![It Could Only Happen To Me - An unusual gift in China](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/118-470x140.jpg)
It’s Friday and time for another edition of It Could Only Happen To Me – the weekly series where I feature those travel mishaps which…
![Volunteering – To pay or not to pay?](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2-240x140.jpg)
Over the years I’ve done a number of voluntary placements in different countries around the world. Some have been organised in advance, such as working…
![How should I set a budget for my trip?](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ems-photos-074-470x140.jpg)
Setting a budget for my trip It’s all very well getting super-organised about your saving but how should you go about setting a budget for…
![It Could Only Happen To Me - Becoming a local celebrity in China](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/china-403x140.jpg)
As a journalist I’m used to being the one asking the questions and staying out of the limelight. So it came as a bit of…
![#25 Do some voluntary work](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/dscf2698-470x140.jpg)
After a month travelling around China I decided to spend my last three weeks volunteering. It felt like a nice way to end my trip…
![A Birthday Wish](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/dscf2968-470x140.jpg)
The one thing I think most travellers would agree on is that visiting different countries makes you appreciate the life you have. Whenever I travel…
![#2 30b430 - Teach some English](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/cimg4586-470x140.jpg)
When I was putting together my #30b430 list, one of the things which was really easy to add to it was some voluntary work. In the…