Helping out with different projects in California, USA

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Details

  • Description

    Description

    Location: California
    I am an Aikido martial arts and self defense Instructor with over 41 years training and teaching at University and private dojo for over 20 years. I have a small traditional Japanese Dojo and wellness center on my property along with a Japanese garden, here in Central California. I also have a private practice in Rolf structural integration therapy, psychotherapy and healing. I am interested in exchanging Martial Arts Instruction in the Art of Aikido in exchange for assistance around the dojo and various projects on the property. I am also available to those who would like to improve their English communication skills.

    We primarily are interested in welcoming visitors from other countries other than the US because of culture exchange. Also we give priority to those who are interested in the martial arts. We have accepted guests from the US and was wonderful and is a possibilty, we just hope to invite travelers from other countries if possible. But if you are from US and are higly motivated to visit here then send us an email.

    Note : PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE If you are a smoker do not go any further , we DO NOT accept ANYONE who smokes on or off the property, so please do not apply to this workaway thank you, we are highly allergic to cigarette smoke. We have had some workawayers not consider this request and even though they chose to smoke off the property the smoke is on their clothes and person. Just do not apply here Please if you smoke at all or do drugs of any kind. We emphasize healthy and clean living here. Thank You for your honesty on this point.
    Also we just acquired a dojo cat, so if you are allergic to cats you may want to look for another workaway.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    This is a quiet space so if you are looking for quiet and meditative space this is a good space for that...but this space is also located in the city, so there can be noise from surrounding area. We have attempted to make a quiet tranquil place in the midst of the city similiar to what you might find in Japan.

    Meditation begins at 7:30 am every morning for 30 minutes. After we share simple breakfast together and you will have an opportunity for conversation with Anderson Sensei on topics such as spirituality, meditation, the martial arts, psychology, holistic medicine, or any other topic you desire. This time with Anderson Sensei is considered part of the benefit of this workaway, as a life long practitioner of the martial arts, a 5th degree blackbelt instructor, she is the highest ranking women Aikido teacher in Central California. She also has over 30 years in the healing arts with advanced degrees in Exercise Physiology, Phychology, Philosophy, and Theology. So you will have time for many interesting conversations if you desire.

    At 9:00 am work as meditation begins, gardening, building, cleaning, ( we ask 5 hours) and some workawayers divide the time to earlier in the morning before meditation so they can have time in the afternoon for bike rides, walking, writing, art, or personal time.

    We will prepare meals together and share food and conversation, and you can join in martial arts practice two days a week, and you are also welcome to use the dojo everyday for your own personal practice, meditation, stretching or yoga practice.

    Aikido Martial Arts classes are offered Tuesday and Thurday evenings 6:30 - 8 pm and there is open mat for training other days when my students are practicing you may join them.
    We also have the meditation practice every morning at 7: 30 am.

    We enjoy self motivated, mature, happy people who are interested in cultural exchange, personal growth and interaction. We share meals together and enjoy learning from each other.
    We are hesitant to except workawayers without good references from past workaway experiences. References help with our decision. Also we prefer your time spent on the internet be done during your personal time and not work time. Some days we recieve up to 20 requests per day from workawayers to visit here. Please tell us about yourself and why we should choose you for this experience.

  • Help

    Help

    We have several interesting projects you could work on here ....you may find creative ways to work.., help cleaning the main house and there are also many other projects around that always need attention. We have a small vegetable and herb garden that always need kind attention, as well as a Japanese garden and waterfall which need attention and care.

    Right now we are working on gardening for this small property. We would also like to set up a system to re use gray water from the main house to the garden and a system of solar panels.

    Other projects .....refurbishing some wood log chairs, refurbishing old cook stove, organizing tool area, cleaning outside and inside, computer work....always something to do here

    Some building construction work also happening...
    So people with experience using tools and have construction abilities are very welcome
    Always Looking for guests with construction building experience.

    Work for me personally is a meditation practice, and I love my work, and I feel very grateful and privileged that I live a life where I find work meaningful, valuable, and pleasurable for me. I wish everyone could love their work and maybe I can share this with you.

