Sunday, 28 August 2011

How did you pick the country for your gap year?


Over the course of a few months, I have changed my mind often about where I want to travel to after I graduate university next summer.

From my first post, you can see that I spent a month in Kenya summer 2008, and because of this, I seem to have caught the travel bug and want to explore every part of this world. Why have all these hidden treasures around the world and not visit them?

Friday, 26 August 2011

Trouble in paradise?


Every year many students decide to take a gap year, but while most of us think they go smoothly, no one ever thinks about the disasters that may happen along the way. After graduating from university, I’m going to take a gap year – or two, before beginning a life of full time employment and a limited social life. I have already done a lot of research into my chosen countries and there are many famous landmarks that I’m aiming to see along the way.

I may be wrong, but it’s safe to say that every student, no matter where they are from, has seen the video “Gap Yah” on Youtube. If not, where have you been? Go and watch it. It’s hilarious. It’s a spoof of British public school students who boast about their experiences, typically in the third world, prior to attending university.

To quote the actor in the video, gap year students will ‘Chunder everywhere…’ on their travels, as alcohol percentages are different from those here in the U.K. and of course partying is the main priority for any student – no matter where you are.

But while many go off to ‘explore the cultures’ of different countries, no one ever expects things to go wrong. Many people I know have taken gap years or gap months – as I like to call them – and only a few have had something gone wrong along the way.


Want to go travelling after school? Then do it.

When you were 16 and still in school, all your teachers would tell you how exciting university was, how you would make new friends and have your own independency living away from home. What they didn’t tell you was that you don’t need to carry on straight into more education, but you could defer a year and go off on your travels before being thrown into doing more essays and exams.

 

Have you got the travelling bug?

Lindos 2010
I’ve always had this itch to go out into the big, bad world and explore all that is available to me. I love going on holiday, but when choosing where to go, I have to do some research and see what the town is like. Whether there is history, monuments or famous landmarks, researching my holiday destination is a big must.

Right now, I’m in my 2nd year of university and I’m graduating in 2012. I’m currently saving up to go on a gap/working year before being thrown into the realms of full time employment, which I am not looking forward too, as I am not ready to be released.

My Kenyan Experience

Kenya is such an amazing country. It has amazing people and an amazing culture, and I was so privileged to have spent a month with such caring and loving Kenyans who were so happy that 50 teenagers were keen to be a part of their life for the 30 days we were in the beautiful country experiencing their way of life and indulging in their culture.