Hi there. Here's the story: I am an 18 year old female. I've never traveled alone before but I would like to! I am going to visit China for my third time this summer for 2 and a half months to study language on a scholarship program. Afterwards, I have about 2 more weeks before I need to come home to start school again. I have working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. The program that is sending me there is paying for my flights there and back, and I can rearrange the time the flights leave but not the cities (so I have to leave out of Hong Kong, but I can move the flight back two weeks from the time it's leaving now).
So the problem is, my parents are protective of me and do not support me travelling alone. They won't pay for me to do anything over there. For various reasons (being away at school or out of the country), I haven't been able to raise any saved money of my own so I can't fund any trips at this moment.
BUT, I'm in Asia! I have a fantastic opportunity! I would love to see more of China or any of the neighboring countries (I've only been to China in Asia). I am passionate about community service and would love to help out internationally, or just travel and see the treasures that lie there. My friend took her gap year funded by the rotary club, but I'm not sure how these work or how I would go about getting funded.
Does anyone have any ideas of how I could be able to be funded to stay there or a safe plan my family would support? Thanks!