Synopses & Reviews
People approaching the end of their time at high school or college are in the fortunate position of being able to contemplate taking a year off before going on to the next phase of their lives. Taking a Gap Year is the definitive handbook for all those students who want to make the most of a year off before or after their college course. Topics covered include:
>Making the decision to take a Gap Year
>The rewards and risks of a year out
>Discussing the idea with careers advisors and employers
>Whether to arrange your own Gap Year or to use an agency
Author Susan Griffith includes all the necessary information on the specialist Gap Year programs available, the enormous range of jobs that can be found by travellers worldwide and the possibilities for voluntary work around the world, joining an expedition, gaining some new skill or qualification, or simply taking the opportunity to travel. An important feature of the book is the section on the preparations to make, covering:
>How to raise funds
>Inoculations and other health precautions to take
>Advice on taking out insurance
>The paperwork you may need, from passports and work permits to student union cards
>What to take--and what to leave behind
>How to take or transfer money.
The book includes a country-by-country guide to Gap Year opportunities in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada, Israel, and Latin America, including information on work permits and other red tape as well as specialist addresses for finding work. The text is vividly illustrated with first hand stories and case histories from Gap Year travelers to show readers what they can expect from their yearoff.
Review
"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,
Taking a Gap Year is the book you need. Recommended."
--Overseas Jobs Express
"Recommended reading."
--The Guardian
"If you're advising anyone to consider further reading on this increasingly popular subject then you won't go far wrong with this."
--Euro Express Magazine
Synopsis
Inside this guide you will find information on:
Deciding to take a gap year - the rewards, the risks, discussions with schools, universities, timing, fund raising, red tape, reassurance for parents.
Gap year placement organizations - full details of companies which arrange specialist Gap Year programs, expeditions, work experience, voluntary work, etc.
Other opportunities - hundreds of other projects available for young people taking time out including:
Accompany bush rangers in wildlife parks in Botswana
Get involved in tsunami relief in Thailand or Sri Lanka
Help keep children off the streets in Guatemala
Learn to be a snowboard, surfing or diving instructor
Crew on yachts around the Med, the Caribbean or Florida
Ride the outback as a jack- or jilleroo in Australia
Teach English in Europe, India, Japan or China
Build walkways in the Costa Rican rainforest
Study drama, art, cinema, or cookery in Italy
Protect bears and loggerhead turtles in Greece
Country by country guide - covers the complete range of opportunities listed by country, to be found in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Over 100 first hand accounts from people who have taken Gap Years.
About the Author
Susan Griffith is the author of many of Vacation Work's leading books including
Gap Years for Grown Ups, Work Your Way Around the World, Teaching English Abroad, and
The Au Pair & Nanny's Guide to Working Abroad. Canadian-born, she currently lives in Cambridge with her family.
Table of Contents
(1) PART I - PREPARATIONS (2) Introduction (3) Planning & Preparation (4) Travel (5)
PART II - GAP YEAR PLACEMENTS (6) Specialist Gap Year Programmes (7) Expeditions (8) Work Experience (9) Volunteering (10) A Year off for North Americans (11) Paid Seasonal Jobs (12) Au Pairing (13) Courses (14) PART III - COUNTRY BY COUNTRY (15) Benelux (16) France (17) Germany (18) Greece (19) Italy (20) Russia & Eastern Europe (21) Scandinavia (22) Spain & Portugal(23) Switzerland & Austria (24) Africa (25) Asia (26) Turkey (27) The Middle East (28) Australia & New Zealand (29) Canada (30) Israel (31) Latin America (32) The Caribbean (33) The USA (34) APPENDICES