Mariam-Hasmig

Romania
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
I want to work in a vegan location as a chief, chef assistant or waitress.
I want to learn to build with cob.
My next destination:
Mauritius
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Description
I am good at welcoming people, therefore I would do such task, preferably in a vegan place. Somewhere away from the buzz of the city, a place where there is Nature and I can hug trees.

I want to learn about other cultures, to connect with people and to learn new things. I want to see beautiful landscapes. I did EuropeanVoluntaryService(from Erasmus+) for one year in Portugal and even it had some tough moments, it was a great experience. There I learned Portuguese. I volunteered in Lebanon with workaway. I traveled to many European countries, either with work, as a tourist or by volunteering.

As a volunteer I did: interpret, translator, cooking for groups (vegan), painting murals, seller in an antiquities shop, planted trees, played with children in a kindergarten, work in a garden, did puppets, did dance and body movement and games classes with children and elderly(sited), I painted, played the piano for the guests, worked in a vegan kitchen, helped with computers, assist during the teaching process for children, sew, did do it yourself projects, welcoming guests, waitress, taking care of the payment, being the chef assistant in a kitchen, taking care of pets, teaching English in a non-formal way, teaching crochet, making accounts on booking and on workaway, working at a website, computer work in accounting and emails, housekeeping, washing dishes, taking photos for a product website, teach piano, being the guide and interpreter for a theater group during their 3 days stay in Romania, at a theater festival, spent time with a youngster, vegan chef.

As a volunteer I have been in Portugal, Armenia, Romania, Lebanon, Sinai(Egypt), Jordan.

I am willing to share my skills and knowledge. I like to travel by staying longer periods and trying to get in contact with the locals.

I am looking for a place from where I can see the sea every day and if I can go to the beach easily that's even better.

I speak native Romanian, great English, intermediate Portuguese, German and Armenian, beginner French, some basic Arabic. I can quite easily understand Spanish and Italian. In most of the places where I go, I pick some words, therefore I know some words in Hungarian, in Arabic, as well as in Bulgarian and Croatian.

My professional background is system engineering. I had the privilege so far to complement the technical with the artistic which made me what I am.
Interests
Animals
Camping
Carpentry
Hiking
Water sports
Self development
Farming
Art & design
Drawing & painting
Events & social
Plant care
Music
Fashion or beauty
Books
Writing
Sustainability
Sailing / Boating
Vegetarian or vegan
Charity work
Astronomy

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Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Armenian: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Romanian: Fluent
More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Some knowledge of:
DIY and building projects
Being an elderly companion
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Art Projects
Able to teach about:
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
More details about your skills
I play the piano as amateur, I am a creative person, I like to make objects like baskets and boxes or anything else from recycled materials, I like to crochet. I like cooking as well. I am a graduate of engineering university, so I am very good at technical skills like math, physics or systems. I can speak quite a large range of languages so I can teach some.
Age
37
What else ...
I like to read, play piano and dance. I like to laugh and move and enjoy Nature. I am into crochet.
I am a bit scared of animals, but if I take time and I can get used to them and not feel that stressed around them any more.
I want to learn about gardening and permaculture.
I want to learn to build houses out of Nature-friendly materials.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  I do not eat animal products.

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10 Jul 2022

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Join our farming & Art space ...)

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(Good )

9 Jul 2022

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Help support environmental ...)

The most good mood people I have ever met! Always smiling and with an open heart! Here I learned kindness, generosity and caring for the collective!

The area is beautiful, you see the sand-stone mountains with all their beautiful colors. From the organization one can see the Dead Sea and also from there there is a wonderful view for sunsets, even… read more though Shams/The Sun goes behind mountains. The area has many hidden gems, though you depend on the locals to take you there by car. There are bicycles available at the organization for those who like to bike!

The work I did here is very rewarding for me: I was welcoming the tourists that would randomly stop there mostly to eat, as well as groups of tourists coming there with the travel agency. I was explaining them about the place, about the aim of the organization which is sustainable tourism and environmental awareness, talking about the scarce of water and the danger for the Dead Sea disappearing and the sink holes formed due to intense exploitation. I would then tell them about the menu, a fixed menu, super tasty, made from local ingredients by the lovely local women, I would get their input and pass it in Arabic to the lovely stuff of the organization. I did also some computer work, like emails and bills, I did some work in the field, like picking onions, planting, non-formal English teaching.

I liked the mixture of being able to mingle with the locals as well as meeting tourists that would stop by. I definitely recommend this place for those who want to learn or practice Arabic, as besides the host very few speak English. This is also a reason for my feedback, since only William can really understand you and he is not always available, being always into projects at the organization as well as his regular job, outside of the organization.

