October 30, 2009
As the years begin to flash by, we can all get that sudden panic. Society may be telling you that it’s time to settle down, buy a house, get married and start a family. But your heart is saying something completely different: it’s time to travel.
And while a lot of people choose to do their travelling early on in life, by taking a gap year, there can be huge benefits to waiting until you are slightly older.
By travelling later on in life, you will have a completely different perspective on the whole experience and some say, you appreciate it more. Travelling when you are younger, as a gap year is all about fun and excitement and discovering somewhere new. But by taking a working holiday a few years later, the trip can have a deeper meaning. You can find out so much more about yourself, your ambitions and your priorities as well as of course, discovering some beautiful areas of the world.
Of course, work is not the thing that immediately springs onto your ‘to do’ list when you think about travelling, but in fact, working abroad as part of a working holiday can be an enriching experience.
For a start, it will help you to meet new people, find out more about the area and its culture and really feel a part of their community. You can learn so much too. So forget about those pressures from society. Follow your heart; take a working holiday.
October 23, 2009
You may be thinking of taking a gap year so that you can have some time out from work or education to try something different. The best way to make proper use of your gap year is to volunteer with an overseas non-profit organisation or charity, where the work that you do can make a real difference
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There are a number of projects you can get involved in. You can get involved with people projects, animal projects or conservation projects. People projects involve teaching children and young adults, helping with summer camps and caring for the homeless and underprivileged. These projects allow you to reach out to people and make a real difference in their lives.
If you care deeply about the welfare of animals then there are numerous opportunities to work in zoos and wildlife conservations, rescuing and caring for animals.
Conservation projects allow you to get involved with caring for the planet; through the conservation of endangered animals, marine life and plants, as well as essential research projects.
All of these volunteering opportunities not only have the ‘feel-good’ factor, but they also improve and develop your skills and experience as well as your maturity and knowledge as a person. These look amazing on your CV and can seriously impress future employers. So, go off and see the world and come back with vastly improved future prospects.
October 16, 2009
When you are travelling within the UK or abroad, it is always worthwhile investing in travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover all aspects of your trip from missed flights, lost or stolen luggage and medical expenses.
When travelling, you will not have access to medical facilities like we have in the UK. You need to be prepared for this and ensure you have sought the advice of a doctor prior to your departure. This will include have immunisations such as typhoid and yellow fever, and you might need to take malaria tablets if you are going to an area where you might be at risk.
If you are going with an organised company, they might offer to arrange your insurance for you. However, it is always worth shopping around as you might be able to get yourself a good deal elsewhere. Most travel insurance companies have online facilities so you can compare prices and different types of cover at a click of a button.
October 9, 2009
Raising funds for your gap year or working holiday can be an arduous task, however, if you approach it in the right way, you’ll have enough funds to get you through your trip.
Try not to think too big when it comes to fundraising, the more complicated it is, the likelihood that you won’t raise the funds you were hoping for. Think locally, do you know anyone who has their own business. Businesses can give money to a charity as it cannot be taxed and therefore saves them money. This is always good to drop this into the conversation if they are unsure about donating money.
Why not organise something amongst your group of friends or try contacting your local MP, they might know of organisations in the locality that can help you. Even if it is the local walking shop who might give you a discount on your walking boots or give you a traveller’s rucksack for all of your gear.
Any help that you get is worthwhile whether it is small or large scale, so don’t turn down an offer to assist you in your fund raising. Even if it means standing outside Tesco on a Saturday morning in order to raise money. Every little helps.
October 2, 2009
The thought of going on a gap year for most people is a daunting prospect. However, with the right advice, equipment and a specialist company, your gap year should run without any glitches.
Often, when considering taking a gap year, some people head off to Australia, the Far East or even America on their own or with a group of friends. But why not consider going with an organised group.
There are a variety of specialist companies who deal specifically with gap years. They travel to various locations around the world to give you a truly exhilarating and life changing gap year. Whether you want to spend time working with children in a school in Africa or helping at an elephant sanctuary in India, there is something to cater for everybody. In addition, you will make a new set of friends who might end up being friends for life.
If you take a gap year with an organised group, you do not have to worry about accommodation, food or travel arrangements as this is all done for you. However, normally you are expected to book your own flights. You can choose to go on your own or with a friend and you will be allocated to a group on arrival at your destination.
Taking a gap year needn’t be stressful; it should be fun and exciting.
