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Hi, everyone. And welcome back to happy hour. 欢迎回来酒馆. Hi, 安澜.

Hi, Lulu, hi, everyone.

But that's in the past. How does this translate to modern times?

Well, it has a clear modern descendant-the gap year.

True.

And the gap year became very common in English in the late 20th century. And there's a direct line from the aristocratic grand tour to the modern gap year. For example, Prince William spent 10 months before university doing volunteer work and that's the grand tour ethos in action. It's using travel for personal growth

Is that very common that people join a volunteer program somewhere in the world?

They do. It's relatively common because it's seen as a good learning opportunity and it also does help for CVs and things like that.

But what about in China?

Yeah, we do discuss gap year when we joke about Chinese students or youngsters don't have gap years because of a few reasons, right?

The first is, you know the whole 应届生, the fresh graduate status, which is crucial for job hunting.

Yeah.

But if you decide to take a gap year, right after you graduate, like a lot of western students do. Their... the whole status will just disappear.

Okay.

And it becomes difficult for you to actually then come back and find a job.

I guess there's also the social pressure as well.

Yeah, because after so many years of paying for education, now what, you want to travel the world instead of finding a job and settle down?

Well, yeah. So what do you think do you think it's going to become a thing in China in the future or not?

I think it's only for certain circles.

Mhm.

When most people are worried about finding a job, settling down, buying a house, I don't think gap year is going to be that much of a trend, it's still seen as rich kids' game.

Okay.

Or at least upper middle-class game, because not only do you need the money, you also need to have a safety net. As in after I come back from the gap year, I can find a job.

Well, yeah.

Or it will be okay if I cannot find a job.

Well, yeah. So for example, for me, I did... somewhat I have a gap year. When I was leaving university and I ended up becoming a teacher. So my gap year turned into my life really. I was teaching in China.

Yes. So you were on some sort of, not volunteer program, but it's like one of those programs that teaching and life experience programs.

Yeah, exactly.

But I think there's also a major difference between China and the West in terms of gap year. You know, that a lot of western university students they do a gap year, usually like in Southeast Asia, especially in the past. It used to be comparatively speaking, really cheap and they backpacked.

Yeah.

But for Chinese kids generally going…let's say if you want to go travelling around in Europe, it's gonna cost you quite a bit of money.

Well, exactly. So here's the big question. Do you actually have to physically travel or can you sort of take a grand tour of your own mind and spirit?

Okay, that just sounds very… I'm not gonna put a label on it, but it just, yeah, it sounds like one of those ideas that I roll my eyes to.

Well, yeah. But there is the same idea that you are developing yourself.

I guess the whole idea of self-cultivation.

Yeah.

什么修身养性, 修心.The intentional process of learning, reflecting, growing and facing challenges that shape your character.

Well, yeah. So really, I would say when people go on a grand tour or they have a gap here, are they really, actually finding themselves or doing something useful?

Or they're just drinking their body weight in beer, in cheap beer.

Well, yeah. So that's why I always roll my eyes a little bit when people say “I took a gap year to find myself”because for me it's like you find yourself in a pub.

Exactly. And it's such a cliche. Sometimes when you hear a European coming back from Asia, saying that I found myself in Borneo.

Yeah. Well, exactly, as I know, you haven't… you basically you found, well, monkeys and lots of trees and a very, very, very nice time.

Because it's the whole idea of exoticness, it's exotic locations.

Yeah.

Life is somewhere else. Everyone thinks life is somewhere else.

And I can somewhat understand that because even though I rolled my eyes at all of this, I find I'm the same. I love traveling, I really get a lot out of traveling. I would constantly travel if I had the chance. But then again, it's… I realize limitations that it's not actually real life.

Yeah.

It gives me a chance to think about things. It gives me a chance to relax and enjoy myself. But ultimately this isn't real life.

But to go back to what you were talking about earlier on, a grand tour within, perhaps it's about leaving your comfort zone.

Yeah.

If you're facing a difficult period like a career change, personal crisis, major life transition.

Mhm.

What you're going through that journey, that you have to go through on your own, it's kind of like the equivalent of a grand tour.

Well, yeah. Or is it just what I have? Wanderlust.

Yeah, but wanderlust is more about you actually have to travel.

Well, yeah.

I'm talking about is more spiritual concept. There's even a Chinese word, the spiritual grand tour, they call it人生朝圣式的壮游. It's like a life pilgrimage.

Okay. It was quite poetic. I quite like that.

The idea is that life itself with all these challenges and transitions can be a heroic journey. There's something very deep in there.

I do like the idea.

So before we wrap up, if you are to take the grand tour of your life.

Mhm.

Where would you start? And what would be your, you know, possible routes really, you've been to so many places in the world.

I've always wanted to see more central Asia, probably also India, a little bit more Southeast Asia. But one of the big places I really want to go to is South America.

Oh, same here.

Yeah.

I'm not so much into central Asia, but I really do want to travel from Mexico and then downwards.

Yes.

I really want to see Chile. I want to see Peru. I also want to see Argentina.

Same here. It's just so, very very far away.

It is so, so far away. And I think if you really want to travel around that part of the world, you really need to make it the grand tour.

Well, yeah.

Otherwise, you simply don't have the time to even recover from the long flight.

No, exactly.

So this is where we land. we're talking about a grand tour being a journey that changes you. And now we want to hear from you, have you ever been on a grand tour or something like that? Both physical or internal? Have you ever taken something like a gap year? And if you do, just imagine you have the money, have the time, where would you go?

Leave us a message, leave us a comment. And we love to hear your travel stories.

And maybe you can give us some ideas of where to go.

So until next time.

We'll see you next time.

Bye.

Bye.

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文稿校对：梅薇薇 & Jenny

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