HOX POPS - Shoreditch Favourites

This week’s features have been rooted in nostalgia, with our back to school subject lessons and reminiscence of childhood memories. With the end of the summer holidays upon us, we decided to ask people on the streets of Shoreditch about their best holiday memory, their dream destination and their favourite animal. From river rafting to beach romancing, Iceland to Mexico and red pandas to camels; we heard it all. Here’s what we found out:

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Back to School with Frontier: Lesson Three

Lesson number three today and it's time for Science class. We got our resident research experts to give you the lowdown on some of the Amazon's most interesting mammals.

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Frontier Style: Snow+Rock Special

If you’re headed out on a project with Frontier choosing the right footwear is a great way to make sure you have an amazing and comfortable time, also socks…according to our guys in Costa Rica, socks in abundance. But this style article isn’t about socks, it’s about shoes.

Our friends at Snow+Rock have given us some tips on some footwear that are guaranteed to give you the comfort and protection you’re going to need on your project.

Ladies first: The Venice

From the beach scene to mountain streams, the Venice sport sandal from KEEN adapts to your surroundings. Providing exceptional traction on mixed terrain, this performance sandal includes an open strapping system for outstanding ventilation. A streamlined, grippy outsole gives you a lighter ride from surf contest to trailhead.

And for the guys: The Newport H2

Order up some adventure with a side of water in the Newport H2 from KEEN. Ready for adverse conditions, the razor sipped outsole and 3mm lugs provide excellent traction. The washable polyester webbing upper features the odor-reducing Aegis Microbe Shield®. KEEN patented toe protection lets you follow any path, whether to rivers or trails.

Both of these shoes are antibacterial and hydrophobic and have handy open sections making them perfect for hot and humid climates. Going for a hike? Both contain moulded footbeds for maximum comfort and protection for your toes.

Volunteer Interview - Rebecca Taylor - Central America Ethical Adventure Trail

After interviewing the lovely Dorothy Conlon, an author and Frontier volunteer, we thought it would be interesting to read what some of our volunteers are looking forward to, prior to their trips abroad across various Frontier project destinations. We also have some quick-fire questions, we’re going to tally them up and see what our volunteers are all about.

Frontier: You have signed up for our Central America Ethical Trail Project – what appeals to you about this particular project?

Rebecca: I like the fact that I get to go to a multitude of areas that mostly appeals to me. Also because I am going on my own, I wanted to go with a company so that I could travel with like-minded people.

Frontier: What do you hope to achieve in your time abroad?

Rebecca: I hope to learn about Central America’s diverse culture, and how things are done differently abroad. I also want to gain teaching skills and experience, and make friends. I am planning to stay with a home-stay family, and I have often heard how lovely they are there, so I am looking forward to experiencing life from their perspective.

Frontier: Have you done much travelling up to now?

Rebecca: I have always been quite lucky with regards to travelling abroad, although that mainly consisted in travelling along the west coast of France with my mum and dad, nothing at all like what I am about to embark on with Frontier.

Frontier: Apart from the various destinations you will visit in Central America, is there one country that you would like to visit?

Rebecca: Hmm … I want to go everywhere to be honest! I guess if I had to choose, I suppose I would be interested in going to Australia, for the sunshine and beaches and of course for its amazing wildlife.  

Frontier: We like to give all our future volunteers some advice on what to pack on a gap year trip.  What one thing do you always take on your travels that you wouldn’t leave home without?

Rebecca: I always take sun cream, and I usually take sunglasses.

Frontier: What music are you planning to listen to?

Rebecca: I am actually in the process of downloading some music; I have just gotten a new Ipod! I would probably listen to Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, Goo Goo Dolls, I might listen to some of the Top 40 hits too.

Frontier: What’s your favourite holiday memory?

Rebecca: Oh god there’s a lot to choose from. It’s probably the time when I was 10 years old and I was staying in a villa in Portugal and we had this massive water fight, the biggest you could imagine. It was with my dad, my brother and his girlfriend and there were four hose pipes around the villa, and we were just having this ridiculous water fight whilst my mum was trying to cook dinner in the kitchen, of course she was very much distracted by the commotion happening outside. The end of the water fight saw the whole place covered in water, and it has always been a brilliant memory for me.

1.    Beach or forest? Beach

2.    Tigers or sharks? Tigers

3.    Kanye West or Jay Z? Kanye West

4.    Beyonce or Rihanna? Beyonce

5.    Skins or Misfits? Skins

6.    Club or Gig? Gig

7.    Mac or PC? PC