BUNAC’S TOP TEN TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF AN OVERSEAS GAP YEAR
Planning a gap year abroad requires a great deal of research and organisation to help it run smoothly, but how can the hundreds of thousands of adventure-seekers who are leaving the UK in search of new and rewarding experiences make sure that they really do justice to what could potentially be the trip of a lifetime?
BUNAC, the experts in work and travel abroad, have compiled their Top Ten Tips for the coming year, including a few “must dos” and a wealth of “insider” advice and ideas for anyone looking to maximise their overseas gap year experience:
1. You can go your own way
Whilst guidebooks, the internet, fellow travellers and any other sources of information that you come across are a great means to research your trip and gather ideas, remember that gap years are unique to each individual and one person’s Eden could very well be your worst nightmare! Don’t be afraid to create your own path because no-one else can decide the directions that will make your journey the most enjoyable for YOU.
2. Play safe
Travelling to areas of the world that are brand new to you will often involve opportunities to take part in weird and wonderful activities that perhaps you wouldn’t usually consider at home. Certain destinations are pioneers in high-thrill adventure activities and trying them out will add an extra dimension to your experience of the country. Whilst many companies claim to be experts in their field, it’s imperative that you do your homework and choose a reputable and established organisation that clearly addresses any associated health and safety issues and respective precautionary measures.
3. Use your skills to help others
Spending an extended period of time contributing towards a community project in a developing country is an increasingly popular option for many gap year travellers. A voluntary placement overseas can be a rewarding and eye-opening way to discover a different culture that also makes a positive impact on the local community. With a variety of skills in high demand, BUNAC places applicants in countries such as Ghana, Cambodia and Peru on projects that match their individual background, skills, experience and preferences.
4. Schedule for spontaneity
Planning your gap year abroad is essential! However you decide to enjoy it, a certain amount of logistical forethought will be required, for example: obtaining essential work visa documentation, booking flights, insurance and possibly accommodation. However, planning a trip in meticulous detail will leave little room to take advantage of chance encounters during your journey, and it is often the unlikely and unexpected opportunities that will make your experience unique and memorable for a lifetime.
5. Learn something new
Picking up elements of a new language, song, dance or even recipe that’s native to the country you’re staying in will not only fascinate your friends and family when you get back home, but will also impress the locals who are often eager to share their culture and lifestyle with others. You’ll enrich your experience with heightened levels of interaction, and at the same time develop your career skills, such as communication and cross-cultural empathy, which will impress future employers.
6. It’s a cultural EXCHANGE
Spending time overseas as part of a gap year is a worthwhile opportunity to gain an insight into the wide world that surrounds you. Immersing yourself into a completely different culture also opens the door to mutual learning, so make sure you remember the family photos and patriotic mementos, because the people you meet on your travels will often enjoy finding out all about life “back home”.
7. Getting there is half the fun
The world has become a much smaller place now that both international and domestic travel are so fast, cheap and accessible. However, you should note that for every flight you take, you’ll miss out on everything in between, which is often the real essence of travelling. A train journey may add a few extra hours, days or even weeks onto your itinerary, but the scenery you encounter, the people you meet and the stories you’ll gather will add another fascinating dimension to your trip. Taking it slowly will also cut your carbon footprint and help preserve the destinations on your itinerary for future generations of gap travellers.
8. Take time to recharge
Travelling is a popular option if you are looking for an exhilarating and educational adventure as part of a scheduled break from your studies. It can however be an intense and tiring experience which should be balanced out with regular periods of recuperation. An overseas working holiday provides the ideal opportunity to experience another country with the structure of a daily work routine in place. BUNAC’s range of flexible working visas for Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the USA is ideal for those people looking to stay put for a while and take a break from their hectic travel itinerary.
9. Document your journey
Keeping a record of everything you get up to on your gap year can be a great way of remembering the details of your trip, keeping the family updated on your whereabouts and creating a valuable memento for you to relive your travel experiences well into the future. You may choose to opt for the more traditional method of recording your thoughts in a diary, or in travel lingo, a journal. Alternatively, the evolution of the internet means that you can now share your experiences and photographs online in an immediately accessible and interactive format – just be sure not to waste the trip spending all your time in internet cafes!
10. Remember your home comforts
Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t take a small piece of it with you! When you’re busy compiling that ultimate packing list of essential items, be sure to include those little things that you just can’t do without. Sure… underwear, sun cream and sandals are important, but how will you cope when you find yourself without tea bags or Marmite (squeezy, of course) for the next 12 months?
BUNAC offers a wide range of affordable work and volunteer programmes all over the world for gap year students looking to take time out from their studies. During its 45-year history, the organisation has helped over a quarter of a million travellers explore countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana, Peru, Costa Rica, Cambodia and China; and has built up a wealth of expertise and a network of support services both in the UK and through partner organisations in each country listed above. Programme fees start at £175 and include BUNAC’s full support and guidance from the visa application process through to in-country job-hunting and travel advice.
For further information on BUNAC’s full range of overseas work and travel programmes,
call (020) 7251 3472 or visit www.bunac.org
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Note for Editors: past participants are available for interview; case studies and photography can be requested via BUNAC’s Press Office – details below. For more specific information on the gap year industry and on any of the programmes mentioned, UK Director and BUNAC spokesperson, Callum Kennedy, is available for comment.
Press: for further information, contact Haydn Parks at BUNAC.
Tel: (020) 7251 0662 (please quote 020 7251 3472 in articles).
E-mail: press@bunac.org.uk.