Gap Year Stories – South America

Freelance Journalist Takes Career Break with Raleigh

 

Freelance Travel Journalist Sarah Neale made the decision to take a career break.  Sarah joined Raleigh's ten week spring expedition in Costa Rica as Communications Officer and loved it so much she is staying out to volunteer as project manager on the summer expedition. 

 

Four months before I signed up for Raleigh my brother was killed in a climbing accident.  I was finding it difficult to write so I decided to do something positive and constructive with my time, away from normal routines.  Taking on a new challenge in a safe, structured environment, and one which nurtures personal development, with a charity organisation that had been recommended by close friends, seemed to tick a lot of boxes for me.

 

My role on expedition was Communications Officer.  The induction phase prepared me really well; I enjoyed the training and as our expedition was so large, it was great to get to know the Fieldbase crew before the masses of venturers arrived.  I thought that the training itself was excellent and I felt well equipped to start the expedition come deployment day.

 

My key responsibilities were as follows: Setting up and maintaining the blog, producing the merchandise (magazine, t-shirts) and documenting the expedition images.  I really enjoyed the blog; I worked hard to develop the Google blogger website during the induction, and aimed to post updates on a daily basis.  In the main part, we achieved this.  I was really happy that I managed to get the venturers involved in writing blogs as it's a great opportunity for them to get writing published, and I expect parents at home enjoyed this too.

 

I also loved spending time out in the field, talking with the Venturers and Project Managers, getting a better insight into expedition life, and seeing a lot of the two countries.

 

I found my time out 'on phase' challenging as I have little 'leadership' experience having worked as an independent journalist most of my working career.  However, in the ten days I spent on trek, I started to learn the basics and am really looking forward to the challenge returning to Costa Rica for five weeks as a Project Manager this summer.

 

My role on expedition has given me focus and purpose at a difficult time in my life, and introduced me to an amazing, supportive and inspiring network of people.  I hope that during my second expedition by taking on a Project Manager role I can push myself, learn new leadership and negotiation skills, and learn to work better as part of a team.

 

I spent three months describing my days via the blog... Here are a couple of snippets:

 

Fieldbase day...

 

It's Sunday morning.  By 6am, the swirling white mist that hovers over the dairy farm is starting to lift.  The first mellow rays of sun have just crept over the horizon, warming my cheeks as I wander up the dirt track. It is 100 meters from my bed to the office.

 

I stick the kettle on and make some coffee.  Outside the kitchen door, a couple of rickety chairs and a table are the makings of a breakfast room which gazes out over the farm.  Chocolate brown cows peacefully munch the grass in a field dotted with vast trees bearing bright orange flowers.  Brightly coloured birds flit playfully from tree to tree.  The black-and-white cat that sleeps on the terrace lazily lifts his head and gives them a cursory glance before curling back up to sleep.  It's far too early for chasing birds.

 

A couple of kilometres away, at the edge of the valley floor, the landscape starts to rise.  The emerald green grass changes to deep green forest, lights from dwellings twinkle on the hillside and the slumbering giant of Volcan Turrialba looms above, a pillowy plume of smoke lingering on its summit like caustic cotton wool.

 

I love this time of the day - the late night owls are still sleeping, the early morning joggers are out pounding the backlanes and here in the office there's an hour of absolute peace and calm.  The start of another fine day at Fieldbase. 

 

Trek day...

 

When I boarded the plane bound for Costa Rica I pictured a lush, jungled land; uniformly green, brimming with wildlife and swelteringly hot.  Instead, I found something of a melting pot of landscapes - cloudforests, dry forests, mangroves, ashen volcanoes, bustling cities and fields bursting with fresh produce.  It wasn't until the end of Expedition Phase Three that I discovered the place that I had imagined back in January: deep in the tropical south, Corcovado National Park stretches across the Osa Peninsula, a pristine bastion of biodiversity that left me open-jawed and wide-eyed.  For me, it was the absolute highlight of my time in Costa Rica; I saw more wildlife in three days than I've seen in any other place on earth, even miraculously stumbling across a female puma and her cub during an early morning stroll through the jungle.

 

To spend time in this haven is a privilege: Raleigh works closely with the national park authorities to maintain and improve facilities in these protected pockets and, in return, we are granted access permits to explore the incredible ecosystems within.  During my six days with 'Zulu One', we skirted a coastline that was peppered with shark, crocodile and dolphin; we watched sunsets that ranged from deep golden to dusky pink to blood red; we swam in a crystal-clear rivers and slept in wooden-stilted ranger stations serenaded by the sounds of the jungle at night.  We saw tapir, four different kinds of monkey, anteater, sloth, agouti, spiders, snakes and dozens of insects and butterflies.  The vegetation included root buttresses the size of buses, Ceiba trees that towered 100m above the jungle floor, strangler figs, giant palms and thousands more. It was a truly magical experience.

