MIND THE GAP(PER'S)
Today is my 140th day living and working in the UK as a Gap student. I can't quite believe it has been that long already. Before i left Australia a year seemed like lifetime but, now i am here, I wish it would slow down. There are too many places to go and not enough time to see everything.
So, what's life as a gapper like? Great is the short answer. I work and live in an English boarding school about half an hour drive north of Oxford. I spend most of my days with 7 and 8 year olds doing everything from assisting coach sport teams and teach them timetables to crazy things like making shelters and sleeping in the woods with the boarders. In a few weeks I'm off to Derbyshire for a week long Outdoor Ed camp and in September I'm going on a school trip to Spain. Basically, its easy work and a lot of fun. Sometimes I can hardly believe I get paid to muck around with kids all day.
But the best part of the job? I get the school holidays off to travel Europe! So far, I have visited five countries and still counting. I have the two months of summer holidays starting in July- so bring on contiki tour and the Greek Islands!
SAME LANGUAGE, DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Having now spent almost five months living and working with British people I have come across a number of variants between Australian english and British english. I amuse the students and staff to no end when a come out with australian words such as 'daggy', ‘stoked’ and 'bogan' and in turn have picked up a number of english words such as 'chav' and 'minger' (both insults).
And then there are the words that to me mean one thing, but to everyone here mean something quite different. For example, to the British Pants=Trousers and Underwear=Pants. This, along with the usual Thongs/Flip-Flops issue, has caused all sorts of problems especially when dressing for sport and the kids think im telling them they need to change their undies.
Then there are those things that just have completely different names. For example:
Doona = Duvet
Sports Uniform = Match Kit
Dessert = Pudding
Soccer = Football
Gum Boots = Wellingtons or Wellies
Other British expressions:
"That's well good." = 'That's great."
"He's so fit." = ‘He’s hot."
“The sticks” = “The middle of nowhere.”
“Give the ball a bit of wellie.” = “Throw the ball harder.”
“Alright” = “Hello” *this is a weird one- no answer is required to what is really a question, it’s taken just as a greeting.
So there are my observations on the English language and a bit of an idea of what being a gapper is like. And finally, would I recommend a Gap year to others?
Yes, definitely! After 13 years of school, you deserve a break and you will love it- i promise! I may not even be half way through my year but I don’t even like the thought of it ending. If you have the opportunity- take it! You will never have so much independence with so few responsibilities.
"The world is a book and those who do not travel, read only a page."
Kate xo
Today is my 140th day living and working in the UK as a Gap student. I can't quite believe it has been that long already. Before i left Australia a year seemed like lifetime but, now i am here, I wish it would slow down. There are too many places to go and not enough time to see everything.
So, what's life as a gapper like? Great is the short answer. I work and live in an English boarding school about half an hour drive north of Oxford. I spend most of my days with 7 and 8 year olds doing everything from assisting coach sport teams and teach them timetables to crazy things like making shelters and sleeping in the woods with the boarders. In a few weeks I'm off to Derbyshire for a week long Outdoor Ed camp and in September I'm going on a school trip to Spain. Basically, its easy work and a lot of fun. Sometimes I can hardly believe I get paid to muck around with kids all day.
But the best part of the job? I get the school holidays off to travel Europe! So far, I have visited five countries and still counting. I have the two months of summer holidays starting in July- so bring on contiki tour and the Greek Islands!
SAME LANGUAGE, DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Having now spent almost five months living and working with British people I have come across a number of variants between Australian english and British english. I amuse the students and staff to no end when a come out with australian words such as 'daggy', ‘stoked’ and 'bogan' and in turn have picked up a number of english words such as 'chav' and 'minger' (both insults).
And then there are the words that to me mean one thing, but to everyone here mean something quite different. For example, to the British Pants=Trousers and Underwear=Pants. This, along with the usual Thongs/Flip-Flops issue, has caused all sorts of problems especially when dressing for sport and the kids think im telling them they need to change their undies.
Then there are those things that just have completely different names. For example:
Doona = Duvet
Sports Uniform = Match Kit
Dessert = Pudding
Soccer = Football
Gum Boots = Wellingtons or Wellies
Other British expressions:
"That's well good." = 'That's great."
"He's so fit." = ‘He’s hot."
“The sticks” = “The middle of nowhere.”
“Give the ball a bit of wellie.” = “Throw the ball harder.”
“Alright” = “Hello” *this is a weird one- no answer is required to what is really a question, it’s taken just as a greeting.
So there are my observations on the English language and a bit of an idea of what being a gapper is like. And finally, would I recommend a Gap year to others?
Yes, definitely! After 13 years of school, you deserve a break and you will love it- i promise! I may not even be half way through my year but I don’t even like the thought of it ending. If you have the opportunity- take it! You will never have so much independence with so few responsibilities.
"The world is a book and those who do not travel, read only a page."
Kate xo
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