When somebody asks me what I do, I do answer I'm on a Gap Year. Most people don't know what I mean. So I explain I got a sabbatical. Then they tend to understand somehow and answer to me: "so you are unemployed". I try to explain that it's not exactly the same thing...so here's the definition of unemploied from a economic dictionary:
Unemployed definition
Being involuntarily out of work. The government defines unemployed as people who are jobless, looking for jobs, and available for work.
A person on a Gap Year is voluntarily out of work. This means, it's not unemployed :)
Do you agree?
Perfectly agree. Most people think someone can't be voluntarily out of work: they're bombed with news about crisis, and find this pretty weird I guess. But I definitely support you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fredduzzu ;). Really appreciated! btw today a got a call from a friend. I was asked:"so, any news on the jobside? Have you found anything?", I laughed and said, actually I haven't looked for anything yet and nor I'll do for a few months. Silence.... hehehehe
ReplyDeletebut it's good to have some support from openminded people!
Keep following the blog and good luck with everything in Bruxelles!
Agree, totally agree!!! Happy Sabbatical!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Sara ;)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Unfortunately, the underlying assumption that many people make is that nobody _wants_ to be without work: "if you don't have a work, perhaps you cannot get one and you're pretending you don't want to". I guess the sabbatical year has become the excuse of so many who are in fact unemployed, that those who are on a real sabbatical might actually have to give a different description of what they do :)
ReplyDeleteI agree!
ReplyDeleteWell, we should find a new name so that people won't understand and that's it. We just enjoy it and they won't get it anyway ;).
Actually I kinda do it already. When I'm in Italy, if people ask me what I do I start with a brief explanation about the sabbatical, if they keep asking me, I say I'm on a Gap Year. They usually don't know what it is therefor they keep quiet :)