Back to reality

Today is my last day in Australia. I can't believe this year is already gone, it all happened so fast! I am really glad I decided to take these past twelve months to enrich my culture and grow as a person. It is so nice to wake up with a smile every day, knowing that you are going to save lives and do what you like. I especially appreciated this feeling because I did not know which career I was going to follow, and now I am definitely sure I want to do something to help, to help people, to help animals, to help nature. It’s a start.

During my stay in Australia, I learned a lot about the planet’s situation, the global warming, how we humans are destroying the environment and what we can do to help.

Leaving the volunteering part apart, I also got to know another culture. More than one actually, because it is different to live in a tiny town like Yackandandah than in a rather big and touristic one like Cairns. I got to admire breathtaking sights, to get stunned by the beautiful forests and parks and to know a whole new continent.

It was a life-changing experience and I am so happy that I had the chance to have it. I know that now I am a bigger person, I would not trade this past year for nothing.

And now, all what’s left to do is to pack and say goodbye to this amazing country. Goodbye Australia, I will never forget you.

Yackandandah :)

I arrived to Australia (Sydney) in the early morning, and took a train to Yackandandah. The very first thought I had when the train got out of the station was “Wow, there’s green everywhere!” I was really amazed by the large extensions of field.

Even though it was a really long trip, I wasn't tired at all. I was really excited to meet my new partners and the rescue center, and also to visit the fantastic places I had been talked about. 

So, I arrived to the station and a person from the organization I am volunteering for was waiting for me. Her name was Sheila is she is really nice. She took me to the place where I will be living for the next months: a lovely cabin surrounded by field and trees, which I will be sharing with a girl named Lucía who is supposed to arrive tomorrow. Then, Sheila and I went to the rescue center and walked around the facilities so I could get familiarized with the place and meet the other volunteers. Although the facilities were in the middle of the woods, they were really well taken care of, clean, comfortable…

After seeing everything I had to, I was given time get installed and get to know Yackandandah. I had lunch in a little restaurant in the tiny town. I expected it to be bigger, but it turns out that there are no more than 700 habitants, of course it is not a problem at all, it just shocked me.

Later, I had a tour in a gold mine, that Sheila had recommended me to take, and I really appreciated because I got to learn more about the town’s history.

By the time the tour ended, I was really exhausted, so I came back to the cabin and here I am, telling you about my first day in Australia.

My gap year

Hi! My name is Pilar and I decided to create this blog to keep track of my gap year.
I am going to Australia for a year to help and protect animals in need. 
During the first four months, I am going to a wildlife rescue center located in Yackandandah, in the state of Victoria. Then, I am going to travel to Cairns, in Queensland, to volunteer in great barrier turtle conservation, and finally I am going to Gold Coast, also in Queensland, to assist in a bat rehabilitation center. The activities in each center are mostly similar. I will do things such as feeding the animals, cleaning the enclosures, excercising the animals, respond to rescue calls...
I think it is going to be great because I love animals and I really think humans should show more respect for their habitats, and during my volunteer experience, one of my tasks is promoting this message.