Explore, Dream, Discover!

1. When you finish school, you go straight to university in your country, right? Well, not necessarily in some countries. A quarter of a million 18 to 25-year olds in the UK alone take a gap year. They want to have a break from being a student, earn some money before university and maybe get some work experience. But above all, they want to travel.
2. A gap year is a great way to learn new skills either by volunteering or doing an internship. Some gap year organizations teach you how to be a waitress before you leave, so you can always get work in a cafe. And there are lots of volunteering opportunities, from helping environmental projects to community work. You might help people in the Brazilian rainforest or teach English in the Andes.
3. In a blog called ‘Never Ever Say No: The Gap Year Blog’, a young American student wrote about his experiences. In one year he travelled to six countries. He did volunteer work in Russia and South Africa, hung out with friends in Australia, travelled around New Zealand in a van, toured India for a month and did an internship with a magazine in China. About his time abroad, he said, ‘I became more independent and more experienced.’
4. With Wi-Fi and internet cafes, it’s increasingly easy to stay in contact with friends and family even in remote places. Students often create blogs or use Facebook, posting regular updates with news and photos. Back home, friends and family can use Google Earth to follow your journey.
5. An average gap year costs 4,000 Euros. There are many websites to help students plan their budget and they offer useful tips. Parents often help out financially, and many students work while they are at college and save up gradually. You should plan for the whole year, including accommodation, basic food and entertainment.
6. When students are asked to name the number one item they take with them, they choose their smartphone, followed by a tablet, a debit card and money. Rather than useful things such as sleeping bags, they also take their guitars and even teddy bears.