On the completion of my time at Lakeside YMCA, where I instructed outdoor ed, a couple of the other Gappers and myself headed off to to backpack it (rough!) through Europe.  2 Aussies and 2 kiwis is not such a great mixture.  Fortunatly, we decided to lay aside our differences on the subject of who was actually responsible for the lamington and which country could lay claim to Crowded House and Russell Crowe, and we all got along famously!

Read more... (this will be up shortly)

March to September 2002

During most of 2002, the year after I completed my grade 12 studies, I headed over to England as a Voluntary Outdoor Education Instructor.  My placement was organised through GAP Australia - a not-for-profit organisation who send hundreds of Australian 'Gappers' overseas each year.  Placements can vary from TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) through to working in schools and at outdoor adventure camps.  Australians are placed all over the UK (as some of my friends were), throughout Europe and also Asia.  Similar organisations can be found all over the world.  A great website to see what sort of things you can do on a GAP year is at http://www.yearoutgroup.org/

 

Remember:

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO DO A GAP YEAR!

 

I spent my 6 month placement at Lakeside YMCA in Cumbria teaching rock climbing, kayaking, fell walking, aerial runway and various other activities that kids (and, err, bigger kids!) love!  There were 11 other Gappers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - making for full on warn during the Tri Nations rugby!