I have a question
When living a new country, how long did it take you to adapt to the new customs? H
Well the first couple of months are all about learning and trying to feel at home, and then like the 3-4th month u actually feel at home. For me, customs like when to eat, when to out etc are totally different in Spain then in Norway, but somehow I adapted rather quickly. Though, there are many things I havent adapted at all. That is more of a choice though on my part. When u are living in a new country, and especially Spain, which has a culture that is very different from the Norwegian one, and almost nobody speak English, well then you don't have a choice really. You just have to be mentally prepared that things are going to be different.
Originally Posted by SpiritedAway
Also, other than a language barrier, what were some of the problems you faced?
Ok, dont want to scare anyone that goes to Spain, but one of my challenges have been making really good SPANISH friends. I have loads of international, and also some Spanish good friends, but u really must work for the Spanish friendships. As I am blonde and blue eyed, well then many girls here see me as a threat, even though I am not remotly interested in 90% of the guys here. And don't really give me a chance, but there are some exceptions.
My friends and me had some difficulties with the apartment our school found for us ( they were basically charging us too much ), so we wanted to change. All that was a huge challenge, because we were 18-19 years old, didnt speak too much Spanish and had to read contracts etc. A reassuring phone call to mom helped, but we really just had to figure out everything ourselves. Scary, but you just cope with the situation really.
Sometimes its tricky beeing along way from home, and in fact staying in touch with all those friends you have from high school back home. You actually find out rather quickly who your true friends are, and who makes an effort the stay in touch with you.
thats all I can think about right now, or at least like major things.. I see a huge difference between my friends that have had a gap year, and travelled or lived another place, and those that just stayed at home though. When you are on you own, or with 2-3 friends somewhere, you learn so much more, and really have to solve everything yourself. You just have to grow up basically.
I know what you mean by the job hunting...have you thought about applying for a job abroad (for an English speaking company or in an English speaking country -- there is even the opportunity of summer camps for now ).
It's a little more difficult without experience.
Summer camps would annoy the hell out of me.
As for teaching English, isn't that sort of thing voluntary?
There's a load of companies who are (successfully) charging gappies thousands of pounds to work on 'projects' abroad, like teaching English. And they stay with locals - who probably see less than a pound per day of that money. Cheaper to stay in a decent hotel (which are very cheap due to currency conversion) and find volunteer yourself if you really want to - you're liable to save nearly a £1000 in some cases but forgo the 'peace of mind' you get with those devious ******.
I suppose you could get an ECDL certificate and...
I've had a few little typing things here and there, helped neighbours and plenty of other pathetic little attempts just to try and get some money while I search, but acquiring a full-time job seems to be impossible without any real previous experience.
In a perfect world I'd have found something by now, and be planning a brief 1 - 3 week travelling stint next year. So far, not so good.
Why only a few weeks?
It'll cost very little more to make it a couple of months, if you're going outside of Europe (or Australia and the USA).
I'm also freaking out about not having a job to fund my gap year! Ideally I would like to go to South America and travel in the States but with no money that could be tricky... I'm starting to think about doing a ski season but I'm not sure how easy it is to get hired by one of the big companies without any hospitality experience.
It'll cost very little more to make it a couple of months, if you're going outside of Europe (or Australia and the USA).
Because I'd like to learn how to fly a glider, and focus more time on that than travelling. You're right, though.
(And, my main reason for taking a gap year is to work almost for the entire time before uni, because I get no grants and no financial help from parents so I'm a little... stuck.)
Last edited by DisgruntledMoth : 24-06-2009 at 15:20.
Because I'd like to learn how to fly a glider, and focus more time on that than travelling. You're right, though.
(And, my main reason for taking a gap year is to work almost for the entire time before uni, because I get no grants and no financial help from parents so I'm a little... stuck.)
I'm in a similar boat - I need to learn to drive, buy a car and get insured before next September.
Sorted out all my documents and got my flight tickets . Just need to sort out a hotel in prague (for my first night) and then train tickets into Germany
Sorted out all my documents and got my flight tickets . Just need to sort out a hotel in prague (for my first night) and then train tickets into Germany
I'm going to France this August for just under a year (until the end of July 2010 probs). I'll work as an au pair in Perigueux (which is near Bordeaux) for a lovely family with five daughters I've booked my flight today, so it's definite now! Can't wait, I'm sure it'll be a really good experience! I love kids, so I'm very excited about looking after the girls and being like an older sister to them! I did French A-level and might do French at uni, too, so I'm also really looking forward to practising and improving my knowledge of the language. I've applied to four French colleges/lycees coz I thought it'd be kinda fun to do just a couple of courses (probably Spanish, History and English - remember in France A-level students do about 10 different subjects, so doing 2-3 isn't nearly as much work as doing 2-3 A-levels over here!) to meet people my age (in fact I think they'll be slightly older as I am only 17 because I used to be homeschooled and worked faster so I'm a year ahead which is another reason I'm having a gap year, coz it wouldn't be much fun going to uni when u're not turning 18 until next year June!), improve my French and just have something to do apart from looking after the kids. And it won't cost anything, whereas I'd have to pay for language classes.
