Hello!

If you are looking to make the most out of your gap year, you will be thinking about partying or earning some money. The good news is that you have many more options that you can think of suddenly. You can take on an apprenticeship, a course, or a work experience abroad and see the world before you get your head down and study hard for your degree.

Below you will find a few tips on how to plan your gap year and make the most out of it.

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INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING

In case you would like to spend the year travelling the world, but don’t want to spend a fortune, you can get your costs covered  by an international organisation. You will be able to get free food and accommodation, and volunteer in remote locations, such in wildlife sanctuaries or within disadvantaged communities. You can volunteer in Central America and meet new people, while discovering your true mission.

STUDYING ABROAD

You might also want to take on a short course abroad and expand your horizons. You might be able to pick up a new language and improve your people skills. No matter if you are interested in marketing, business, or hospitality, you will find a course. Check out various opportunities to study at a prestigious swiss hotel management school and find new opportunities and interests, even job prospects in Europe.

FOREIGN APPRENTICESHIPS

You might already have a degree or skill you can put to good use and increase your knowledge about your selected industry. Foreign apprenticeships will help you get a better view of the global economy and understand the industry. If you come back with more knowledge than the rest of your future classmates, you will have a competitive advantage on the job market.

TEACHING ENGLISH

Many students choose to teach English during their gap year. The good news is that you will get to know new views, cultures, and languages, so you can improve your employability. You will be able to make friends for life, and even get free language courses and accommodation. You will, however, need to complete an ESL course before you can get a position at your selected destination.

HIRE A CAR

This may be one for those who have taken a few years out and have passed their driving test but it is still a mode of travel to a foreign country that is often overlooked. Whether to drive on to a ferry and head to Ireland or fancy going across to Europe and driving as far as land can take you, there are so many places you can go with your own car. However, if you fancy going that bit further, you can look into hiring a car! Not only do you get to experience a country behind a wheel, but you get to experience a new type of car and in some places, that is an adventure in itself. Beware though as many places only allow you to hire a car if your over 21 or have had your license for at least three years. Check the fine details!

Not learnt to drive yet? How about spending your summer learning!

Image via Army.mil

Talking of driving...

Fancy staying at home and getting nervous about university? Then another good way of spending your gap year is test driving various courses. Some colleges and universities have open days or weeks to help you make an informed decision about your education. You might also spend the time to take on online free courses, so you can find out whether the topics still appeal to you, before you make your final decision about the university or college. Instead of enrolling and finding out later that the course is not for you, it is possible to visit some of the lessons to see if you can get used to the schedule and the teaching methods.

It is important that you spend your gap year as productive as possible. Time never stops and never comes back, so you have to turn this free period to your advantage.

Don't worry about making the right choice right now! Life changes so do what you enjoy doing!

- KC xx

*Collaborative Post

Hello!

I've been having a nightmare with my internet lately and just as I was nearly finished writing and editing this post, somehow it all go deleted and I've not been able to recover it. How frustrated I am right now. Anyway, here I go again! Let's hope this post doesn't disappear on me now!

Over the years, between the two of us (Edmond and I), we have be to a wide variety of countries and places and no matter where we go, we always find ourselves wanting to go back. So in short, this is a post of places each of us want to go back to!

MEXICO

(K)

Mexico will forever be my favourite place. I constantly find myself wanting to go back because every time I do, I see and learn something new. So of course, I decided to make a career out of it. Hopefully one day in the near future I will be researching Mexican theatre history and find out even more and travelling there even more. Fingers crossed!

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CANADA

(E)

One of the most incredible countries I have ever been to. Of all the beautiful places visited on our two week trip to Canada, I often recall my time in Quebec City. We were only here for around 3 days on our two week trip - nowhere near long enough to really take in everything. From the vast Fields of Abraham to the wide sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River and the huge, unmistakably striking Chateau Frontenac, this is a city I recommend to everyone - and be sure to take your camera because there are so many amazing sights and views to capture on your journey around this unforgettable location.One of the most incredible countries I have ever been to. Of all the beautiful places visited on our two week trip to Canada, I often recall my time in Quebec City. We were only here for around 3 days on our two week trip - nowhere near long enough to really take in everything. From the vast Fields of Abraham to the wide sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River and the huge, unmistakably striking Chateau Frontenac, this is a city I recommend to everyone - and be sure to take your camera because there are so many amazing sights and views to capture on your journey around this unforgettable location. 

CRETE

(K)

Being a drama student I often find myself research and reading Greek plays and learning about Ancient Greek societies so travelling to the play were that all began, where you can still physically see the ruins standing from the ground, is awe inspiring. We climbed to the possible birth place of Zeus! If visiting ruins and finding out about the history isn't all you want to do, and you fancy something more active, then Crete is known for its gorgeous cycling routes. We did one around the north coast and it was one of the most amazing and memorable experiences I've ever done. Definitely worth checking out!