 

The highlights of my experience with Raleigh so far include the people I met - both in the UK, and Costa Rica, Volunteer Managers and Venturers; wild swimming in Corcovado National Park; wild camping on Playa Blanca (Santa Rosa National Park); Fieldbase roadtrips; Trek; Catie swimming pool at dawn; coffee - sticky, sweet and delicious; discovering how much fun you can have not drinking; jungle camps; spotting rainbows through the rain in Guanacaste National Park.

 

The biggest challenge for me has been managing the workload; blogging once a day and being cheerful when feeling completely exhausted!

 

The expedition has certainly built my confidence and energised me.  I'm now able to spend a full day writing to a brief, and stay focused and positive.  It's also made me realise what you can achieve in a day when you get up at 3.30am!  It's made me aware of how little you need materially to succeed, and it has pushed me to be more resourceful and creative.

 

Raleigh has been a breath of fresh air.  The rigid structure of training means you achieve so much during the expedition.  It's relentless at times, challenging and inspiring; it gives you a chance to explore environments that are simply not accessible to guidebook-totting backpackers, within a nurturing environment that encourages personal development. You also make some incredible friends - these alone are reason enough to sign up!

 

For more information on the opportunities offered by Raleigh visit www.raleighinternational.org

 

 

 

Conservation Project in Peru for Lancaster University Graduate 

 

When did you decide to take a gap year and why?

I decided in my final year at university to take a gap year after graduating. I wanted to follow my degree with a masters but wasn't sure if this was the right choice at the right time. I have always wanted to take some time to go travelling and this seemed like the perfect time.

 

Where did you go and why?

I went to Peru, South America. The conservation project Travellers Worldwide advertised was the best value for money I could find and encompassed a broad range of skills, experience, and opportunities that other projects lacked. Also, Peru really appealed to me because I have never been to South America and I wanted to build the conservation project into a 4-month trip where I could go travelling afterwards and explore the continent and its culture.

 

Which different options did you consider?

I spent months searching the internet for gap-year projects, considering a variety of themes such as community work, and teaching English. In the end I narrowed my search down to conservation-related projects to follow on from my degree and pursue my interests in these areas. I ruled out projects that focussed purely on one specific conservation task e.g. projects where you spent all of your time with turtles, or all of your time with monkeys as I wanted a more rounded experience. I also ruled out projects that claimed to be a conservation project but on further inspection seemed to revolve around physical work such as path building and erecting sign posts - i.e. minimal relevance to conservation of species. The Travellers Worldwide conservation project in Peru was exactly what I hoped it would be and exactly what it claimed to be.

 

What was the best thing about the year and the worst thing?

The worst thing was acclimatising to the altitude in Cusco and getting used to the locals' style of driving (!)

 

The best thing was being surrounded by rainforest and the nature that it supports. Even after a month it is amazing that in the space of about 30 minutes you could see parrots and macaws, toucans, vultures, giant butterflies, leaf cutter ants, spider webs as big as a car, wild cat footprints, and a snake or two - as well as hundreds of other exotic species. It is truly amazing.

 

How did you fund the gap year?

My gap year was funded with inheritance money I have been saving. I also worked at my university for a few months to allow me to travel after the placement.

 

What benefits do you think it has given you in terms of employability?

I am seeking work in the environment sector and so the project is relevant to my career. It demonstrates to employers that I am serious about a career in the environmental sector and that I have a genuine interest in conservation. It also emphasises personal attributes such as: confidence, team work, hard working, dedicated, etc. These are important skills that employers look for examples in.

 

How would you talk about it in an interview with a prospective employer?

For my career I would emphasise my role in the project in terms of research, record keeping, species identification, and my passion for biodiversity. I would provide examples where I worked with minimum supervision to demonstrate my competence and reliability, and times where I worked as part of a team. Employers are also keen to know that you are able to work with a variety of people and so I would also give examples of this.

 

Do you think you have made the most of the gap year on your CV?

I participated in the project purely for my own enjoyment, rather than the associated benefits to my employability and how it looks on my CV. I have a range of more relevant experience for my line of work and so I have stated the nature of the gap year on my CV in one short sentence.

 

What advice would you give to a school leaver thinking of taking a gap year before uni?

I think it is better to take a gap year after uni where you are more confident and independent. You have the skills and maturity that enable you to really make the most of a gap year and are better equipped to travel afterwards/follow other opportunities that arise.

