Melissa

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Hello!
I am a South African currently busy completing my CELTA course in Cape Town, and planning to move to Moscow, Russia in August to work as an English language tutor. I want to make Moscow my base for the next few years, and travel all around Europe and Asia, catching up with friends from previous travels and making new ones.

I am friendly, energetic, open to new experiences and willing to try any kind of work which will allow me to stay somewhere beautiful, learn something new and meet interesting people.

I am honestly happiest while doing transformative physical work - I get into the zone cleaning and replanting an overgrown garden, re-organising a messy kitchen, making sense of junk in a crowded space - I love to make places beautiful, and the work involved there doesn't feel like work. My other favourite things are cooking and hosting dinners for friends, hikes and other outdoor adventures, and I'm discovering a new love of yoga and movement.

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Afrikaans: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I will soon be qualified as an English language teacher! And would very much like to learn Russian, Turkish, Spanish, Arabic... where to start?

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

Some knowledge of:  

General Maintenance

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Animal Care

Charity Work

Helping with Computers/ Internet

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Able to teach about:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Languages

Art Projects

Teaching

More details about your skills

I am currently completing my CELTA course, after which I will be qualified to teach English as a foreign language! I have always loved working with people, and I have worked for years in hospitality and tourism - as a waitress at two of Cape Town's top restaurants, a receptionist at a backpackers hostel, a stewardess on board motor yachts, and a bar tender. My strengths are communication, friendliness and enthusiasm.

I studied design and have a Bachelors Degree in Ideation Design - basically concept design and creative problem solving. This degree is popular in the world of start-up companies and app-design, but I much prefer to problem-solve with hands-on, physical things like building, creating, gardening and meal-planning.

I am a keen gardener and have grown up working with plants and helping my environmentalist mother with eco projects and general veggie-patch maintenance. I love the outdoors and am not afraid to get dirty. I also love working with wood, making jewellery and am currently learning how to sew clothes.

I lived on and fixed up a small sail boat for nearly a year during COVID-lockdown, and learned all sorts of interesting boat skills - sanding, painting, de-rusting, cleaning, organising and cooking in tiny spaces. I am proud to say that I love boat-life and don't get sea-sick!

Other skills:
- Cooking for large groups
- Cleaning houses, restaurants and boats
- Home organisation & maintenance
- Bar-tending
- Dealing with drunk people (it's a skill!)
- Working with booking/reservation software
- Working with Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
- Art, murals, designing & decorating
- Leading hikes and outdoor activities

Age

30

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements
  I prefer to eat and cook mostly plant based food, but I eat meat occasionally, and am happy to adapt and try new dishes