Your Gap Year

Your Gap Year - everything you need for the adventure of a lifetime! The definitive handbook for students wanting to make the most of a year off before further education. Your Gap Year is the essential book for all young people planning a gap year before continuing with their education. This up to date guide provides essential information on specialist Gap Year programmes available as well as the vast range of jobs and voluntary opportunities available to young people around the world. Catering to all possible desires for how to spend a year, there is detailed information on how to gain qualifications and skills from your gap year, or details on how to join an expedition if that s your preference. The guide includes a country by country guide to gap year opportunities and is illustrated with first hand accounts from travellers to show you what you can expect.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS Acknowledgements Preface PART I – PLANNING YOUR GAP YEAR ONCE IN A LIFETIME Why Take a Gap Year? Pros and Cons Solo or in Company? Will a Gap Year Change Your Life? Deciding When to Take Your Gap Year Straight Out of School Straight Out of University Classic Gap Year Choices Using a Gap Year Agency Going it Alone Overcoming Anxiety BEFORE YOU GO University Application Timing Pre A-Level Application Post A-Level Application Timetable for University Application Fundraising Letter Writing Fundraising Ideas Sources of Funding Insurance Health and Safety Risks Travel Warnings Health Precautions Malaria Red Tape Passports Travel Visas Student Cards Money Transferring Money Accommodation Making Contacts What to Take… … And What to Leave Behind Staying in Touch Mobile Phones Visits from Parents Coming Home PART II – GAP YEAR TRAVEL TRAVEL TO THE FOUR CORNERS The Beaten Track Specialist Tour Operators Air Travel Round-the-World Flights EUROPE The Lure of Europe Getting There Getting Around Budgeting Accommodation Culture Shock What to Expect Scandinavia Northern Europe Central Europe Mediterranean Alpine Balkans Russia, Baltic Countries and Ukraine Travel Resources AFRICA Discovering Africa Getting There Getting Around Budgeting Expect a Challenge Corruption East Africa Kenya Tanzania Ethiopia Southern Africa South Africa Botswana Zimbabwe West Africa Ghana Senegal North Africa Morocco Egypt Travel Resources ASIA The Lure of the East Getting There Getting Around Budgeting Culture Shock What to Expect Drugs South East Asia Thailand Cambodia Laos Vietnam Indonesia Malaysia (including North Borneo) Burma Indian Subcontinent India Sri Lanka Nepal Pakistan Bangladesh Far East China Japan South Korea Taiwan Travel Resources AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Australia The Lure of Down under Visas Getting There Getting Around Budgeting Accommodation What to Expect Sydney and New South Wales Queensland Northern Territory and the Outback Victoria and Tasmania Western Australia South Australia New Zealand The Lure of New Zealand Getting There and Around Budgeting Accommodation North Island South Island Travel Resources LATIN AMERICA Classic Routes Getting There Getting Around What to Expect South America Argentina Bolivia Peru Brazil Chile Ecuador Colombia Venezuela Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana Paraguay and Uruguay Central America Costa Rica Guatemala El Salvador Belize Honduras Nicaragua Panama Mexico Cuba Travel Resources NORTH AMERICA The Lure of North America Getting There Getting Around Budgeting and Accommodation Visas What to Expect Travel Resources PART III – GAP YEAR PLACEMENTS SPECIALIST GAP YEAR PROGRAMMES Sources of Information Directory of Specialist Gap Year Programmes EXPEDITIONS Helpful Organisations Sailing Adventures Fundraising Sponsored Expeditions for Charity Directory of Expeditions WORK EXPERIENCE Finding a Placement Year in Industry Work Experience Abroad Working in Europe Directory of Work Experience in the UK Directory of Work Experience Abroad VOLUNTEERING Community Service Volunteers Platform2 European Voluntary Service Volunteering Abroad Sources of Information Avoiding Problems Workcamps/Volunteer Projects Archaeology Conservation Developing Countries Directory of Volunteering in the UK Directory of Volunteering Abroad Directory of Religious Organisations A YEAR OFF FOR NORTH AMERICANS Advisory Services Key North American Organisations Language Courses for North Americans PAID SEASONAL JOBS Tourism Agencies and Websites Campsite Couriers Activity Holidays Ski Resorts Farm Work Teaching English Job-hunting AU PAIRING Pros and Cons Applying The Internet COURSES Range of Courses Language Courses TEFL Training IT and Business Skills Courses Outdoor Pursuits and Sports Courses Ski Training Cookery Courses Creative Arts Courses DIRECTORIES OF COURSES Language Courses Art, Design, Dance, Drama, Film and Music Courses Business Skills Courses Cookery Courses Ski Training Courses Sport and Activity Courses Gap Year Safety and Preparation Miscellaneous Courses PART IV – COUNTRY GUIDE: EUROPE BENELUX Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg FRANCE GERMANY GREECE ITALY RUSSIA AND EASTERN EUROPE Russia, the Baltic States, other states of the former Soviet Union Romania Bulgaria SCANDINAVIA Denmark Finland Norway Sweden Iceland SPAIN AND PORTUGAL Spain Portugal SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA Switzerland Austria PART V – COUNTRY GUIDE: WORLDWIDE AFRICA Sending Agencies Courses and Work Experience Grassroots and Voluntary Organisations South Africa Tourism Conservation and Wildlife Expeditions ASIA Gap Agencies Expeditions and Conservation Teaching Japan China Taiwan Korea Thailand Vietnam and Cambodia Nepal India Sri Lanka Volunteering Paid Work and Work Experience Homestays and Courses Turkey The Middle East AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Australia Red Tape Placement Agencies and Special Schemes Work Experience The Outback Conservation Volunteering New Zealand Placement Organisations Red Tape Casual Work Rural and Conservation Volunteering Ski Resorts NORTH AMERICA USA Red Tape Work and Travel Programmes Seasonal Jobs Volunteering Canada Special Schemes The Job Hunt Volunteering Courses LATIN AMERICA Placement Agencies Chilling in Guatemala Expeditions Courses Work Experience Volunteering Conservation The Caribbean APPENDIX Contact Details of Organisations

About the Author :
Susan Griffith is the author of a number of acknowledged classics including Gap Years for Grown-ups, Taking a Gap Year, Teaching English Abroad and Work Your Way Around the World, which has been personally updated by her over its 13 editions. Susan specialises in writing books and articles for travellers who want to work and volunteer abroad and, as well as being a contributing editor to the respected US magazine Transitions Abroad since the early days of its publication, Susan also contributes occasional articles to the travel pages of The Independent and The Times

Review :
Recommended reading. --The Guardian Whether you want to work as an au pair in the Netherlands, with disadvantaged children in Romania, teach English in Japan or pick avocados in Israel, this is the book you need. Recommended. --Overseas Jobs Express Provides a comprehensive guide to opportunities, sound assessment of the risks and rewards, and accounts from more than 100 young people who have already filled the gap year. --The Daily Telegraph A wealth of information --The Independent