 

However, for those who want to go before uni I would advise to:

• Take time to compare projects and organisations - Find one that suits you and gives you what you want for the price you can afford.
• Plan carefully - expect the unexpected.
• Be flexible - it is easy to plan TOO much.
• Keep in close contact with the organisation and take emergency numbers with you (including emergency numbers within the country e.g. British embassy).
• Find out what previous participants thought and talk to people that are going at the same time as you - it's good for reassurance.
• Allow time before and after the project to settle in/relax and get used to the culture.
•  You do not need everything on the kit list or everything your mother suggests - don't waste money buying all the gadgets, be sensible about what you take but don't go overboard (it'll get very expensive).
• take a small stash of comfort food - it is very rewarding when rationed.
• Check with your bank whether you can use your debit card - very important. Some cards won't work in some ATM's. Some won't work in some countries. Some will charge you, some won't. Some banks will block your card as a defence against theft and you will need to know the answers to questions about your card and account to unblock it again - e.g. where it was opened, how much money is on it, when and where you last used it and how much you spent, etc etc. You could take two different cards just in case.
• Take a travellers cheque just in case (small amounts are better because they are easier to cash).
• Be aware of security and safety issues, walking around a city in the middle of the night with your camera in one hand and wallet in the other is NOT a good idea.
• Take padlocks.
• You cannot exchange small change of a foreign currency in England so spend it all when you are there.
• Don't miss out on opportunities surround you project - get a guide book. e.g. I wasn't about to fly all the way to Peru and back without seeing Machu Picchu.
• Bringing photo's of loved ones doesn't help home sickness. Nor does talking to them every single day.
• Make sure you can make the most of every second - there is nothing worse than coming home wishing you had done more.

 

Carys Hutton, 22, graduated with a BSc in Ecolgy from Lancaster University.  Her voluntary work placement in Peru was arranged with Travellers Worldwide

 

Teaching in B.A. Argentina - a day in the life

 

Graduate takes gap year to volunteer in Costa Rica

 

When did you decide to take a gap year and why?

 After University I was unsure as to what I wanted to do for a career, so whilst in this difficult economic climate I decided that I would do some volunteer work in a country I had never before thought of.  I liked the idea of working with other people to improve the environment which we were in as well as having the chance to meet and interact with other people who were native to that country or other volunteers.

 Where did you go and why?

I decided to go to Costa Rica because in all honesty it sounded a bit like a paradise and does not have too many governmental problems, especially as it has no army.  Not to mention that the Costa Rican style of living appealed to me no end as it was work and lots of play.  The wildlife which I might have the chance to see were also appealing as well as the fantastic scenery including the volcanoes, waterfalls and beaches, all amazing.

Which different options did you consider?

 I considered going to Africa to work with big cats or going to Australia to do paid work in a bar so I could then fund going around the country and seeing the sites and wildlife.  These are options for later when I can take another career break.  Once you go travelling and do something as amazing as this you are always wanting to go again and do something else new and different, and to learn the other cultures and ways of living.

What was the best thing about the year and the worst thing?

 The best thing was actually doing the volunteer work and meeting so many people, I can't begin to describe how great it was. Yes the work was simple labour in the zoo and of course it rained quite a lot but we still had loads of fun in the rain, laughing, joking, talking to the animals etc.  The whole experience was great and I loved the six weeks I was there, and yes I did miss home too.

 

The worst thing was not being able to take my friends and family there to experience it with me, I would have liked to have shown them what I did and where I went as photos don't always do it justice.  The other worst thing was that I wish I could've gone for longer...next time I will.

How did you fund the gap year?

 I had saved money over the years from my weekend job in a department store which I had always said I would use towards getting a new car, a flat when the time came or travelling.  So I decided to use some of it to go travelling, as well as having a bit of help from my parents which was really good of them.

What benefits do you think it has given you in terms of employability?

 I would hope that by doing volunteer work and going out there on my own it would indicate some key personality traits which might be desired for a future job.  It may also open new horizons for me as to what sorts of jobs I can do seeing as I have now had some experience handling animals, which is totally different from my degree.  Who knows...watch this space.

How would you talk about it in an interview with a prospective employer?

 Talking with enthusiasm, highlighting the good points and bad points of the trip, emphasising on what I learnt from the experience and what I think I can take from it for the future.  There would be no point in just saying "I went to Costa Rica for 6 weeks and did volunteer work in a zoo." It would need to be "I decided to do something totally different and put myself out of my comfort zone by going to Costa Rica with no language and learning how to communicate with everyone.    Of course it had its ups and downs but one thing I really learnt is that if you can't laugh at yourself and if you don't try, then what is the point?  It really opened my eyes and allowed me to experience a different culture with different people."

Do you think you have made the most of the gap year on your CV?

 Probably not.  I could write a lot about my volunteer project as this questionnaire has already shown, and no amount of words can really do it justice.  I just hope that my summary is enough to give anyone an idea of what I did and what I felt I achieved from it.

