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Original poster

Gap year

28 replies

madcatladieshere · 03/09/2023 18:16

My 19 year old daughter is going in a gap year taking in Thailand Vietnam then heading to NZ. She is going by herself staying in hostels and hoping to meet people en route. She doesn't have an actual plan or timescale on where she will be. I'm really struggling with this. I suffer with anxiety which I am getting help for but this just feels overwhelming. She is my only very precious child. She will be there for her 20 th birthday and Christmas. Please tell me she will be safe as I am having many sleepless nights over this. One of my biggest fears is that I won't be able to contact her for a few days

OP posts:
43ontherocksporfavor · 03/09/2023 19:42

DD 22 just did this but I felt unsure about her being alone. In the end she went on one of those tours- gap 360 I think where you are met and taken around the country. It’s more money but in the end she was glad of it . However she did say that there are so many young people doing the same countries she thinks she would have been ok.

ManchesterLu · 03/09/2023 19:37

It's terrifying, but all you can do is ask her to be in touch when she's able, and try not to worry in the meantime. Easier said than done, but not much you can do about it. Communication can be tough and even with a plan things can change.

Drummend01 · 03/09/2023 18:32

I’m 28 now and did the same at 20 years old, my parents were also very apprehensive but it was the best thing I ever did. I grew so much from the experience and it really set me up for my future.

my parents wanted me to plan it so they would know where I was but I was insistent I didn’t want to, which was the right call as you make friends along the way and tag along with them. But I did compromise and book the first 3 nights at a hostel in Bangkok for when I first arrived, but from there I only had rough plans.