Gap Year Adventures - OriginalSteps.com

Details: Written by OriginalSteps; Category: Gap Year Adventures; Published: 12 August 2015; Last Updated: 21 March 2016

British national Liam Trinder speaks about his Rugby Gap Year adventure that took him from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern. Along with his global rugby ambitions!

My Rugby Gap Year - the Liam Trinder adventure
My Rugby Gap Year - the Liam Trinder adventure

Tell us about your rugby career and ambitions? I had been playing for my local club Henley Hawks since I the age of seven. I was playing for the Senior 2nd team before I arrived at Stellenbosch Rugby Academy. Previously I have played for my county (provisional) team for two years from ages of 14 to 16.

So is your focus entirely about rugby - eat, drink, sleep and live rugby or have you found a balance? Balanced! When I’m not playing rugby, I like to stay relaxed as much as possible and chill with my friends.

Details: Written by OriginalSteps; Category: Gap Year Adventures; Published: 05 May 2015; Last Updated: 21 March 2016

Q&A with Alie Brand of the Stellenbosch Rugby Academy (SRA) about the benefits of a Rugby Gap Year!

Rugby Gap Year with Stellenbosch Rugby Academy - Image source: Stellenbosch Rugby Academy

Rugby Gap Year with Stellenbosch Rugby Academy - Image source: Stellenbosch Rugby Academy

How and why did Stellenbosch Rugby Academy establish its Gap Year program?

It was initially started for school leavers who want to focus on their rugby/sport for a year, or are uncertain and seek guidance about their choice of career or field of study, or want to study the following year. SRA follows SARU's (South African Rugby Union) High Performance requirements and guidelines for national rugby academies - including quality players / programs, as well as a life after rugby. We go even further, and have a holistic approach which means we take players on potential (not just talent) and help to develop students. The focus is not only on rugby, but rather on using rugby as a vehicle to help develop balanced, well-rounded young individuals who reach their full potential in life.

Details: Written by OriginalSteps; Category: Gap Year Adventures; Published: 11 August 2014; Last Updated: 03 October 2016

The Kaltenberger Ritterturnier Image source and credit: BreakingStereotypes.org

The Kaltenberger Ritterturnier Image source and credit: BreakingStereotypes.org
From the Breaking Stereotypes team for FirstStep.me

In 2001 A Knights Tale was released starring the now late Heath Ledger...
It was full of pomp and merged modern day pop culture with medieval ruggedness. It kicked off with “We will rock you” by Queen and genuinely entertained. Audiences discovered a notion that knights equated to an early version of high profile rock ‘n roll sport stars type celeb A-list people! From chivalrous antics to action packed jousting and sword fighting, being a knight quite simply Rocked!

So when I was given the chance to live the adventure first hand – I jumped at it. Welcome to the modern adventures of Knights, Wizards, Witches, Kings, Queens and Barbarian Hordes!

Welcome to the Kaltenberger Ritterturnier…

In the case of a Knights Tale which was set amongst the landscapes of England, my adventure however found me in a different place altogether, Bavaria. More specifically in Kaltenberg, which is a charming drive from the city of Munich and for one month a year, is the home to a journey back in time.

Read more: Let’s go fight some knights!

Details: Written by OriginalSteps; Category: Gap Year Adventures; Published: 17 December 2014; Last Updated: 21 March 2016

The best of 2014 with On African Soil - *Images courtesy of On African Soil

The best of 2014 with On African Soil - *Images courtesy of On African Soil

A Gap Year, Year Out, Year Abroad, Sabbatical or Travel Adventure done with a purpose - to help protect the environment.
On African Soil recaps the best of 2014 with seven purposeful conservation features!

The focus of the Endangered Species Centre programme is on the cheetah and during the course participants are involved with the everyday care of the cheetahs.

The Primate Sanctuary’s mission is to prevent the extinction of chimpanzees through conservation, research and education.

The Living with Lions property has been split into two areas, the carnivore area and one area for the herbivores such as zebra, giraffe, and various plains antelope and other grass-eating animals. These indigenous animals roam around the area as freely as possible in their natural environment.

Details: Written by OriginalSteps; Category: Gap Year Adventures; Published: 08 August 2014; Last Updated: 21 March 2016

LEGOLAND® Deutschland

LEGOLAND® Deutschland

Growing up with LEGO® I felt that anything imaginable was buildable. Then again I grew up in the eighties and MacGyver was the pocketknife hero of the decade! So if he could save the day with a Swiss Army knife, as a child, I thought I could create my dreams one LEGO brick at a time.