There are as many types of gap years as there are passport holders. Some people want to change the world, others want to get away from their worlds and some just want to make friends and have fun.It’s all good, but it’s important to have a rough plan of the where, when and how if you intend to make the most of your trip.
Recent graduates who don’t want to spend too much time floundering in the agony of unemployment once they return home should seriously consider building in some concrete employment or voluntary work experience (preferably in the field they intend to go into).
There’s a plethora of specialised travel agencies which are willing to do the work for you. Solo and first-time travellers might find it easier to go with one of these until they’ve found their balance adrift on the great blue planet.
These agencies can hook you up with work, from au pair jobs in Europe to summer-camp counselling in the United States, work on ski resorts or ocean liners, even Australian agricultural internships are available. Some will help you with visa arrangements and can plan the whole package from tickets to tours.
Try:
- STA Travel South Africa, www.sta.co.za.
- Youth Discovery Programmes (YDP), www.ydp.co.za.
- Camp Counsellors USA (CCUSA), www.ccusa.com.
- Overseas Visitors Club, www.ovc.co.za.
For Getaway’s article on volunteering holidays, see www.getaway.co.za/article/volunteering-holidays.
For budget planners, what gap years cost and interviews with guys and girls who went soul-searching, head to tiny.cc/gapyear.
