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July 2007 Newsletter
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Gap Year for Grown Ups July Newsletter
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Free insurance for your trip!
Book your programme by the 31st July and recieve free travel insurance for the duration of your Gap Year for Grown Ups programme.*
*minimum programme price, 500 pounds
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Travel Stories - Inspiration from those who have been there and done it!
Lisa Murgatroyd, 33 from Surrey
Lisa won the Gap Year for Grown Ups Photo Competition held earlier this year. Lisa joined the Rajasthan Teaching Project in India before embarking on a 5-month exploration of South East Asia from which she has just returned. The prize was 500 pounds, which she put to good use on her trip!
"I was always planning to go travelling with my boyfriend but he was too comfortable staying put in his life in London. I made the difficult decision to end the relationship after 6 years and go on my own. I was nervous of travelling alone so I decided to start my trip with an organised volunteer placement that would provide the security that I was seeking.
Lisa's winning photo from her time teaching children in Rajasthan |
I started with a 6-day Himalayas trek then joined the Gap Year for Grown Ups Volunteer Programme in Rajasthan.
I am not certain that the villagers had ever seen a westerner before. Within the community we were treated like celebrities, villagers warmly invited us into their homes for chai tea and the children followed us and asked for autographs! My new founded celebrity status was quite strange at first but a wonderful experience.
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Our accommodation was a purpose built hotel just for volunteers. It served fantastic food and had a lovely garden in to relax in.
We taught at the local primary school. Teaching was a challenge at first, I had no experience and I don't think the children knew what to make of us. This soon changed when we mucked in playing fun games, the reward for me was seeing their smiles and interacting with our lessons. |
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Throughout the placement, we took part in some brilliant workshops - Hindi lessons helped enormously interacting with the children and Indian culture, history, cooking and yoga classes were a fantastic way to experience cultural immersion. Weekends were fun and very chilled, I got to know my fellow volunteers, prepared lessons and made stuff for the children for the week ahead. We also travelled into Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.
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I thoroughly enjoyed my time and I felt a huge sense of achievement at seeing how far the children had come. I met some amazing people and went on to travel India with a fellow volunteer before heading off on a 5-month exploration of South East Asia on my own.
Winning the photo competition meant a lot too as my camera had been stolen in Vietnam, I was able to buy myself a new one en-route and put off coming home by staying out a little longer!"
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New & exciting programmes for Gap Year for Grown Ups! |
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Fiji Dive Culture and Conservation
The expedition of a lifetime discovering the beaches, corals and culture of this stunning Pacific Nation. Get involved in important conservation work and become a qualified scuba diver.
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Florida Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer
Care for neglected, abused, unwanted or confiscated exotic animals. Resident animals range from big cats, such as leopards, tigers and cougars to primates, wolves, bears and native American animals.
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Sri Lanka Orphanage Volunteer
Make a substantial contribution to the lives of disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka, generating more opportunities for them by helping to improve their maths and English skills.
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South Africa White Shark Conservation
Engage in the conservation and research of Great White Sharks! You will have the most amazing once in a lifetime experience, as you get up close and personal with these notorious creatures!
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Shaolin Martial Arts Academy China
The Shaolin Kung Fu Academy offers one of the best environments around the globe to be trained in this historic martial art. You will study directly from some of the best Shaolin Masters in China.
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We hope this newsletter has inspired you to start planning your own adventure! If any of our Special Offers interest you or you would like any more information about our exciting programmes, please contact us.
Kind regards,
The Gap Year for Grown Ups Team
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 Back to Gap Year For Grown Ups Newsletters
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Featured Traveller
Janet Horsley had an incredible time on her tailor-made gap year, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, read her story here.
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