Some final gap year thoughts...

Here at the Lattitude office we love to hear feedback from our volunteers, especially when they are having an awesome gap year. Today we recieved a wonderful letter from Kat,who is nearly finished her placement in Hamilton, New Zealand. We wanted to share some of the things she said with you all...

Dear Sharyn, Katie, Michelle and Laura,
I Just wanted to drop you all a quick note as my placement is
coming to an end...
As I’m writing this it is less than 3 weeks until I return to the UK, so I am crazy-busy organising mode… I did want to take a last opportunity to thanks you all for this year though, it’s been the most incredible experience and I’ve had the most amazing time ever!

Working at Waikato Diocesan School has been
so brilliant; I can’t thank you enough for getting me this placement. From day on everybody went out of their way to make me feel a proper member of the school
community. They’ve given me so many opportunities and allowed me to get involved with so much, especially in the drama department (between directing, lighting
and even acting in the performances, I don’t think I could have done much more!) and now that I am heading home and looking for a job in theatre I’ve acquired so many valuable skills which will benefit me hugely in the future.

I’ve also met some amazing people at Dio, and between the school staff, the boarding staff and the girls themselves, there’s always someone to talk to or
laugh with, and I really do feel like I have made some friends for life.

Throughout the year there have always been people around to support me through the bad times and to enjoy the good ones with me. Even a smile and a wave form a year nine pupil can brighten up a dull day. It’s going to be incredibly hard for me to leave Dio, and I know I’m going to miss it so much, but I wouldn’t change a thing about this year and I can’t imagine enjoying any placement more.

I’ve also had some incredible experiences outside of working, and my travels around New Zealand and further afield have provided me with memories that I will cherish forever. Driving the whole of the South Island with 14 other volunteers was so much fun (even if it did cost us 2 cars) and our weekend trips away have been amazing. I never imagine that I could be able to see or do so much in a year and that there would be so many places to visit!

I’ve also been to Tonga and Australia since I’ve been over here. Two very different experiences but both
amazing, and a brilliant opportunity to see a bit more of this part of the world. Life in Tonga is so different to anything I have ever experienced before, and I did so much in my 2 weeks in Australia, I’m going home a fully fledged traveler!

I decided when I came to New Zealand that I was going to adopt the attitude of “try everything once” but I had no idea of the things I’d end up doing – I’m heading home having been skydiving, bungee jumping,abseiling, black and white water rafting, sandboarding, mountain climbing, scuba diving, and walking around the outside of the Sky tower in Auckland! I’d always thought of
myself as a bit of a daredevil but this year has seen me doing things I never imagined I would do, and it’s been incredible; a few white-knuckle moments but its been awesome having the chance to do so much and I’ve loved every minute of it!

It certainly hasn’t all been smooth sailing, and plenty of things have gone wrong this year; loosing 2 cars on our south island trip was a bit of a setback, 12 weeks on crutches put a bit of a dampener on my adventures, and of course there have been days when I’ve just wanted to pack my bags and go home. But I’m so happy I stuck it out; for every bad day there have been so many happy memories and amazing experiences, and I know I will remember this year forever.

So as I prepare to leave the land of the long white cloud, I wanted to thank all of you for making this year possible. You’ve all been amazing and without your organisation, support and friendship I think this year would have been very different. It’s been fantastic to meet you all and to get to know you this year, I’ll miss you a lot. Thanks again for an incredible year, all the
best for the future, and keep in touch!

Love and
Hugs
Kat

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Recepción a México!

(Or. Welcome to Mexico!)

Mexico is the most populated Spanish speaking country in the world, home to over 100 million people and is an ever popular tourist destination, but what goes on behind the scenes?

In February 2010 we are excited to be able to send our first group of Lattitude New Zealand volunteers over to mexico for 6 month gap year placements. Internationally, Lattitude Global Volunteering has been sending young people to participate in community and education projects in Mexico for many years, however, 2010 will be a first for the New Zealand office.

We are excited to be able to offer an ever-increasing list of destiantions to young New Zealanders wanting to get more out of their gap years, and we hope to be able to continue to expand our overseas programmes.

