Aussies do it better

Aussies do it better.  Here are a few things Americans should grab hold of and hang on to!

The GAP year –

The concept of a “gap year” began in the UK in the1960’s.  Students would take time to travel, volunteer, or go on a working holiday abroad.  To this day, many students from Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand take a full year off after high school before heading to university or after university before entering the work force.  They are encouraged to have fun, travel their own country, or to go overseas backpacking with their friends.  Students sometimes participate in cultural immersion and language study programs.  Why don’t we encourage our youth to do this in America?  When I looked up gap year on Wikipedia, it actually stated that the practice of taking a year off in the US remains the exception.  Traveling is such a great experience, especially when it is extended travel.  You learn how to adapt, how to be flexible, how to interact with and appreciate other cultures, and how to be independent.  In Australia, there is an industry surrounding the gap year that helps backpackers and youth organize trips and provides budget travel options.  Let’s bring this opportunity to students in the US!  There are plenty of great places to see in our own country.

Extended leave –

Many moons ago, it took travelers 6 weeks to sail by boat from Australia to England when traveling home to see family.  The British government granted people the time of 13 weeks to travel back to the UK, spend a week with their family, and then to travel 6 weeks back to Australia.  This concept is still around today and Australians get to take extended leave following 10 years of service at their place of employment.  So that is a total of 13 weeks paid vacation after working at the same job for 10 years.  And they can take this time every 10 years.  You also continue to accrue time off when you are on leave getting paid!  Do you think your employer would go for this?

Grey nomads –

Australians are retiring early and becoming grey nomads.  They are over the age of 50, and they often sell most of their possessions.  Grey nomads buy a campervan or motor home, and take off to see their own country.  I can understand why!  Australia sure has a lot to see and lots of roads to travel down.  We have snowbirds and retirees in the US too, but wouldn’t it be great to retire at 50???