It’s been several years of hard study, and now it's time for a break. Twelve months can seem a long time and it’s good to make the most of the opportunity. Some students may wish to use the time to take a temporary job and save up some much needed money. For others, it is a time to travel and explore, to meet people, and to gain life experiences.
Gap Year or Summer Holidays
There are several organisations that offer opportunities for all of the above, and to earn a little money, too. Camp America and Bunac, are two examples.
Camp America offers the opportunity to live and work on a summer camp in America. As a General Counsellor daily camp life is with the campers, sharing their experiences and providing guidance. For those not enthralled by the thought of noisy, excited teenagers, there is the opportunity to go as a domestic worker, such as cleaner or cook. Those with a specialist skill, such as a sport or swimming, may apply as a specialist counsellor. Specialist Counsellors have the chance to earn more money, too.
Bunac offer similar opportunities, but not just in America. China and India are other examples on offer.
The advantage of going with an established company is that travelling to and from the camp is arranged and obviously travelling in a group is safer, especially for those who are spreading their wings for the first time.
Camp Life Can be Fun
There are activities for counsellors, there is the camaraderie of living and working in a group situation, and camp provides the opportunity to make lasting friendships with other colleagues from different countries and cultures.
It is possible to apply to other organisations or even to a camp directly. Just a trawl of the Internet will bring up endless possibilities.
The benefit of joining a group such as Camp America is that there is the opportunity to live and work in another country and/or environment, to experience different cultures, and to explore new places. It is a safer option than independent travel and provides a small salary at the same time.
For the more adventurous there are kibbutz in Israel, or for those for whom money is not an issue, there is the tantalising experience of donning a backpack and setting off on an undetermined journey of exploration. For those new to America, for example, purchase an air pass and travel anywhere within the United States and Canada. Visit the Grand Canyon one day and Niagara Falls the next.
The opportunities are endless and will depend on individual circumstances. What is definite is that every effort should be made to make the most of this treasured time before life gets in the way and the opportunity to explore and discover slips away.
Jane Finch - After 25 years working in Family Law I decided on a career break and have not looked back. Being a homemaker has enabled me to home ...
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