Sure there's the real free running,
the kind where you bounce off buildings. But
we at UJ are afraid of sweatpants. And heights.
Which is why our guide to Free Running is
about setting yourself free by taking an exciting
adult gapyear. Who said it was too late? Never
say never. Now is the time to find time for
you (again). This is our kind of Free Running.
Ever wake up and feel like if you have to face the tube again you might commit? Ever looked at your ageing, stress-ridden, hasn't-seen-the-light-of-day face and think 'when did this happen to me'?
Us too. Which is why much time is spent at UJ HQ thinking about how we need to up sticks (in turns of course), and do something different. For awhile, at least.
Maybe we'll run a vineyard, maybe we'll spend a year tangoing, or maybe we'll even get on the Branjelina wagon and actually do something for our fellow man. If you too are on our tip, the below are some get-outta-town ideas. Adult gap years, we're all about them.
Country Bumpkin - Working on a Farm, or Learning to Make Cheese
Weekend road-trips not enough time spent in the open air? Then ditch the suits, dig out the Hunters, and head for the countryside. Want to make yourself useful in the process? How about working on a farm, or learning to make cheese?
Working on a farm, first steps:
To find a job on a farm visit, farm-force.co.uk,
fwi.co.uk
and concordiafarms.org
for farm jobs. Failing that, try to get in touch
with Lady B - somehow, we're thinking Daylesford would
be a sweet start. Now there's a business that got it right.
Cheese Please
More into cheese than dungarees, then how about learning to make your own? Random Christmas presents for neighbours, sorted.
AB Cheesemaking Cost: Concordia charge pastoral
charge £30.55 and £14 insurance. Cheese
making costs £411.25
What's included: Concordia
provide accommodation but this must be paid for
out of your weekly wage. AB Cheesemaking provide
all equipment and ingredients, accommodation is
not included. A certificate showing completion of
the course will be awarded at the end of the course.
Around the world
Up for a real adventure, not just a short break out, then it's time to go round the world. Sure there's first class, but why not crew a yacht, or let out the inner Harley in you, and take a motorcycle trip across the globe.
First Steps: Yachting - Register your
details online with crewseekers.net
who will then put you in touch with yacht owners who are
looking for crew from deckhands to captain appointments.
Yachting-Crew negotiate direct with the owners for the
best arrangements to suit both.
Cost: membership with crew
seekers costs £60 for six months/ £85 for
12 months.
Motorcycles
Book your round the world motorcycle trip at kuduexpeditions.com.
Kudu provide tents, cooking facilities, emergency medical
equipment and GPS systems.
Cost: Riding your own
motorcycle costs £15,750. Riding a kudu motorcycle
costs £22,750.
Do-Gooder - Give Something Back
You donate two pounds a month to the RSPCA,
but your charity work has never gone much further, but
you'd like it to. If this is you, pick a cause or a country,
and figure out what you can do to help. Where to start?
Let the pros help.
Gapyearforgrownups.co.uk has an extensive list of projects and programmes working in conservation, wildlife or with locals, available in eight countries. Projects include The Lion breeding conservation project, Kenya's orphanage and community outreach programme and Lake Malawi Teaching Volunteers You can order a brochure, book online or over the phone.
Cost: It depends on what
you want to do, where you want to go, and how long
you plan on going for, but most projects start at
around £1000 for four weeks and up to £2,500
for 12 weeks. A £195 deposit is required and
then the balance is due ten weeks before departure.
All voluntary work includes accommodation,
transfers, meals and project support or a donation to the
project. Flights, visas and travel insurance are not included
in the price and will have to be organised independently.
The nose knows
Think you want to be a sommelier/wine buyer/seriously-smart-about
wine, but know very little about it? Then get-ye-self to
a vineyard; immediately. A year spent
here, and we think you'll be debating with Oz.
First Steps: Check out andeswines.com
and anpe.fr
who will put you in touch with vineyards.
Or visit wineacademyroma.com
for wine courses. Or DIY and drive
to Burgundy/Bordeaux (or whatever your region of
choice is) and see who needs help. Extra hands seem
to be always needed around grape picking season.
Cost:Andes wines charge
US$ 500 per month tosend your
CV and introduction letter to wineries in Chile,
Argentina and Uruguay.
The Wine
Academy in Rome costs €350.00 for seven
lessons.
What's included:Andes
Wines will only put you in touch with wineries
the rest is up to you. The course price includes
the tasted wines, expenses and the use of the glasses.
Accommodation is not included.
K-Swiss Go Over-Under-Through
The K-Swiss Ariake is the first shoe specifically designed for
freerunning. Should you be a freerunner already, or interested
in learning more, check out the K-Swiss microsite featuring
illustrated city maps highlighting freerunning hotspots. www.overunderthrough.co.uk
And should you think yourself pretty pro, upload photos of yourself
freerunning, and enter to win an all-expensespaid training trip
to Lisses near Paris, the birthplace of freerunning. Sweet.
