Durban - Not everyone has “book smarts”. Then there are those who do, but also want to rake up some “street smarts”.
In their handbook Welcome to the Real World – A Young Person’s Guide to Figuring it All Out (Zebra Press), authors Alex Ferguson-Williams and Lisa Kretschemer cover the array of topics pertinent to matriculants – among them the gap year. For those eager to travel and see the world, the book offers practical advice and information.
Life shares an extract:
The concept of a gap year started in the 1960s – a time of independence and freedom of speech formed by a cultural and social revolution.
Many of the gappers of the ’60s backpacked to India, and this well-trodden route from Delhi down to Goa is still popular today.
This route also brought about the birth of volunteering, as gappers saw the need for help in disadvantaged communities. Flights were expensive, so gappers often travelled by bus or car.
Gapping was more about the journey and what one could learn along the way than about getting to the destination. In the mid-’70s, the first gap-year organisations were established – and the gap-year movement began to grow.
Taking a year off after school to embark on an international escapade is a fantastic way to throw off the cobwebs before leaping into a career or studying. A gap-year is a great way to gain maturity and experience, and an opportunity for personal growth and independence. Taking a gap-year is a personal decision, not necessarily for everyone – the secret is to have some plans in place and to research, research, research.
A gap year should not be a year of sitting on the couch watching TV or an opportunity to suck your parents dry. Trust us, you’ll regret that. It should involve something that you are proud to talk about with future tertiary institutions, employers and friends.
Staying local: You do not necessarily have to travel to the end of the world to have a fun and memorable gap year. Local is lekker and there are many options:
l Get a job and save up your hard-earned cash to pay for your studies, enjoy some financial freedom and get a taste of the working world while building your skills.
l Volunteering involves working for a good cause without being paid such as working with disadvantaged communities or with wildlife and conservation projects.
l Coach sport or offer to be a teacher’s aid at one of your local schools.
l Research your career ideas, job-shadow, or visit the institution you want to attend. Talk to students or lecturers to find out more about what you want to study.
l Do things you’ve never had time for, like getting your passport and/or driver’s licence. Do a language course or start a new sport or hobby.
l Get involved in your community, for example help out at an orphanage or clinic. You may earn some brownie points when applying for university.
Gapping abroad: The traditional gap year involves taking a working holiday overseas. This kills two birds with one stone, as you can fund the experience while living it.
The most popular destinations are usually English-speaking countries, but you could go anywhere, and work in boarding schools, pubs, ski-resorts or summer camps – most of which offer staff accommodation and a network of other travellers.
l Student exchange: Embarking on an overseas adventure doesn’t necessarily mean burning all your books and shunning everything that is educationally inclined. In fact, student life is a pretty sweet one – even better if you get to do it in a foreign country.
Find out more from Rotary Youth Exchange South Africa. Website: www.rotary.org or www.youthexsa.org.za or call Toll-free: 0866 976 8279
l Do voluntary work. Be more than just a tourist and get behind the scenes and up close with cultures, people and languages – all while you make a positive difference.
l School-leavers can sign themselves up to attend a foreign high school and live with a host family. It’s a great way to get immersed in a new culture, maybe learn a new language and make loads of new friends. And you get to live the high school life for one more year without looming final-year exams.
l Working as a au pair is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the culture of a country. Live with a host family and receive free accommodation, a language course and a small wage.
Visit www.aupair-world.net or www.greataupair.com
l Complete a course in teaching English to foreigners and you can teach your way around the world with placements at various institutions, such as colleges, universities, language schools, kindergartens, public schools and private tutoring. Visit www.tesolsa.co.za or www.tefl.com.
l University exchanges are also a great way to go abroad. Ask your university what exchange it offers, and attend your classes elsewhere in the world for a while. Whatever you wish to do, let your beliefs, energy, ambitions and dreams guide you.
TAKING THE LEAP: The steps to success: If you decide to take an overseas gap year it’s time to start researching and planning. Here are some things to think about before you take the gap.
LONG OR SHORT? You need to decide on your time frame first. You can spend as little as a couple of months abroad or the full 12 months.
VISAS AND/OR WORK PERMITS: You have to apply and pay for the appropriate visa, bet it a tourist, study or work visa. You may also have to pass security and health checks at the border or have been vaccinated beforehand.
It is important that you begin this process as soon as you have chosen your gap country as it can take a few months and is different with each country, so contact your chosen country’s consulate for more information. Remember that it is illegal to work with a holiday visa only – so make sure you have a work permit as well. If you do not correctly comply with visa or permit requirements or overstay on your visa or permit, you may be jailed, deported and/or blacklisted. Visit www.embassy.goabroad.com to locate specific embassies or consulates in a country.
What is Schengen visa?: This visa allows access to 25 countries in Europe. It allows easy travel in and out of these countries and is much easier than getting a specific visa for each country.
Global visas (021 427 6100; www.globalvisas.com) is approved by the South African government and helps you find out exactly what visas you need to visit a country and how to go about getting it.
Vaccinations? Certain countries also require compulsory vaccinations before entry. Contact your travel agent or the High Commission, Consular General or embassy of the country you wish to visit for details about this.
Register at ROSA: Registration of South Africans Abroad (ROSA) is a software program developed by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRC) allowing travellers to register online, for free. The information allows the DIRC to assist citizens in the event on an emergency abroad. Register at www.dirc.gov.za (consular information section).
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Our advice is that you always have travel insurance to avoid exposing yourself to unnecessary risks and dangers in your gap year. Without travel insurance, you could find yourself landed with a massive bill – one that South African rands just won’t cover. Remember to also insure yourself against having your money or belongings stolen.
Your travel insurance should cover the following:
l Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad.
l 24-hour emergency service and assistance.
l Personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing an injury or damage to property.
l Lost and stolen possessions cover.
l Cancellation and curtailment (cutting your trip short) cover.
l Extra cover for activities, such as jet-skiing, which are usually excluded form standard policies.
Your policy may also have:
l Personal accident cover
l Legal expenses cover
l Financial protection in case your airline goes bankrupt
Many insurers will extend cover if you ask them. Most travel agents offer travel insurance packages with your flight, but there are also independent companies that specialise in travel insurance. Shop around at these sites:
www.flightcentre.co.za
www.statravel.com
www.aa.co.za/travel
www.studentflights.co.za
www.tic.co.za
KEEP IN TOUCH: We live in an age where the internet, e-mails, Skype, smartphones and social networking reign supreme. Internet cafés can be found almost everywhere, and there are many package-deal travel SIM cards. Remember to check in with your family and friends every couple of days. GO-SIM is an international SIM card that offers cheap roaming rates in more than 180 destinations and on over 300 different networks. Visit their website: www.gosim.com.
Don’t allow modern technology to dismiss the joy of receiving a traditional postcard or posted letter.
TRAVEL HEALTH: Vaccinations and anti-malarial tablets can be expensive, and you may have to save up for them. You should visit your GP or travel clinic at least one month before you set off.
However, if you want to be protected against Hepatitis A and B, it’s best to be attended to seven months before travelling, as you’ll need boosters one month and six months after the initial jab. Before you visit your doctor, get as precise an idea as possible of where you are going.
For example, there are different diseases in Phuket from those in the remote jungles north of Thailand, and beach holidays are completely different from jungle safaris. Timing is important too – you may need different protection in the dry season from that needed in the wet season. - The Mercury