I liked the place besides for the warmhearted people, for the fact that I could clearly see changes all the time, changes for the better and beautiful changes. This gives a sense of liveliness, this made me come back there all these times, as I come and go. In this regard, I very much appreciate the communication and the work William and his teams puts in there. Also, I liked that I could see that they do listen to suggestions. I encourage you to speak your ideas. They are eager to such inputs.

William, the host, is a very welcoming and eager to help individual. I learned a lot from him! Always available to help the tourists there and those who pass by. He is a one-man-show therefore his agenda is full most of the times! I appreciate and admire this mindset. Working every day, no day off. Having these said, you might find some challenges sometimes to catch up with him, speak up though, he is good willing and things can be solved! and even if there are delays, things happen at the right time.

I advise the women who intend to stay there to dress more conservative, like long dresses, long pants, as the local custom is for women to be covered, if they don’t intend to attract many looks. Though I can surely say I never felt in danger being there, even with getting the looks sometimes.
Even for men I would say choose long pants, due to local custom.

The organization is open every day, therefore work is every day from early to sometimes late in the night. You have the freedom to choose when you go, as I was living 40min away by walking from the organization. I didn’t have a fix program and although sometimes I was a bit teased for not being there, I could take free days anytime I wished and need. Also, some of the work being done on the computer, I didn’t necessarily need to go at the organization.

Having all these said, the place is suitable for an independent person or a person with initiative. My work came little by little, "shue-shue", in time, not from the first moment of being there, this being the reason why I choose to leave the first time.

I am very grateful for all the space and trust I’ve been shown, to be there and to do the work there. I have learned some things and discovered some skills of mine, this hosting-welcoming skill. I had the chance to greet many wonderful people, with some of them still staying in touch and I had the chance to work with all these lovely people, the team of the organization with whom, even though I speak little Arabic I could build a bond. And this is thanks to the caring, sharing nature of William that he puts over the whole place.

Thank you, William & the whole lovely loving team!

(Very good )

24 Jun 2022

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Come to the community and be ...)

The place is beautiful! It is on top of a hill, a higher place from where you have a nice view of the green surroundings and the valley. The place is quite isolated, be sure you have the things that you need with you, otherwise Khaled can also take you with him to the city in case needed. So, choose this if you are ok to live away from the busy… read more city live and live in the nature!

I choose to stay in a cob house; there were stone houses available too. Khaled let me choose where I felt like staying. It was a room-house only for me and it felt good. The constructions there are very warm and cozy, as well as comfortable and they are used as a hotel too, so you can choose the place also if you are looking for a short time accommodation, not only for volunteering. In met some tourists too in there who stayed overnight.

I arrived at the end of December when it was rainy and quite cold. The warm of the heater was felt only while sitting near it, therefore I advise you to come in the warmer days there. Khaled welcomed me, took me from the Southern part where I was and where he had a conference to attend which I very much appreciated and I am grateful for. He asked me about my habits, like when I would like to work, when I take the meals, what do I prefer eating, trying to make me feel comfortable there. He cooked very tasty dinners, vegan so that I could eat to, so we ate together the dinners. The few days I was there, we had some interesting talks, which I am grateful for. Due to the weather, I only did some cleaning work of the built-in with cob bottles, inside the houses; I helped a bit with carving the cave-like next-to-be room along with his helper, though the men didn’t always come also because of the rainy weather. I did some website work too. Soon, though, Khaled advised me to change the place as he didn’t have much work for me, the promised cob work was not possible due to rain and he wasn’t happy to see me doing the hard work at carving and caring the debris out, which I choose to do, he actually didn’t asked me to do this. He did take me to a neighbor family who has a women organization. I spent one week there in the family teaching the daughters English and I had some delicious breakfasts with them.

I wish I could experience that effervescent atmosphere that I read about in the feedbacks and I expressed that to Khaled, he understood, but this time it was only me there, he offered me as much as he could. I very much appreciated the direct, sincere and easy communication with Khaled. I am grateful for accepting me and for the time spent there! Maybe I can come back to do some cob work, sometimes, along with a group of volunteers! I am curious to see how the place changes as there are so many nice constructions in work there!

Shukran, Khaled!

(Excellent )

24 Jun 2022

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Horse care and female ...)

Beautiful place, if you’re looking for a peaceful place in Nature and with few people around!

The strong and open before-coming communication with Sarah and all the brainstorming we did online on what she can do with the leftovers or with the old clothes that could be changed into a new product were very motivating for me to come to the place!… read more For this I thank very much Sarah! On the location, though, there communication was not so effervescent in regard to the crochet subject and also not so much work of this happened. She told me before coming that if things go well, she would welcome me for 2-3 months even, in the end I spend in this place almost one month in October 2021.

