| When young people think about taking a year off | | | | government documents that are necessary in order |
| from schooling, usually between high school and | | | | for the student to arrange an extended stay and |
| college, or right after getting a college degree, they | | | | work. In addition, most paid gap year programs will |
| usually think of travelling abroad. It's fun, it's exciting, | | | | also mentor the student and help to make sure that |
| you get to meet lots of new people, and you get to | | | | they are enjoying their work experience while still |
| do what you want. In other words, there is very little | | | | getting to see the country. After all, if they just |
| structure. But, life on the road like this is not for all | | | | wanted to work, they could have stayed at home |
| people and it can simply get too lonely and too | | | | and made a lot more money, so there is much more |
| exhausting. A paid gap year is a more healthy and | | | | to this kind of adventure then just working. The |
| rewarding experience for most students, and one | | | | student will get to travel and see the sights, explore |
| that they will relish for the rest of their lives. | | | | neighboring areas or countries, meet people from |
| Not all paid gap year programs are the same, but | | | | around the world, eat new foods, experience new |
| they usually involve many of these aspects: | | | | cultures, and live a life that they have only seen in |
| | | | movies or read about in books. |
| 1. A job in a host country that also supplies food, | | | | The best part of these programs is that they are |
| lodging, and a nominal wage. | | | | structured, leaving the parent feeling that their child is |
| 2. Travel to and from the host country. | | | | in good hands, and the student feeling as if they still |
| 3. Organization of visas, travel permits, or any other | | | | have the freedom to travel. |