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Friends & family |
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If the gap year is for the person
doing it, why is there a section on this website devoted to ‘friends and
families’? Surely we should keep out of it?
It depends on your relationship
with the gapper, but gapadvice.org believes that it is quite natural to want to
share and support your friend/family member.
The issue is how, not whether, to support. So without interfering and
dominating, keep these points in mind:
Before
- Don’t make the arrangements
yourself.
- Show an interest, but don’t
demand information.
- Look at the rest of this website,
as well as www.gogapyear.com
- If you have any concerns, voice
them gently eg would you like me to have a copy of the insurance policy in case
you need to claim when abroad (means – are you insured?!)
During
- Make sure you know the emergency
procedures for the company which has organised the placement
- Have a list of all contacts:
- The company in the UK
- Fellow travellers and their home
contact
- Placement abroad
- Embassy abroad
- Insurance company
- Self-made arrangements (eg
backpacking) will need more flexible contact methods
- Have a means of sending money, if
required
- Keep in touch, but without being
overwhelming (eg have a hotmail account address, but don’t expect regular
emails)
Visiting
- Only visit if asked
- Never early on
- Make sure the host is in
agreement
- Bear in mind the effect on other
gappers
- Don’t lavish money on
inappropriate, expensive gifts, hotels etc
- Don’t interfere
After
- Returning from a gap experience
can be difficult sometimes, for all concerned
- Listen
- Don’t expect things to be as they
were prior to departure
- Look out for signs which might
indicate some sort of problem and seek advice if necessary
Help
If in doubt email:
info@gapadvice.org
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