Although I came to teach crochet to the Bedouin woman and to Sarah, most of my duties were cooking, washing dishes, feeding the animals, cleaning around, watering the plants, arranging the bags, doing some quality check for the bags, taking photos of the bags for the website, cleaning the yoga mats and dealing with the continuous wind that would always take the mats away from the fence, down in the sand. I did teach some crochet to the women, but it was a very short time, I would have liked it to be more though I am grateful it happened.

I am grateful for having my own room which I enjoyed, I had privacy. I would wake up in the morning to see the sunrise from the rooftop, same time when the dogs would start asking to get out, so I would open the door for them as well. I would often go on the rooftop, day or night, to enjoy the sky and the surroundings. I enjoyed cooking there as Sarah likes vegan food and there are soo many cool ingredients available in the kitchen. The house is super cute and delightful decorated and many of Sarah’s paintings on the walls. I liked hearing and seeing how Sarah communicates in Arabic, she said she learned it on the way which is great! I enjoyed being there, walking barefoot in the sand, taking walks around, getting lost even, though Sarah helped me find the way back! when I called for help. I spend some time in the mountains there as well, walking to the big mountain in the back. Several times, the dogs would accompany me and I thank them for showing me the way sometimes. I have to say I did not have any free days, there were things to do every day, tasks were always popping out, she would inform me about that on WA which was disturbing sometimes, but if I wanted to take walks or visits to the neighbors it was doable. You have the chance to interact with the locals, there are the local people working at the stable and also in the trips to the women where Sarah will take you, as well as if you walk in the streets of the village, where you will meet curious and kind children all the way. With this interaction learning Arabic is possible too!

With her, I did went once to the desert, where Sarah had the class and I walked around for a while. It was nice! And cool to drive in the desert sand! I also ate together with her client. She did take me with her to Aqaba and other locations. I am grateful for taking me from Amman, as she was in the area when I arrived. Otherwise I choose to spent all the time at the location; I did not do trips on my own from there. She let me drive her car on a short distance! So I am happy to say that I drove in the desert, in the sand!

Sarah is a tough, strong and kind woman; I met her mom on the phone as well, but be aware of her fire side. Her straight forwarding way of communicating and controlling way was sometimes uncomfortable. Not recommended to emotionally sensitive people.

I am very thankful to the animals living there and to Sarah for being the bridge to this connection. I had some wonderful moments and experiences with the two dogs, the five horses and the 3, but 2 in the house, furry friends.

Shukran! Dank u well! Thank you! (the stars for cultural exchange is for Jordanian culture, as well as with the culture from which Sarah comes from)

(Very good )

23 Jun 2022

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Come and learn more about ...)

I am very thankful to Injad for accepting me on the go, accepting my delay on arriving. I came from Wadi Rum area and I wasn't sure on when I will leave from there, so he left the door open for whenever I would arrive, which I am grateful for.
There was not much work for me, that being the reason for leaving in about one week or so. I did some… read more work with the plants, moving them in their pots and mixing the soil, as well as watering them and I did some sewing (hope it is still holding!) for the Bedouin tent which was under construction in November 2021 when I was there. I also played the piano and teach some music theory to Injad. The piano was available for me most of the time.
Both Injad and Arkan, along with their help Abdallah are very nice persons. Injad has the job at Petra too, so he is not always there, also Arkan is on and off, this made me not feel under pressure while doing the work. I got the chance to meet and spend some time with their mother and their little sister as well.
Even though they are busy most of the time, they do take time to spend with the volunteers and their couchsurfers who pass by, so I got to meet some nice people there one time. It is not much interaction with the locals, unless you go out and start talking with the people you meet. Also, being such a touristic place, there are many shops, specially near Petra where they are used to international communication, some would talk a lot, some would act quite cold, though most of the people are warm hearted in there, which can be a plus or a minus, depending on what you are looking for.
The location is just 10min away walking from Petra entrance, which is cool if you want to enter Petra at the opening time(6am) to have as much time as possible for visiting. From the hotel, you can take a walk on the hills along the road that goes outside, towards Little Petra. From there you can watch sunsets as well. City center requires a bit of a walking up the hill, though it wasn't my prefered part, quite packed.
Injad was very nice to ask me what do I want to eat( and any other need that I would have) and provided me with what I requested, although sometimes it felt uncomfortable for me to ask. Since the kitchen was under renovation at that time, I was only eating in the room. They did invited me to eat with them when they got food, but I eat vegan, so there wasn't much choice for me in the shared food. Injad provided me with the delicious flafel, mutabal sandwich which would be double price for me if I buy it from the flafel place in the center! haha! be aware of that in Wadi Musa! Being a touristic city, everything is double-triple price for the tourists!
Work they would need is taking care of the social media and cleaning the rooms (I appreciate they respected my wish not to do this kind of work, I said this from the inquiring letter).
I am thankful also for taking me to the hospital to do a free Covid test when that was an issue.
"If I was you, I want to be me too, I want to be me". This song will stick to me from this place, from Arkan who was singing something most of the times.
Shukran Injad, Arkan, Abdallah!

