SOS International’s Post

What can you possibly learn from staring at a flock of sheep in Iceland?   Well, for one thing – you can learn a fair bit about yourself.   That’s exactly what happened when a young Jan Sigurdur Christensen in 1996 took a gap year and travelled to Iceland to live, work, and connect with his mother’s homeland.   He didn’t spend all six months gazing at sheep, though farm life with horses and sheep was definitely part of it.   He also worked at a sweet factory (were the Icelanders actually the first to mix liquorice and chocolate?) and as a busboy in a restaurant.   For Jan, the gap year meant picking up Icelandic, standing on his own two feet, and trusting his own judgement.   That confidence later helped him leave Business School when he realised it wasn’t for him – a decision he doubts he’d have dared without that year of growth and self-discovery.   Today, as CEO of SOS International, his message to young people is clear: Go for it!   “You’ll meet wonderful people and find the world usually welcomes you with open arms – as long as you reach out with genuine curiosity. (Just don’t forget travel insurance!!!)”   At SOS International, we help people navigate the unexpected – from emergencies abroad to safe passage home. Among them are young travellers who return not only with new experiences, but new perspectives.   📷Private (from the days when photos were printed)