Click here to watch Lattitude on TV3

Back in August Sharyn got the chance to appear on 'Sunrise' a national morning television show to talk about volunteering with Lattitude.

The last few weeks have been busy for us in the office. Offers for UK and other placements are coming in thick and fast and we are currently in the process of putting together and sending out briefing packs.

Now is also the time of year we start getting a lot of enquiries about Visa's. We have tried to put as much information into the briefing packs as possible, but you are always welcome to ring the office if you have questions.

A Busy Week...

Over the weekend Sharyn headed to Christchurch to meet four more incoming volunteers who are going to be spending their placements here working at YMCA Outdoor education camps, the first time we have had these kinds of placements in New Zealand! Tom and Hannes are off to Camp Kaitoke near Wellington, whilst Lasse and Christian are heading to Camp Wainui in Akaroa.
Here are the boys just after their arrival:

As well as lots of information, the boys got a chance to see some of the sights of the city, and meet up with Ann-Kathrin who is at a school in Christchurch and arrived with the other volunteers at the end of August. There were tram rides, visits to the beach, and a gondola ride, they also went punting on the river.

Yesterday was another busy day, and a great chance to catch up with some of the volunteers in the Manawatu region. The Lattitude staff, including our new CEO Paul, eight current volunteers and one prospective volunteer went over to Hato Paora College to take part in a forum about volunteering and gap years.

We were given a tremendous welcome by the boys, including a tradtional Maori welcome, a phowiri, as well as a whole school Haka which was breathtaking! After our welcome the visitors and four of the Hato Paora students, including our scholarship candidate Karetai, who are going overseas next year talked to Paul about why they chose Lattitude and what they hope to gain from their gap year.

In true Kiwi fashion we then all went back to Sharyn's house for a barbeque.

All in all it's been a pretty hectic week! We're back in the office now and working hard to get placement offers out to those people who are waiting on them.

Kia Ora Tatou! (Hello Everyone!)

Well it has been a busy few days here at Lattitude HQ. Over the weekend we welcomed 49 new volunteers into New Zealand, and in the coming weeks we will have several more new arrivals.
Depsite the jet lag, everyone managed to keep to a hectic and enjoyable schedule. On Friday we were lucky enough to attend a Powhiri, a traditional Maori welcome ceremony for visitors, which was held at Wesley College outside of Auckland. Our volunteers had their singing voices with them as they made a valiant attempt at a Waiata (song) as part of the ceremony. After lunch we all go to know each other better with some games and exercises. Here are the volunteers getting together in groups according to their locations around the country:




Most of our volunteers also made a visit to the Sky Tower that afternoon, send us your pictures guys!

On Saturday we had a full day of orientation and it was a good chance to find out more about New Zealand, life as a Lattitude Volunteer, and what to expect. Special thanks go to Kat and Sara for the insights into volunteer life, and to Ra and Jen for their spirited and entertaining introduction to Maori culture (the video may shortly follow for those of you who are interested!). We'd also like to thank Coleen and Barbara for all their help and support. After a meal out on Saturday night it was time for everyone to head their seperate ways on Sunday morning. We hope all the volunteers are now settling in well, and we look forward to recieving your news and photos.

New Arrivals

In less than 48 hours we will be welcoming 50 new Lattitude Volunteers arriving into New Zealand.
We have a jam-packed weekend lined up for them, including some sight-seeing around Auckland before they all head off to their placements to start their Gap year adventures!

Things are hotting up in relation to our outgoing NZ Lattitiude volunteers for 2010. The offers from overseas are starting to filter in and we are sending out placement letters to our volunteers here. If you are reading this and you haven't yet got a letter please don't worry, we're doing all we can to make sure that as soon as we know something, you will too!

If you're still not sure what you want to do next year we do have placements available for 2010, give us a call on 06 350 5920 and we'l see what we can do.

In other news, I'm thrilled that England won the Ashes, and will try not rub it in too much when speaking to the Aussie Lattitude office. ;o)