(Excellent )

23 Jun 2022

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Enjoy a cultural experience ...)

Smart child, smart Mom! It is my honor to have been welcomed in this house. She accepted me on a last minute. I was taught many things by Daniel, as I spent time with him, although it was only three days, at the beginning of October 2021. I learned things from Asma too. I tried her delicious foods, even on low budget as being a single mom has its… read more

(Excellent )

23 Jun 2021

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Help grow our sustainable ...)

A rural experience in a modern environment.
Tibi and Cami are very humble and lovely beings. They like to share what they learned on their life path and they like to listen too. I felt welcomed in their house. I enjoyed the meals there and I had the chance to cook as well and I was glad to see it was appreciated. I enjoyed the little trip to the… read more

(Excellent )

17 Sep 2019

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Be part of our family and ...)

A very nice and friendly guesthouse, colorful, open to music and dance!

- Great food – cooked in the kitchen of the guesthouse. Typical Lebanese meals
- Fair working times
- Easy access to Beirut – around 2$ per ride. You need to take a shared taxi from the guesthouse and then a bus to Beirut
- Good accommodation if you get well with the… read more

(Very good )

17 Sep 2019

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Come and enjoy Lebanon's ...)

Helen and her both families: Salah, Sam, Asnako, Olie and the nursery welcomed me with joy. I lived in a castle in her house, in a small village, the village of her husband’s family. I saw wonderful sunsets from her house and eat delicious peaches from the garden. At the nursery I spend time with smart (zeke), interesting and lovely kids who speak… read more

(Excellent )

12 Sep 2019

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Organic Farming with Food ...)

If you’re looking for a calm place where you can live near to Nature, work fair hours and be by yourself, this is a good choice!
- Wonderful view – the valley of Ibrahim River
- Life in nature
- Fair working hours
- House with all basic necessary things. It’s the house of Fadi’s grandfather which was upgraded and it is used as a vacation… read more

(Excellent )

12 Sep 2019

Left by Workawayer (Mariam-Hasmig) for host (Eco friendly camp site and ...)

- Living in nature by the river, meet different kind of animals
- Meet different kind of people – guests Lebanese and not only, speaking different languages
- Excellent food and enough. You could always find something to eat at any time.
- Sleep in tent, by myself. I had my sleeping bag and they provided the tent and a mattress. Sometimes, for 1-2… read more nights you might be requested to share a tent if there are lots of guests coming to sleep overnight, as the camping locations are limited.
- Very comfortable toilet facilities for a camping site
- Walk barefoot
- Take a cold bath in the river, but get a great massage at the little cascades
- Sit on the toilet and see the stars above
- Wonderful view of the sunset
- Peaceful and calm place

- Very remote area, therefore I would take the days off 4 at a time every two weeks, so that I can take more advantage of the traveling time. Even though a remote place, as public bus is about 20min by car to the highway, Charbel always hooks you up with somebody who comes or goes in the direction you want to go.
- When there were no clients the place was really empty
- Not clear working times, as it depends on the flow of people, though nobody woke me up to do something, you get the hang on the place and the pace of the working, in time
- Weekends are not free
- Sometimes I felt lonely with the big crowd as they were all speaking Arabic with each other and wouldn’t make an effort to change to English for me. Nature, though, was always there to entertain me!
- Internet access is limited. You need somebody to open a hotspot for you.

Even if it’s a remote area you get to immerse in the Lebanese life as there is a constant flow of people, Lebanese and non-Lebanese, you eat the food they cook there and people speak Arabic-Lebanese around you.

Charbel, Hassan, Charbel shukran! And all the friends and guests and Manon, Helen and Maslum volunteers and lovely cat Antar! And the Nature and the River! Warm hugs!

I came for 2 weeks and I stayed one month and some days.

Work: washing dishes, arranging dishes in their place after washing, help in the kitchen like cutting vegetables – tomatoes, cucumber, onion -, cleaning garlic, picking mint leafs… ; picking the garbage from the ground, cleaning the tents, arranging the lounge place, helping around the guests.

*The place is closes in October.

(Excellent )

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