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ITALY

(E)

A country dear to my heart. A unique, exciting place with so many amazing cities, towns and villages to visit. I have travelled to two of its most iconic destinations - Florence and Venice. They are both similar and different in many ways. If you're one for walking around for hours on end,  constantly finding little roads and alleyways, stumbling upon bars and restaurants and ice cream shops and pizza vendors then these two are really worth the trip. Your feet may hurt, but you'll walk away at the end of your visit wondering when you can do it all over again. Or at least, that's been my experience of it.  

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

(K)

Ever since my parents got married there 22 years ago, we haven't been able to stop going back. It feels like a second home, no matter what the current state is like. I first visited when I was 6 months old, though of course I don't remember anything. Going back when I was 4 years old was much more memorable, and then most recently only last year. Each time is completely different, even if I go and see the same things. It's such a beautiful country to visit, which such rich history. Maybe one day I can branch out my research to Dom Rep as well as Mexico.

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SOUTH AFRICA

(E)

Strikingly beautiful. Whatever you're into, whichever walk of life you come from South Africa has something for you to enjoy; a country with a myriad of languages, cultures, locations. Cape Town is perfect for those who love city life, backpacking and penguins. A combination only found in this city, and it does it perfectly. If you prefer to get away from the city, then perhaps a Safari in the Kruger National Park is for you. I have visited here several times and come away wanting more and more every time. South Africa is a true gem and one I can't recommend enough.

SPAIN

(K)

I may not have visited mainland Spain, I know Ed would tell you how vibrant and different every single little town and city is. I would love to visit Madrid myself to see the museums, Lope de Vega's house, and the vast amount of richly historical theatres. I have, however, visited the Balearic Islands a few times and though I'm not much of a party-goer, I love seeing the large expanses of hills where one day I would love to see all over again with a new set of eyes riding a bike or going hiking. There is so much that you can do which I believe is often overlooked by the night clubbing scene.

ZANZIBAR

(K)

What an incredible island. The second I arrived in Stone Town, I was blown away by the amount of cultures you see. In the two nights I was there we saw tribes people, found ourselves joining a Hindu colour festival, and witnessing a Islamic festival the following night. Coming from what is supposedly such a diverse country, I have never felt so surrounded by culture, history and equality in my life. Of course that's all coming from a tourist point of view and I am not fully sure on the current political state but to me it seemed like everyone living there was completely accepting of everyone else. Not only that but you take about an hour drive to the other side of the island and it is like you've landed in the Caribbean. It is absolutely stunning. I would love to go back and see more!

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There are some I would want to visit more than others of course but that still doesn't stop me looking for the best prices to go back to each and every one of these. Holiday booking is so difficult now because I can't decide whether to go back and see more of one place or find somewhere new. Also, it's forever up in the air as to booking a two back packing trip or a nice relaxing two week all inclusive. The next holiday probably won't be until next summer now, after I've saved up some money, but who knows. Before then, back to Mexico for Christmas it is!

See you,
- KC xx

*Collaborative post with Edmond and holidaygems.co.uk

Hello!

July feels like ages ago yet August has gone so quickly. It is now September and I have now moved into my new university flat, ready for the first semester of my final year to start. I haven't quite managed to put a finger on how I'm feeling just yet, I guess I'm both anxious and relaxed about the whole thing. I do want to start, and I also don't want to. I know this next year is going to go so fast and I'm going to have a lot of work to do but in the meantime, I want to make sure I'm making the most out of my time in Hull. Last year I barely read anything and often found myself slobbing around not doing much other than studying. This year I want to manage my time much better by getting myself to the gym, reading books and also studying as much as I can.

The best way for my to stay motivated is often writing about it and throughout August I had quite a few books sent to me to review. Hopefully I'll keep on receiving those books so I'll just have to make the time to read. What an excuse!

Before all that, let's get to my monthly round up! Here are all the books I read throughout August:

I Let You Go - Clare Mackintosh

Paperback

Since I read I See You on holiday last year, I had been really looking forward to reading this book, especially since I kept having people tell me how good it was. I definitely very much enjoyed it and found myself literally gasp out loud on the odd occasion. It's not very often a book creates an actual physical reaction! Read my review here!

The Darkness Around Her - Neil White

Paperback

After reading the first chapter or so on Readers First, I was very excited to find out I was to be gifted a copy in return for a review! The book did not disappoint. Between this and I Let You Go, I now have a serious love for crime and thriller novels! I want to read more! Read my review here!

Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

eBook

I read this on BorrowBox every so often when I wanted to read but was unable to read a physical book (like I prefer). It was perfect for times when I was sat in a pub and not feeling the conversation. Sorry for being anti-social! I enjoyed the book but, not going to lie, I kind of enjoyed the programme more. That's perhaps a controversial opinion but there it is. Review coming soon! 

The Saturday Girls - Elizabeth Woodcraft

Paperback

This has got to be my least favourite book this month. No, sorry, this year. It was more of a majority read as I couldn't finish it. I got so bored that it sent me into a reading slump. Knowing I had to read it to review it, I kept putting off reading by watching TV. Still I did review it and you can read that here!

(Ignore the non-English translation cover, it was the first and best one I could find on google images to take this photo! I also didn't realise until I just uploaded it on to here.)

Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda

eBook

I can still feel the feels I got from this book. I laughed out loud and found myself smiling throughout. It was just such a wonderfully lovely book to read and found myself needing to watch the movie so badly. Now I have seen it and really can't compare the two. The movie was definitely and over dramatised version of the book but it was done in a way that captured the humour and the feels perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed both and look forward to reading the second book to read more about Simon and his new boyf. Read my review here!

Killer T - Robert Muchamore

Hardback

I can't stop talking about this book. It was so unique and thought-provoking that I found it astonishing. The more I think about it, the more I love it. I had not read a Robert Muchamore book before so I didn't know what to expect but now I want to pick up some CHERUB books. I think I already have the first which I've never read so I think it's time! You can read my review here!

TOTAL BOOKS READ: 5 and a majority

I didn't read as many as July, most likely down to the reading slump I got into from reading The Saturday Girls, but I still very glad I'm still reading a lot and I am not 2 books of my 2018 reading challenge of 30 books. I originally choose to try and read 30 because normally I do 50 and don't make it as life tends to get in the way but this summer I have proved that I can read at least one book a week when I want to! Here's to keeping it up when I'm back at uni. I would imagine you'll start seeing plays being added to my list. 

Until the next book...

- KC xx

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The modern world moves at such a speed these days that it can honestly be a little overwhelming. We're all constantly made to feel as though we have to be rushing around at all times. It's like we're all constantly late for something without really knowing what it is. From work to family to relationships to maintaining some semblance of a social life, it can often feel as though you're being pulled apart in a whole lot of different directions at once. That can make it near impossible to actually take some time for yourself to rest, relax and recharge. So what can you do if that kind of life is getting to you and you just need to take some time for yourself? Well, why not consider getting away from it all? Sure, a vacation probably seems like an obvious choice but what if you really want to go a step further and get away from the modern world entirely. Well, if that's the case, you might just want to get off the grid and head into the wilderness. Of course, that kind of trip comes with its own complications that you have to think about but if you really throw yourself into it, it can be one of the best antidotes to the modern world there is. With that in mind, here are some things to consider when trying to get off the grid.

Choose the kind of trip you're taking

After all, there are a lot of different ways to get off the grid. Are you going to help out in a remote village, building schools? Or perhaps you're really looking to get into the wilderness, sleeping rough by night and exploring the landscape by day? It's a good idea to think carefully about what kind of trip you want to take so that you don't come up against any really nasty surprises along the way.

Think about your health

Your health is always going to be a much bigger concern when you're going off the grid than if you were taking a city break or other, more standard, vacation. There are plenty of places where the risks to your health are very real and you should take them incredibly seriously. Luckily, there are always things that you can do to protect yourself. For example, Malarone is used if travelling to a malarial zone but you should always speak to your doctor before taking any kind of trip like this. From bug bites to dirty water, your body may not be fully prepared for the kinds of conditions that this kind of trip can present.

Alone or with company?

One of the biggest decisions that you have to make when it comes to this kind of trip is who you're going to travel with? If you're travelling in a group then you're still going to have a reminder of the world around you which, for some people, can completely defeat the point of taking the trip in the first place. However, travelling alone can be an incredibly lonely and difficult experience for a lot of people and having company can make life a lot easier. It might be less "pure" than going it alone, but you may find that your trip is made much more pleasant by the presence of some friends.

How long are you going for?

The other thing to consider is how long you're going to be away for. How much time away from the world do you really need? Is this going to be a short trip to recharge your batteries and let you get back to the world feeling happy and confident? Or are you looking to have a much longer experience that lets you entirely change your life for months, if not years? There are a whole lot of factors that impact this choice, from financial to personal, but in the end, it's always going to come down to you and what you want.

The truth is that there are a lot of challenges involved taking this kind of trip and it's certainly not going to be for everyone. You need to think carefully if this is the right choice for you. After all, for some people, a couple of weeks by the side of the pool sipping cocktails is all they really need to charge their batteries and get back to feeling in control of their life. However, if this is the kind of trip that appeals to you, make sure that you do as much planning as possible so that you really can get the most out of it.

* Collaborative Post