History Gap Year Programs

While on my Dragons program, I learned not only about the world around me and new places and people, but I also gained confidence in myself. My program had a focus on cultural immersion and understanding how Morocco and Spain are connected. This was very interesting to learn about, and we did this via language lessons, homestays, and meeting local people. Overall, I realized that the world is much more interconnected than I thought, and I have been inspired to continue traveling and to immerse myself in different cultures intentionally. Luckily, I have also found a global community that is like-minded through Where There Be Dragons, and I feel that after my program, I have a whole new world of opportunities available to me.

My daughter had a blast during her time with the hybrid Spain by Train and Future Leaders program! Extra language classes helped her deepen her Spanish skills, she saw so much of beautiful Spain and got exposed to its culture with hands-on activities. Her internship in Sustainability research & communication was hand-selected and incredibly helpful for her to crystallize a potential career direction. The Entrepreneurship program was a very effective introduction into the world of business and leadership. Arantxa is a gem and the team responsive, super friendly, and always helpful! Loved our experience with them and this amazing program.

Our son found the Future Leaders Program when he decided to take a gap semester after his first semester of college. Spanish Gap Year checked all the boxes we were looking for, offering an experience that had both the cultural component and the structure from which to keep building on the skills he was learning in college. Future Leaders offered the chance to continue learning challenging subjects (Spanish and business concepts), exposed him to two different cities, and also had independent dorm living in the second half so he could continue the independence he started in college. The program staff were incredible. Overall, the program exceeded our expectations and we would recommend it to anyone!

Spanish Gap Year: Our son, who is a junior at a large east coast US university, decided to take a GAP semester to gain life and real-world work experience. After meeting with a consultant at Gap Year Solutions, he was able to learn about a number of different GAP options in different countries. After careful deliberation, he chose The Spanish Gap Year Future Leaders Entrepreneurship program. He had an amazing experience with this program and gained more self-confidence, especially by navigating through a foreign country. He really loved the Spanish culture, and totally benefited from the entrepreneurial activities/projects and mentoring offered by the Program. I visited him in Barcelona, and I was really impressed with the housing (clean, safe, and excellent amenities). He spoke very highly he quality of work given to him at his internship (Lean Mail) and really liked his boss. The Program's mentors and group activities were also top-notch (fun and enriching). He now feels inspired to return to school with renewed enthusiasm and has very valuable experience to put on his resume, not to mention wonderful memories! https://spanishgapyear.com/future-leaders/

My main goal going into this program was to improve my Spanish, and I was definitely successful with that, however you have to be intentional in ensuring that you are placed in a Spanish speaking internship, take advantage of extra Spanish classes, etc. Sagri and Maryam were very helpful, kind, and proactive, however the program’s instructions could be unclear at times. I personally had a fantastic time, but I think that you have to be self-driven to get the most out of it. Spain is a beautiful country, and it was a pleasure to spend 3 months here. The program has definitely opened my eyes to a new culture, and provided a good environment to grow as a person.

I had an awesome experience with this program. The month in Madrid was amazing and it was neat to go live in Barcelona. The only issue is that there are not nearly as many program activities in Barcelona as there are in Madrid. The fullest enjoyment of this program requires someone very self motivated.

Spanish Gap Year was an amazing program and experience. The mix of travel, home stays, and cultural immersion was the perfect balance. The hostels were great for learning how to co-live with others and budget for food. Cooking and food was an amazing aspect. Train travel was nothing like I’ve experienced and I love the adventure. I have met some of my closest friends on this trip. Arantxa and Sagri are both wonderful and make the program an incredible experience for gap students. I learned a lot about Spanish history, culture, art, and myself as a student through experiential learning.

From attending Spanish class in a beautiful old building with stained glass to pitching to a panel of investors on the 25th floor of amazing building in Barcelona, this program covered all the bases. We had the freedom to explore Madrid and Barcelona and find our favorite cafes and corner restaurants but were still kept busy with morning internships and afternoon entrepreneurship classes. I felt really supported by our mentors who are all extremely knowledgeable and always ready to lend a hand. Arantxa, the program manager, personally checked in on all of us constantly and made sure everything was going well. It was comforting to have such support while being in such a flexible program with time for whatever adventures we came up with. I loved this program and am sad to leave my new friends and Barcelona.

May 24, 2024 Taking a gap year in Spain before starting college was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The program was incredibly well-organized, offering a perfect blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and personal growth. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by a diverse group of fellow students and travelers that I became really good friends with. Together, we explored spanish cities, had delicious Spanish cuisine, and participated in a variety of activities that ranged from hiking to going bike riding through Camino. The host families was a great experience which not only helped my language skills but understanding on the true Spanish culture. The program leaders always made me feel supported throughout this whole process. The most unfamiliar fish I had was called Arroz negro. Pros Host families Program leaders Location Cons Group pairing Strict rules Excessive amount of group reflection session

My son participated in the Future Leaders’ program and it was a great experience. I loved how the program started out in Madrid with a host family followed by two months in Barcelona where he lived in his own room, a great transition towards independence. The program is very well structured and run super professionally - as the program is new we didn’t really know what to expect but we were impressed by the dedication and organization of both teachers, classes, internships & mentors.

Was a great experience. I travelled across Italy and Greece which was such an amazing experience. We met so many lovely people from so many different countries and learned all about their cultures. We had some farm stays which were very engaging and some city stays which were fun because we had lots of free time. It was a great mix of working and exploring. I think if you are looking for a trip where you can explore and also learn about other cultures. Overall I highly recommend carpe diem gap year and the Italy and Greece semester especially.

My time with Pacific Discovery in Hawai’i was beyond amazing. Having had a hard time with a brain injury holding me back from the paths I thought I would take, I was looking for something that would not only give me a break from my injury, but rejuvenate my soul. My PD experience did just that! Being surrounded by an amazing group of friends that quickly became family, and two incredible instructors, I found the safety I had been looking for to let go, and enjoy new experiences. I was very excited to get to immerse in the local Hawaiian culture, and found that the program immersed us even more than I could have imagined. I now feel like I know Hawaii better than my own backyard. It felt really good to connect to a place at such a deep level. When people ask me how was Hawai’i, I sometimes find myself at a loss of words. It can be hard to describe how good it felt to be connected to a new place and new friends in such a unique way. I am forever grateful for my time in Hawai’i with Pacific Discovery and hope to do another program sometime soon!

Pacific Discovery responded to this reviewOctober 03, 2022

Hi Maddie, thank you so much for sharing your experience on the Hawaii Summer program with us! We are thrilled to hear how transformative the program was for you and that it helped you with your healing journey physically, mentally, and emotionally. We would be delighted to see you on another program! :)

I had the best time on this trip! The program was a great mix between cities and rural. We got to stay with some great hosts I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to stay with. The experiential learning aspect is great, there is a large focus on sustainable farming. I loved my OE’s and my group. Carpe also organizes the trip so you get the chance to learn how to travel on your own. There were a couple problems with the trip like the Italian classes, some of the itinerary, and travel, but they are great at taking feedback and updating the trip accordingly. Overall a fantastic experience and I would definitely go if you get the chance.

This trip truly changed my life. Before Hawaii I didn’t like to travel, I was happy at home so getting out and doing this trip was very out of my comfort zone. This trip changed all that, I am now comfortable traveling both solo and in groups. I learned a lot about both Hawaii and myself. I wouldn’t change the trip for the world.