A Blog? Really? Wow!

So this is new!

Welcome to my blog!  This is where I plan on documenting my travels during my Global Gap Year.

First off, here is my rambling explanation of what has happened and what is to come in regards to my odyssey.

Senior year. 

With the flurry of college acceptances and denials building up and the committing dates drawing ever-so-nearer, I came to the realization that going straight from high school into college might not be the best choice for me.  I felt as if the status quo in Claremont, at least for the dedicated and driven students, was that you graduate from CHS, and then you go to a good, if not great, school. I felt as if I was being rushed into something that was supposed to be entirely my own choice and for the sole benefit of me.  I began to think about maturity and major life changes and how you need to have the former to have the latter occur smoothly.  Although I considered myself as one of the more mature and academically competent students, I just couldn't shake the thought that I wasn't ready for college.  I didn't know enough.  I hadn't explored enough internally nor externally.  I needed more and was sure I wouldn't be happy heading straight into the next leg of my education without some sort of break (boy did I work hard in high school, and I was wiped out).

Gap Year?
So I began to research gap year programs.  After an unreal amount of google searches, and after me rephrasing "gap year programs" about 6,000 times in the Google search engine, and after bookmarking an unhealthy amount of pages, I realized the best program for me was the very first one I had stumbled upon. And this was Project Abroad's Global Gap Year program.  It was one of the few programs that actually allowed minors to embark on their journey, and as a wide-eyed 17 year old, I thoroughly appreciated that.  Although pricey, the program seemed perfect for me.  It traveled to 5 countries in 3 continents (all 5 of which I had an acute interest in), scheduled in a winter break (so I wouldn't get too homesick), included varying styles of volunteer work (from building to taking care of kids, it had it all), and worked in a group setting (I would never be alone).  After contemplating this behemoth of a decision for a week or so, I told my mom about my thoughts.  All within 3 minutes she learned of my apprehension of going straight into college, about my plans to take a year off, and about this program that was ideal for me.  As a wonderfully supportive mother, she listened and calmly expressed to me her thoughts and fears in regards to what I had just word-vomited at her.  But the grand moral of her story was that she would endorse whatever plans I thought would keep me healthy and happy.  Yay Mom!

Gap Year.
After pondering the go-straight-to-college option and the gap-year option, my family and I came to the conclusion that I ought to put all my eggs in the gap-year basket.  It was the best choice for me.  As corny as it sounds, I could "find myself" on this trip and would be simultaneously giving back to the universe as I do it.  I could gain so much life experience and become more well-traveled, seeing corners of the world I never thought I'd get to encounter.  So Boom.  Next thing I knew, I had applied, was accepted, and was deferring my admission from USC to the fall of 2015.

The Deets
I leave on September 26 for the adventure of a lifetime.  First stop is Accra, Ghana (which is still Ebola-free) in Africa, where for 2 weeks, I will be going to Projects Abroad orientation and caring for disadvantaged children.  Next is Cape Town, South Africa where I will be interning on the Projects Abroad Human Rights program and building for 2 months.  Then I return home for almost a month for a winter break, to spend the holidays with the fam.  Following, I go to Cusco, Peru where I will be teaching local kids English skills for another 2 months.  The next month is spent in Kathmandu, Nepal where I will be working in a medical internship in hospitals and rehabilitation centers for disabled children. And finally, I go to Krabi, Thailand for 1 month where I will be participating in various conservation projects including some work in a Scuba suit!  Then it's back home in May where my focuses will turn to readjusting to the American way and undergoing a metamorphosis into a Trojan.



I hope to use this blog to document some of my excellent escapades to come.  There will be pictures and many many words and maybe even a video or two!

Thanks for reading!