did you make any friends you know you’ll keep for life?
100%. I became super close to all of the other interns and volunteers within my nonprofit. We would go out all the time, have drinks together (sometimes way too many), and have such a great time enjoying each other’s company and learning about each other’s lives and backgrounds. Also, within my homestay, I got close to several of the others I lived with, including my host mother, whom I will continue to keep in touch with forever!
What is something you regret about your gap year?
I’m sure there are plenty of small things over the year, but on top of my head, I think I regret, while having the opportunity and proximity, going to Sicily. But other than that, I don’t think I have many regrets.
Where is somewhere you would like to travel to next?
Of course, there are SO many places around the world I’d like to travel to, but over the next few years, I think I’d honestly like to prioritize traveling to more places in the USA. I want to go out west, especially Seattle, and cross over the Canadian border to Vancouver, perhaps the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone as well. Just being an American abroad, whenever you hear about Europeans travelling to the States, they have all been to places that I haven’t even seen before, so I’d like to do more domestic travel.
Something you will miss about your gap year?
I will miss being able to purchase alcohol legally (HAHHA), being able to have the freedom to just book a cheap plane ticket, not having the responsibilities of school or putting gas in my car, and all my friends and host mother back in Malta.
Something you will not miss about your gap year?
Whew. Now, don’t get me wrong, this year has been great, but there is a LONG list I can compile of things I won’t miss. Let me start…public transportation in Malta, not having flavored ICED coffee options, working and not getting paid for it (yes, I know this experience is great and valuable, but for 7 months, unpaid, is rough) not having my full closet of clothes, and ummm yeah thats all that I can come up with at the moment
Something you are looking forward to now that you are returning home?
Looking forward to working, seeing friends and family, driving my car, spending time at the coast, sleeping in my bed, and eating a cheese biscuit. - You know, the basic ENC things.
Now, wrapping this up on the plane, I realized I answered 22 questions, so pretend it’s 20 and enjoy two bonus ones!
Thank you, UNC-Global Gap Year and Friends of the Earth Malta, for the best time ever! This year off has been one of the best decisions of my life, and I will always remember it!
Until the next adventure!
