May 26, 2009
Many people have the mistaken belief that gap years and volunteering abroad are for the young. In particular, it is common for people to think that these are only for people who are about to embark on university courses, or for people who have just left the educational system and are about to enter the workplace.
Whilst this may have been the case in the past, the present situation does not reflect this state of affairs and people who decide to conduct a gap year or volunteer abroad do so at varying times of their lives and for an eclectic range of reasons.
There are a number of reasons for this change. First of all, people’s economic situations have helped to facilitate such a move over the last ten or twenty years and therefore taking a gap year has become a much more viable option.
Secondly, employers have started to look more favourably on gap years and volunteering trips abroad in terms of the skills which this will develop and how these can benefit people within their future careers. They are therefore a lot more likely to support you in this than maybe they would have been in the past – opening the door even further in terms of taking a gap year later in life.
Finally, people have started to recognise how much gap years and volunteering abroad can benefit them on a personal level and this is one of the main reasons why they decide to invest in this, no matter what stage in their lives they are.
May 22, 2009
For many people, coming into work every morning is not inspiring and in fact is something which they dread. There are many reasons for this and each case will be different.
However, one of the most common reasons why people do not enjoy their job is because they are not inspired by it. In an ideal world, we would all wake up in the mornings and go to work with a smile on our faces, wondering what challenges the day ahead will bring. For many people of course this is not the case.
However, the good news is that your destiny is in your own hands and more people than ever before are using a gap year or career break in order to consider where the path ahead should lead.
Amongst other things, this is a great way to take stock of your life and think about what you really want to achieve from it. In addition to this, it also means that when you return to the workplace, you are refreshed and focused in achieving your aims, which is beneficial to both yourself and your employer.
Gaining direction in your career is sometimes a very difficult thing to do if you have become slightly lost on your journey. Gap years and career breaks help you to regain that focus and determination to succeed.
May 19, 2009
In our last article, we gave some information about the costs you are likely to encounter when on a working holiday in Peru. A particularly good piece of advice is to try and pay with cash wherever possible as there are often surcharges for card payments.
Peruvian cash machines accept most major cards and provide both Peruvian nuevos soles and US dollars, but ensure that you keep whatever you draw out secure - perhaps in a concealed money belt. When travelling, being pickpocketed can have far greater consequences than it would back at home. Carry traveller’s cheques and cards as backup.
If you’re having cash changed, it’s often worth asking for smaller denomination notes, as the larger ones can be hard to change in many places. Foreign exchange bureaus, casas de cambio, are usually the best places to change money, as they generally give the best rates, especially for cash.
US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, but for smaller purchases and off the beaten track, you’ll need nuevos soles. The Euro is also accepted in many places.
You might see money changers or ‘cambistas’ on street corners. Official money changers should wear a vest and badge to signify that they are legal. They can be of use in certain situations, but it’s preferable to take other options.
May 14, 2009
When volunteering abroad, one of your major concerns is likely to be the cost. It’s worth doing some sort of a financial plan before any gap year or voluntary work to ensure that you’ve got enough money saved for the duration of your trip.
Peru isn’t an expensive country, but it still pays to be aware of the various costs you might encounter. One of your biggest expenses is likely to be accommodation. While you will be provided with a place to stay for the duration of your work on a project, you’ll doubtless want to travel around once you finish. You can save a great deal of money if you stay in dormitory rooms and if you combine this with cheap food and public transport, you can get by on as little as £10 to £15 a day.
If you’re after more luxury, eating in moderately priced restaurants and staying in private hotel rooms means prices between £20 and £40 a day.
It’s worth haggling over many things as well. Taxis don’t have meters, so the driver’s initial price is likely to allow you room for manoeuvre. Similarly, hotels can lower their rates if it’s quiet and they’re competing for guests.
May 11, 2009
One of the most important things you need to do before embarking on a gap year or a working holiday is to consider any health issues you might encounter in the country you’re travelling to.
Many volunteer projects take place in tropical countries and there are a whole host of health considerations related to spending time in these places. You need to plan ahead as prevention is very much better than cure in these cases.
Vaccines and inoculations generally don’t start working until a couple of weeks after you’ve received them, so you need to see your doctor long before you go. The doctor will advise you as to what you might need and you should also ensure you get a vaccination card as this often needs to be produced in order to enter a country.
Other than that, you need to ensure that you have adequate medical cover for your time away. Some insurers will pay for treatment, while others will reimburse you afterwards.
It’s also worth taking a small medical kit, including essentials such as anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, antibacterial ointment, scissors, insect repellent, sunblock, oral rehydration salts and tablets for water purification.
