Help with my beloved's gardens and share your adventures in the world with us in Owaka, New Zealand

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Robin is overcoming daily Parkinson's but refuses to allow this to stop him from living - we have paid staff who helps him with his basic physical needs - you would not be doing their work. Your interactions with Robin will allow him to see and explore the world through your eyes and the things you have seen. Robin can be difficult to understand so you will need patience as you ask him to say that again please! Being prepared to chat with Robin about your travels is a must. Robin loves his garden and building projects as they help him feel alive. Robin has been able to do more thanks to the helpers through "WorkAway".

    Cyndilu works in graphic design and the online world as well as gives simple computer lessons and basic tutoring to locals. Cyndilu also plays Ukulele writes songs and is currently working on writing a couple of books. A new love of Cyndilu's is learning new languages - the two she is focusing on currently are French and German however ,she is open to learning your language too! As a couple we are pretty easy going most of the time. Since Cyndilu grew up in America and Robin in New Zealand you will get two cultures mashed into a culture of our own. We both have a very strong faith and are open to learning about your beliefs and sharing ours with you too.

    Robin is a kind soul who is currently not able to do as much as he once could. Once upon a time he would comb the local beach and meet new people - and immediately invite them over for a meal! Workaway feeds this love of meeting new people! If you would like to explore the deep south of New Zealand, don't mind rustic homely - possible mid construction accommodation we would love to talk with you more about coming to share life for a little while with us.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Elderly Companionship
    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

    Robin was born and raised in the South Otago area - he loves to send people to the beach at Surat bay and introduce them to the sealions and a beautiful long beach walk too. You are able to get shellfish from our local coastal area too. There are many beautiful short or day walks in the Catlins - waterfalls and other things which he loves to share with anyone that comes to stay with us. See the more about us to learn a bit more of Robin's travels.
    Cyndilu was born and raised in New England USA and also lived and went to school for a couple of years in Arizona the Southwest USA (Born Connecticut, Primary School Years in southern New Hampshire in a small city, Secondary School Years in Central Vermont small town lived way out in the country, University in Arizona for Graphic Design). Cyndilu has also been to Peurto Rico and done a short missions trip to Peru.
    The coming together of our two cultures and lives have a richness that is not found in many other Kiwi homes. It is a mashup of the two cultures and we can fill you in on the things that you may need to know... like when someone invites you for Tea - it is generally the evening meal that they are inviting you to and not a cuppa tea! And a biscuit here is a cooking in the USA where a scone here we would have called a biscuit... It is a fun experience to learn about other people and to see that we can love one another through our differences is one of the things we share with all who come through our home.

  • Help

    Help

    Gardening: everything from starting seedlings - to harvesting - to preparing soil - getting compost and whatever else happens with a garden - Robin is the one who will let us know what is the current need in the gardens (we have mostly veggie and some floral plants) Robin has a love for berries and is working on a plan to grow some less known plants to help feed New Zealand's communities.

    Elderly/Care - Other(Parkinsons): Robin is a pretty active dude for someone who has Parkinsons so having people that can drive him to do activities that are beyond what the carer support team is able to do would be great! Robin is very curious and loves learning about the world - so a good portion of your day could be answering questions and sharing about your journeys and where they have taken you. Be sure to ask him about his too. He has working in UK, traveled around Europe a bit too, studied, worked and lived and in the USA for a total of more than 30 years too.
    Help with Computers/Internet: Robin at times could use someone to do his typing for him on the computer for facebook, messenger, google searches, youtube and even a bit of trademe and google searches for usually plant related explorative learning.
    Building: Being married to a builder who has Parkinsons can be a challenge - the ideas come faster than his hands are able to work... So if you like to do building or are wiling to learn some carpentry tricks Robin is ready to share his knowledge with you and will walk you through the projects he has here there and everywhere.
    Cooking/Shopping: We are happy to get foods you would like while you are here and we love trying new foods from all over the globe. We are not 100% vegetarians but lean towards that kind of cooking. Cyndilu is mostly Gluten Free (again not 100% - but she feels better eating less of it!) So if you know how to cook that way we are ready to learn from you! We have only started eating this way in 2017. There is a local grocery store and we may have you go down and pick up a few things to go with our meals and/or accompanying Cyndilu or Robin to do the grocery shops would be welcome also.
    General Maintenance: Basics of maintaining a house, garden, and vehicle - tell us what your specialties are and we can let you know if we have any of those projects around... Let us know what maintenance things you love to do - you know like refurbishing things or doing a full maintenance on something. ie. Sewing machines have a maintenance schedule but most people don't even know about that let alone do it. So you share with us your knowledge of things that need regular maintenance and if we have that thing in the house, we would love to have you do the 'regular' stuff that might otherwise be overlooked.
    Help in the house: Laundry, Luxing - Vacuuming, Dishes, Floors, etc, etc, etc, general cleaning - deep cleaning - organisation all welcome. Generally helping out in the house to get it in order that we can take you exploring the world around us!
    We love to explore and Cyndilu would be welcome to taking you on tours of the Otago and Southland areas as her time allows. And as a photographer seeing the sights with a camera in hand she doesn't mind if you should want to stop and takes photos along the way! Robin with a desire to share the beauty of his homeland primarily does this now through his sending us out on these excursions of exploring. Also happy to bring you to your next location if its in Otago or Southland. As public transport in the rural south is sparse.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate
    German: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    As far as learning other languages I am quite slow but always learning a word or a phrase here or there. I found out recently that I love sharing the intricacies of the english language. Love to help you with your English as an additional language journey. I have stepped up my language learning in the areas of French and German. DuoLingo will only take me so far! I would love to have live conversations although you may have to speak pretty slow!

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Your own room in our home is the current set up. It has a queen size bed. There is a dresser with two drawers - we have our off season clothes in there - you would be welcome to use that space also. At present the bathroom , lounge and kitchen are all shared spaces. We are currently mid remodel so expect a few rough edges - there is privacy in your room and an entry that is close to the door. You will be free to come and go as you wish.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The Catlins is a beautiful area. Owaka has a wonderful museum $5 last known cost to see it. We live in town limits yet in a section that has more of a country side feel - due to the farmland across the street from our corner lot. We may have a vehicle available for use. You would be expected to put fuel in if using it beyond what we are requesting you to help us with, ie. taking Robin to go see the Falls could be petrol on us - using the vehicle on your off day would be petrol on you. There are so many sights within 1 hour from us they would be too many to list, but I will mention one which is KakaPoint and Nugget Point Lighthouse. Many people travel to that location - the lighthouse is one of the most photographed spots in New Zealand and you may even get the chance to spot a penguin or two if you go there at the right time of the day. There is a penguin watching area where you have access to see them coming in or heading out (usually coming in about 1 hour before sundown) Do a search online to learn more about that.

  • 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

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    I work from home with an online business of my own at present, when writing this comment, we have two internet connections so that if one goes out the other one picks it up. One is a hardwired system and the second is via wifi cell tower. We have unlimited data here at the house.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We are able to accomodate all sizes of travel vehicles - we do not have water and electric hookups though we could run a traditional extension cord and possibly a garden hose to the vehicle. We would need to have a contribution for the electrical use. Other than that we are good to go with this option.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 835646659222

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