GAP YEAR ADVENTURES in the Age of CV19

Welcome to 2021, where it seems that masks are no longer just for Halloween. Few would dispute that 2020 was a year of major ups and downs. And, for many, the conditions sparked the question, “What am I doing with my life?”

- Vanessa Behncke

The Old-School Paradigm Shift

One group that’s been hit especially hard by the pandemic are students. With much of academia now online, many campuses are ghost towns. However, for those who are college-bound or already in higher learning institutions, and with U.S. tuition fees averaging $35,000+ a year, the question is whether it’s worth coughing up that kind of dough to stare at a computer screen all day. Let’s take a look at an alternative, one that may fill many educationally related voids while we wait for things to return to normal.

What Can Adventure Motorcycling Teach You?

If you are looking for a way to supplement your education, adventure motorcycling is an alternative for acquiring knowledge and skills in a broad range of fields, some of which are unexpected. And, as many have realized, motorcycle travel also promotes interaction with foreign cultures as well as encouraging unique ways of thinking and problem-solving.

Adventure riding isn’t all fair roads and good weather, however. It comes with inherent risks which can test patience, endurance and stamina. Both mental and physical boundaries can be and are often pushed. Wipe-outs and injuries are a reality. These incidents can take on different dimensions when far from home. For example, I once collided with a goat in India, resulting in a broken collar bone and having my left arm sewn back together. But the experience played a major role in developing my strength of character and patience, especially as a guest in rural India.