And then around July/August/September next year I'm hoping to travel through the Middle East for about 2 months with an adventure travel agency called Oasis Overland, which sounds really really good! Just not quite sure yet where to get the money from, but I'll earn just over 200 euros a month, so I'm hoping to save some of this wage, and I'm counting on my parents and grandparents to contribute a little as the trip will be just after my 18th birthday and I'll probs have to use some of my savings, too.
I applied this year for deferred entry and Durham's my firm choice, so provided that I get the grades I'm all sorted for uni, too!
Good luck to all u guys who're still looking for something!
I'm going to France this August for just under a year (until the end of July 2010 probs). I'll work as an au pair in Perigueux (which is near Bordeaux) for a lovely family with five daughters I've booked my flight today, so it's definite now! Can't wait, I'm sure it'll be a really good experience! I love kids, so I'm very excited about looking after the girls and being like an older sister to them! I did French A-level and might do French at uni, too, so I'm also really looking forward to practising and improving my knowledge of the language. I've applied to four French colleges/lycees coz I thought it'd be kinda fun to do just a couple of courses (probably Spanish, History and English - remember in France A-level students do about 10 different subjects, so doing 2-3 isn't nearly as much work as doing 2-3 A-levels over here!) to meet people my age (in fact I think they'll be slightly older as I am only 17 because I used to be homeschooled and worked faster so I'm a year ahead which is another reason I'm having a gap year, coz it wouldn't be much fun going to uni when u're not turning 18 until next year June!), improve my French and just have something to do apart from looking after the kids. And it won't cost anything, whereas I'd have to pay for language classes.
And then around July/August/September next year I'm hoping to travel through the Middle East for about 2 months with an adventure travel agency called Oasis Overland, which sounds really really good! Just not quite sure yet where to get the money from, but I'll earn just over 200 euros a month, so I'm hoping to save some of this wage, and I'm counting on my parents and grandparents to contribute a little as the trip will be just after my 18th birthday and I'll probs have to use some of my savings, too.
I applied this year for deferred entry and Durham's my firm choice, so provided that I get the grades I'm all sorted for uni, too!
Good luck to all u guys who're still looking for something!
I'm going on a gap year, purely to rectify my mistakes with the A-levels. I'll also be learning Japanese as well just for the added ability - good to know. Might learn two languages if i'm lucky . Hope to get a part-time job purely because I'll be using a lot of time to revise etc.
I see now what a vague and trailing mess all my plans are! Everyone else seems to have it all figured out
I withdrew my UCAS application for this year, none of my outstanding offers seemed quite right for me, not yet anyway. So I only decided early this year, January maybe, to take a gap year at all. And I've been busier thinking about revising A2s than making plans recently.
I also want to keep my hand in at college - I started an AS in Classics this year I wouldn't mind finishing. Being able to tell people I'm a student is a bit better than saying unemployed, what with my attempts at finding employment being as fruitful as they are. And I also want to do a TEFL course and that'd possibly lead on to a placement in Athens which would be very nice. My college has an ESOL programme too so I'd be allowed to 'help' foreign students without being escorted from the premises for trespassing.
So it's going to be a funny mash-up of gap year and don't-know-what-else-to-call-it. I've no idea what admissions tutors will think of it, I've had a lot of conflicting responses. Hmhm.
have fun SA (yeah that's how I'm typing your username from now on ) Will you be on here over there? You best be!!!
Officialy finished colleged now, feels weird because I'm glad I'm done now but I also am going to miss some of the mates I've made over the two years!!
Now it's just my gap year to grunge through!
Also got my Nottingham prospectus today, might have to have a read now and again!
I'm having a gap year too! I only decided to have one a few months ago, so I'm trying to work out what to do now! I've volunteered for loads of jobs, mainly writing roles for me to put on my CV, plus working at a new youth charity shop and working for my local hospice. I've applied for a few paid jobs, but they're all so hard to come by nowadays I'm thinking of perhaps doing another AS or doing another course in literature or something, but I'm too lackadaisical to actually get much sorted for the moment so I'll probably leave it too late! Ahh well...
This forum is for all your gap year ideas, queries and experiences.
Useful Resources:
Re: The Official Gap Year 2009-10 Support Thread!
can't wait.
I have a question 
).
. Just need to sort out a hotel in prague (for my first night) and then train tickets into Germany 
lol
I'm sure you'll find something!
) Will you be on here over there? You best be!!!