    Usually our day begins with meditation practice around 7:30 am in the dojo, then at 8:00am we share a breakfast of fruit, warm rice or oatmeal together, around 9:00 am we begin our work projects and we work until approximately 2:00 then we will prepare together lunch, the main meal of the day. If you require a late evening meal you can prepare for yourself in the outdoor kitchen. On your days off which are usually Tues/Wed you are usually required to provide your own meals and you can use the outdoor kitchen to prepare.
    After the main meal (3:00-3:30) you can relax or do other activities.
    We ask approximately 5 hours of help, 5 days with two days off, Tuesday and Wednesday, in exchange for trade of room, food, and martial arts training, and time with Anderson Sensei.
    Doing the meal dishes or your laundry or sharing cooking time together does not usually count toward the five hours requested. if you decide this is the place for you consider please the work part of the experience and fun.
    Work is part of the experience of workaway...if you are counting minutes and do not tend to find joy in working then this is probably not the place for you. You must be able to be self motivated and independant worker.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Guests will stay in a small room in the garden (small room, 8x10 in the garden)
    The floor is a clean bamboo wood floor , there is one thick foam bed that is provided and is very comfortable , you would need to provide your own sleeping bag ..... linens, and blankets are NOT supplied. (Although one of the recent workawayers kindly left their sleeping bag just recently for those who do not have a sleeping bag, it can be found stored in the garden shed if you choose). Next to the garden room you will have use of the dojo toilet and sink. The shower provided is a nice outdoor shower,clean and private, and is all yours until 6 pm each day. The accomadations are simple and clean. It is Hot here in the summer and your room will have a fan for cooling, but there is no air conditioning. In winter you must be prepared with warm clothing as it is cold and we have limited abilty for heating...we are working on solar heating project for heating in the winter.

    Here you will enjoy a quiet atmosphere in the garden. If you enjoy meditation this is a perfect place. You can enjoy practice in the dojo on your own day and night if you desire....classes are offered two days a week Tueday and Thurday and if you ask more instuction may be offered.
    The Kitchen is in the main house and is available for cooking. Food is provided on work days, you are responsible for your own food on days off. I enjoy experiencing the cooking skills of the visitors so I easily hand over the kitchen to your care.
    Restraunts, cafes, bike paths, shopping walking distance away. And farmers market available twice a week walking distance away. We have two bicycles that are provided for our workaway guests during their stay.
    We are located 45 minutes from Yosemite Park.
    There are buses that can take you to Yosemite Park and Kings Canyon National park from here, or one of my students may enjoy to take you hiking but no promises someone can take you, so please plan on how you will visit these beautiful places. There are 3 major National parks withing 45 minutes...you may be interested to rent a car to see all of them.

    At this time I am requesting guests make a two week commitment for their stay here. So we will need specific arrival and departure dates so we can plan for the accomodation of other workawayers and plan the work projects.


    As stated above beside offering food on workdays, and a private room in the garden, we offer martial arts Aikido practice. You will recieve one on one attention during your stay here. Please understand Martial arts training is a practice...you cannot learn it over night or in a few days...we can offer you an introduction to the art of Aikido and if you wish, specifically self defense training, which I prefer to call self empowerment training. Please know that I am a dedicated teacher for many years, and I can be a strict teacher at times when it comes to martial arts training. You would need to approach the training with a level of sincerity, maturity, and williness to learn.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Guests usually stay two weeks on average and may be negotiable , two weeks is most likley best at this time.
    At this time we request guests make a minimum two week commitment for their stay here.
    There is a possiblitity for the right person to stay longer.
    We usually except one guest at a time or possibly two people traveling together,but there is only one small room and one twin size bed, so can be difficult for two. You are welcome to put up a tent if needed.

    Most meals are provided, if you enjoy cooking that would be very welcome. Food here is simple...organic and mostly vegetarian, we provide oatmeal, rice, in season fruits, oranges, apples, lemons, dates, bananas, plums, potatoes, beets, carrots green vegetables, quinoa, coconut oil, olive oil, lentils and other foods on request. I do not have or provide meat. but guests may BBQ meat on outside grill if they desire. kitchen, laundry in main house.


    Spring April Through early June best time here... nice weather then, winter here is cold in the dojo and summer is hot.


    To summerize.
    We would be interested in guests who are interested in learning martial arts (AIKIDO) and self defense and/ or english language practice in exchange for work. We hold classes two times a week and also can provide individual instruction on request.

    The Ideal guest would
    - have a sincere interest in learning the martial arts
    - have some gardening, cooking, and construction skills
    - ability to be an independent worker , as I cannot always work along side you
    -have good references from workaway experiences or other references
    - I enjoy learning also and enjoy people who have something also to teach me

    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ Reminder: Sleeping accommodation *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️you must provide your own sleeping bag

    If you are guest that needs to be on the internet or phone all the time ...this is not the place for you. We ask guests to reserve internet time to their own private time. We look forward to meeting you soon...wishing you many adventures on your travels.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours per day 5 days a week

Host ref number: 594848644595

Feedback (11)



Photos

Feedback















Help our family with some home and garden projects in Alpine, CA, USA
Yard/house chores in Port Townsend, WA, USA