This blog has been sitting around now for a few years and I failed to post more than 3 times. I have noticed that it is still getting hits, presumably from graduates and those being hit by even higher university fees. To bring some closure to this blog, I'll write about what I did on my gap year back in 2008/9 and how I achieved the goal of spending no money on it. Almost.
June 2008 — Festivals
The very first thing I did after leaving college was to sign up for stewarding at Glastonbury Festival. There are always a few firms at these festivals covering different aspects of stewarding and security. Oxfam are a big player at Glastonbury with many voluntary places. There were always bright orange Oxfam tabbards at the checkpoints and the wearers were good company. Personally, I worked with Stuart Leisure Security, which pays its stewards.
The major advantage to stewarding is that one can freely roam the festival when off-duty. Sure, my sister and I spent 8 hours overnight outside the perimeter wall watching for invaders, but we were aptly recompensed by watching The Wombats, Elbow and a bunch of others without spending a small fortune on tickets.
We had to pay our own transport costs, for which I purchased a Railcard. The cost of the card was offset by the saving on ticket fares, so these are definitely a good buy.
I also went with SLS to Glastonbury spin-off Glade Festival. This was a toned-down operation compared to Glastonbury, which gave me more opportunity to chat with the staff and to do more security-oriented things. In the spirit of money-saving, I cycled from Glade Festival in Aldermaston to WOMAD in Malmesbury. The SLS staff were kind enough to carry my tent and a few other, heavy bits and bobs in the van and take it to the festival.
Stewarding at festivals is a lot of fun, helping people is rewarding and they look good on your CV. These were definitely a good idea. I even had some money in my pocket after train fares.
July – October 2008 — Work, work, work
I can't remember the exact ordering of this period, but I do remember that I was "signing on" for a few weeks. No damage to my pride, here: I know I'll pay it back in taxes. I probably already have.
I had a few jobs during this period: I was working at Subway during the day and at Pure in the Printworks in Manchester during the night. Making sandwiches and collecting glasses and puke. Nice.
A-level results day came by and I had performed reasonably well. On this day I do remember my mum pointing out an advert in the local newspaper after I'd told her my results. This advert was to lead to the next part of my gap year.
Winter 2008 — Winter Sports
I applied to and interviewed for Esprit Ski holidays as a Snow Ranger. That's Play Leader by another name.
This job took me off to the Austrian Alps to work on the ski resorts, there. I had on this job the most fun I have ever had whilst working (and playing). I was looking after children at work and skiing and snowboarding in my free time. Children + snow = fun.
The remuneration is excellent: accommodation, transport from HQ, equipment hire and a season lift pass. There's also a fortnightly wage.
I was on a great resort, the snow was great all season, the team was friendly and the guests were, thankfully, agreeable. This was definitely a good choice. Every season you go back, you get more in your pay-packet, too. I only did the one season — uni can't wait forever.
Summer 2009 — Sun, Sea and Sand
Soon after returning to Blighty from Austria, I took off to the Isle of Cyprus with my sister in the hope of finding work when we got there. Cyprus then wasn't in the financial dire straits in which it current finds itself. The timing of our gap year wasn't so peachy, though. That summer was the first of the global crash era. People weren't going on holidays abroad so much so the work was very thin on the ground.
All negativity aside, I did still have a really good time there, living off the money which I had saved up all year. We had an apartment with an enormous balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, went to the beach everyday and partied in copious amounts.
This part of the gap year wasn't exactly free, but I had saved enough to see me through it.
Reflection
Now that I am 24 years old and still at university, I look back upon my gap year and am always glad that I did it. Sure, I could have gone to university, have graduated by now and be earning real money. I wouldn't have the memories and experiences that I have, though. I would still have never been to a ski resort, nor would I be able to ski and snowboard. My CV would be much more bare than it is.
A year well spent and a decision I'd recommend everyone to consider.
