<p>“Grown up” gaps years are nearly as popular as teenage gap years in Europe. Exactly what you have been discussing above. Employers will commonly allow “career breaks” for this purpose (ie hold your job open for a year). There are many websites. See for example</p>
<p>I’m from Europe, have friends and family there still and go back every year. I have never heard of adult gap years. I honestly doubt many companies in England would be willing to hold a job open for a year for someone to do this. There may be people and companies and people who do this, but I would think it is very unusual.</p>
<p>If I could have a gap year, I’d like to spend a year somewhere Spanish speaking and get fluent. </p>
<p>Of course I’d also like to visit my dream list of countries I haven’t seen yet - especially Australia, China and India - which probably all deserve a year each!</p>
<p>I’ve already had two gap years - one in France, one driving around this country living in a van and photographing fire stations. I also spent five years in Germany at least some of which was somewhat gap year like. (First three month studied German, six months of unemployment in the middle where I took more classes, and six months of maternity leave at the end.)</p>
<p>Jason Leung wrote a book about my dream gap year( well actually- same idea- but through Europe)- I was busy being a mom & a student in 2005, but I think it could be time for a mid life crisis to coincide with their 20th anniv.</p>
<p>Mine will! Once you have worked for the company for 10 years you get a 3 month sabbatical on full pay, and the rest of the year off unpaid if you want it. It is not unusual for many companies in the UK (mine is not even a big company but a law firm of about 150 employees). I am always seeing programmes on random TV channels about “follow family X on their year of travels” or similar (actually this may be Channel 4 at 3am, but still).</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses. I’ve been out of pocket for a few days and it was so nice to see that this struck a chord with a few other cc members. My brother lives overseas and takes extended holidays each summer. Nearly everything closes down but the service industry for a few weeks between July and August. It may not be as prevalent as I think, he’s the owner of his firm so he gets to set the rules. </p>
<p>I don’t know what I’d do. I’d love to travel throughout England, past the cities, on to Ireland and Scotland. I’d love to see Italy and Rome. I’d love to do it at a snails pace, not at a sprint. I’d love to spend time at a cabin on a lake in the fall…wrapped in a blanket on a deck drinking coffee and just ‘be’. I’ve never seen New England. I’d invite DH if he promises to be on good behavior and not get stir crazy. I don’t want blackberries tied to offices, phones ringing with relatives, I want an iphone with an unlisted number. (is that bad…it’s MY gap year after all, right?).</p>
<p>I must say I went on holiday to see my brother for several weeks as a traveling companion with my mother when my boys were still in elementary school. After about 10 days I was miserable. This was well before celphones were common for overseas calls, text messages, skype, etc. We did have email, but I had to log into my brothers computer which was a pain so it wasn’t too often. One of the only messages I received was saying that DH had buzzed one of my boys hair. I about died. He had long white-blond hair…and they literally shaved his head to 1/4in!! He was 7yo. When the plane landed coming home I had the driver take me to the field where my son was drafting for fall sports, walked on the field during play and pulled off the helmet. As he hugged me hello he said ‘Isn’t it the coolest mom, don’t you love it?’. What could I say? As I choked back tears ‘I love it buddy!’. The travel had been amazing, but way too long. I declined the following summer. By the NEXT summer, we simply took all the kids with us.</p>
<p>Based on this, I don’t think my Gap year would have been a good idea while the kids are around. I have friends that were ready for Gap years when their kids hit elementary school. I can see it being a very good diversion once we are empty nesters. :)</p>
<p>cupcake - I want to work for your company. Though by the time I had worked for them for 10 years I’d be old enough to be permanently put out to pasture, so the gap year would probably not be applicable.</p>
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