What advice would you give to a school leaver thinking of taking a gap year before uni?

Do it.  No matter where you go or what you do it will be an experience you will never forget.  In all honesty there will be bad times and there will be amazing times but all together you will take something from it and use it later on.

The advice I received from so many people before and after I went is that you should do these things when you are younger, because seriously you don't always get a chance to later on.

Why shouldn't you go? You can work on gap years to fund your travelling and fun, you can do volunteer work which is great as you are giving something back.  Chances are you will meet loads of people and make some good friends.

Just remember, take your camera and bring back mementoes!

Carly Anne Bray, 22, graduated with a degree in Biomedical Science at University of Essex.

Her placement in Costa Rica was arranged with i-to-i.

 

Salsa, Tango and Spanish Lessons in Argentina

 

My placement in Buenos Aires was absolutely the best I could have imagined. I chose to attend Salsa, Tango and Spanish classes for two weeks. Although I arrived by myself I was introduced to other Traveller's volunteers and was put in a room with some of them and we immediately made friends. The ladies running the programs in BA were both the loveliest, most helpful people. They were always there to help us with anything that went wrong or just to go out for nice dinners!

Both my dance teachers picked me up at my hostel for my first salsa and tango lessons to go to the respective studios where my lessons would be held 3 times a week (one of which was a huge mirrored room in one of Buenos Aires' best salsa clubs to my delight!) The teachers were all fantastic, patient, friendly and helpful about filling me in on everything about BA and I learnt incredible amounts in such a short time. If I did it again, I would do it exactly the same way ... except for twice as long!!

A fantastic experience overall and one I will never forget!

Sarah Payne-Baader placement in Buenos Aires, Argentina was arranged with Travellers.

 

Tom Kendall spends a year in La Paz, Bolivia

 

One year, two residential courses, several fundraising events and two flights later I find myself at an altitude of 3,600m.  I am looking down into the colossal, overwhelming bowl of chaos that is La Paz, Bolivia, our home for the next year.  It is 7 in the morning and a big orange sun is rising up behind the snow-capped mountain in the background. Pete, Ben and I are huddled together in the back of a taxi having been sent by Project Trust to spend the next twelve months working for the Rainbow Foundation.

It doesn't take long to realise that La Paz ("Peace" in English) is a misleading name for such a noisy city.  The sound of horns fills the air and the colourful history of loss, colonialism and dictatorships ensure that political tension is always high.  People are ready to take to the streets at a moment's notice to complain about the Government and often bring dynamite with them to get their points across. And yet when the people aren't marching through the streets, they dance through them.  Every year Bolivians of all shapes and sizes, creed and colour come together throughout the country in a series of colourful festivals to celebrate the sense of community. 

Having arrived at the end of July I was placed in the street workers project, part of the casa de paso ("drop in centre") complex.  This multipurpose building acts as the hub of the Foundation and is home to the workers' project, the street project (for people living on the streets) and a range of other services including a canteen, a doctor's and dentist's surgery, a nursery for toddlers and a carpentry workshop.  About 300 children and young adults of ages 3 to 23 pass through its doors every day.

As I suppose is only natural coming from England, I had very little previous experience of shoeshine boys.  In La Paz they are a striking part of the city's identity.  They are not just boys: girls, boys, men and women of all ages take to the streets to shine shoes.  Even though the wages are better than many of the other options, being a lustrabota (literally "boot shiner") is widely seen as something to be ashamed of.  In order to hide from classmates, neighbours and society in general, balaclavas have become part of the uniform.  This leads to an unfortunate common perception, even among tourists, that they are all "as bad as one another". As the days went by I would start to remember names, based on the colour of their balaclava and whatever clothes they had been wearing the day before.  It wasn't always a reliable method, especially when I realised that they were swapping jumpers.

In February my English colleague Ben turned his attention to a photography project which he had planned before leaving England.  His idea was to hand out disposable cameras to his population of lustrabotas and ask them to take photos related to three different themes of family, community and the street.  The work culminated in an exhibition entitled "Desechable?" ("Disposable?") held throughout April in an established gallery in the city centre. 

We then started a hip hop project. Throughout April and May, with the help of Darius, a friend from a local radio station and Esdenka, a rap artist, we ran weekly workshops focusing on song writing and performance.  The boys chose from a collection of backing tracks and came up with moving lyrics relating to their personal experiences.  By the end of June, the five persevering artists had managed to come up with the resulting album, entitled "The Voice of the Young Workers" expressing their opinions on diverse topics such as the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of family values.  I was really excited after my return to England to find out from Magno, one of the boys, that everything was going well and that he had already managed to sell 34 of his 35 copies.  I was particularly moved that he wanted to keep the last one for himself.

Tom Kendall's placement was arranged with Project Trust

 

 

 

 

 

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