Jolyon Orchard-Lisle: travelled and 'played' in Costa Rica
"I headed out to Costa Rica intending to do the typical backpacker 'thing' of turtle beaches, scuba diving, rainforest zip-lines, volcanic springs, Caribbean surfing and all-round chilling out... But how quickly my experience changed when I decided to catch some afternoon sun at a park in the capital city, San Jose! Little did I know I'd be asked to join in a game of football with the shanty town children! With no understanding of Spanish and very limited footballing skills, I rose to the challenge, took on the Ticos and had my best experience by far!

Playing 'shanty town' football with the local children made me realise how much fun you could have (and what close friendships you could make) with people from a completely different culture, even though I didn't speak a word of their language! I was also surprised at how skilful so many of the boys and girls were, despite most of them only having a pair of tatty old school shoes to play in! Not only was it a great laugh, it was very eye-opening.

Costa Rica can be summed up in one word - breathtaking! The diversity of its stunning wildlife and awesome landscapes, combined with the warmth of the friendly locals, has made it a country that I'll never forget... and one I will always want to return to. As for playing sports overseas, I loved it so much that I am now spending the summer in South Africa with Gap Sports Abroad, playing and coaching sports to township children!"

Further Information
Gap Sports Abroad Ltd
P.O. Box 1027, High Wycombe, HP13 7ZF
Tel: +44 (0)870 837 9797
Fax: +44 (0)149 476 9090
www.gapsportsabroad.co.uk