Written by Zoë Howie on 09 / 07 / 2024
Gap Year Advice
So, you've finished school, and now you're standing at the edge of a brand-new adventure: your gap year. You are probably daydreaming about exotic places, delicious food, and epic stories to tell.
But there's one phrase that keeps popping up in your research: cultural immersion trips. What does that even mean? And why should you care? Listen up, because we're about to dive into what it really means to discover a country's culture on your gap year. And no it doesn’t mean visiting endless museums.
Let’s break down "cultural immersion." It's more than just snapping selfies in front of famous landmarks or checking off touristy spots on your map – we can all do that. Cultural immersion is about diving deeper into the heart of a place, understanding its people, traditions, and way of life. It's about living the culture, not just observing it from a distance. Each one of our gap year programmes are curated to include culture as one of it’s three pivotal elements, lifting the lid on life in-country and getting you to be part of it from the get-go – become a traveller not a tourist.
1. Authentic Experiences
When you immerse yourself in a culture, you get to experience the real deal. It's like comparing instant noodles to a homemade meal from a local grandma – there's just no contest.
2. Personal Growth
You'll learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible. Facing new challenges, adapting to different lifestyles, and stepping out of your comfort zone will make you stronger and more self-aware. This can only be a good thing. It is more important now than ever after UCAS has altered their admissions process to abolish personal statements and opt for 3 set questions instead one of which is largesly centred around learning beyond the classroom and personal development.
3. Connections
You'll make friends from around the world. These aren't just Facebook friends but real connections with people who have different perspectives and stories to share.
1. Stay with Locals
One of the best ways to immerse yourself is to live with a host family or in a homestay. This gives you a front-row seat to daily life in a new culture. You'll eat together, share stories, and maybe even learn to cook some local dishes. Plus, you'll pick up on the little things that make a culture unique – like how they greet each other, their sense of humour, or their unspoken social rules. If you’re interested in a homestay, then check out our Peru programme for living with a local community high up in the Andes eating delicious local food and learning about their daily life. They might even teach you to cook or do some textile weaving.
2. Learn the Language
You don't have to be fluent but knowing some basics can go a long way. People appreciate it when you make an effort to speak their language, even if it's just simple greetings or phrases. It shows respect and can open doors to deeper conversations and friendships. Check out our Costa Rica and Colombia programmes if you wish to learn a language. It is super handy for your onward travel should you decide to travel further after your Leap adventure.
3. Get Involved in the Community
Volunteer, join local clubs, or participate in cultural festivals. Whether it's teaching English, helping out at a community garden, or dancing in a local parade, getting involved helps you connect with people and understand their way of life from the inside. If community work is your vibe then our Kenya programme or our Cambodia programme would be right up your street as you integrate yourselves into the local communities to help teach, read, collect water and play! The great thing about us is that we have all these connections, you would struggle to just walk into a community when travelling solo – but we have long standing connections with our communities – whether that be on the coast in Costa Rica at the community centre, or in the villages in Kuruwitu, Kenya. Ours are genuine connections that provide real benefit on both sides. Our communities love our Leapers and exchanging knowledge.
4. Eat Like a Local
Forget about fast food chains. Dive into the local cuisine. Street food is often the best way to taste authentic flavors. Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if it looks a bit unusual. Food is a huge part of culture, and you'll discover so much through your taste buds. Our trip leaders know all the best places to eat like a local and appreciate the local cuisine – no time wasted looking for the right places, we know them.
5. Ask Questions and Listen
Be curious and open-minded. Ask locals about their customs, history, and daily family life. Listen to their stories and perspectives. It's one of the best ways to learn and appreciate a new culture.
There you have it - the what, why and how on all things cultural. Hopefully you see that taking cultural immersion trips on your gap year is more than just travel – it’s about transformation. You’ll come back not only with incredible memories but with a new perspective on the world and your place in it. It is the difference between 'seeing' a country and 'feeling' it.
You can rest assured that each of our team programmes has culture, challenge and contribution at the heart of it. They have been carefully curated to nail each element and provide you with a satisfying and fulfilling gap year where you can be sure you will lift the lid on each destination with authentic guides so passionate about where they live. Each programme is a minimum of 3 weeks giving you long enough to settle and listen and understand a culture without just dipping your toe in and moving on to the next.
So, pack your bags, leave your comfort zone behind, and get ready to truly discover the culture of the countries you visit.
Remember, it's not just about the destination, but the journey and the people you meet along the way. Safe travels, and happy immersing.
How many people are in a team on your programmes? It varies - smallest capacity programme is 12 ie Cambodia, Colombia, largest programme capacity is 24, ie Costa Rica.
What age are your travellers? 18-21 and most of them are solo travellers so you'll be in the same boat. Let us take care of the logistics while you focus on making the friendships.
Do people do more than one programme? Yes if you want a real contrast of cultures in one gap year period, you can stitch together two contrasting programmes.
