Tom

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Hi there, I'm Tom.
Welcome to my profile!

I’m 24 years old and have been living in Falmouth, Cornwall (England) for the past 4 years, where I studied a degree in Sustainable Product Design and worked in various carpentry related jobs (furniture, cabinetry, building…)


Prior to studying I was fortunate enough to travel and work in a few different countries for a couple of years, and over this period learnt many valuable life lessons, met interesting and inspiring people and expanded and grew my knowledge and skill sets, and it's this that I want to continue doing.

On a remote Fijian Island in the South Pacific, I worked as an extra/body double for the French Edition of 'The Survivor', where I got an insight into the world of television and lived a simplistic and traditional lifestyle along side the locals.

Whilst in New Zealand on a Working Holiday, I hitchhiked, drove around, surfed, swam, climbed, did yoga and so much more with many amazing people. In Raglan on the North Island, I worked in a Surf Hostel as a receptionist dealing with water sports hire, customer check-ins and giving tours of the lodgings, as well as working in retail and at a restaurant during my time in NZ.

On making my way back to the UK, I went via Indonesia with a couple of friends I made in New Zealand, to surf and explore and take in and look back over the past year. Once back in Birmingham, UK, I worked as a pool lifeguard for a while, and produced a portfolio of work for my upcoming university interview.

With a bit of money in my pocket, I made my way to Tamraght, Morocco where I worked as a surf instructor for food and lodgings, and learnt about another culture and way of life, very different from my own.

Landing back in Europe made me feel grateful, and whilst Portugal still differs from the UK, I started to understand where I had come from a little better. Portugal is also where I discovered Workaway! I had two epic experiences, one in a surf hostel in the Algarve, and the other on a lemon farm in Ribamar, near to Ericeira and heaps of good surf spots.

Finally, before coming to university, I lived in a caravan for a season and worked as a water sports instructor in Cornwall, which was the beginnings of my time down here at the bottom of the country. All of this then led me to Falmouth, where I chose to study Sustainable Product Design.

Update: July - August 2023

Cycled from Roscoff to Paris, and then headed to a workaway down in the Pyrenees.
Currently cycling from a place near Montrejeau to San Sebastián, and hoping to find a workaway somewhere on the North coast of Spain.

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner

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.

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Babysitting and creative play

Animal Care

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Some knowledge of:  

Gardening

Being an elderly companion

General Maintenance

Life at a Farmstay

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Charity Work

Languages

Helping with Computers/ Internet

Teaching

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Able to teach about:  

DIY and building projects

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Eco Projects

Art Projects

More details about your skills

I’m I've had experience working in bars and restaurants, in kitchens, in retail, as a surf instructor, as a pool lifeguard, in general maintenance (cleaning, DIY, gardening) and as a receptionist in a hostel (involved showing newcomers around, booking new people in, sorting water sports hire and cleaning). My first Workaway experience was also in a hostel, and my second on an organic lemon farm where we picked and washed lemons, turned over compost heaps, picked a variety of veg and got involved with some building work.

What skills have I got to offer?:
Carpentry, other workshop skills (metal, mould making, e.g. currently reassembling a bicycle), design (design thinking, sketching, graphic design, photography), cooking (I love to cook and experiment), spear fishing and foraging, music (I play the violin and guitar), water sports (I surf all the time, and have taught kayaking, SUPing and coasteering) and outdoor living in general. Also, I never have, but would be very willing to help out with those wanting to improve their English.

Age

25

What else ...

I also skate fair bit, read books, practice yoga and meditation and love being outdoors in general- if the weather is good I really struggle being indoors!

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  No

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  Special dietary requirements
  No- I'll eat anything, but limited amounts of meat, fish and dairy. The reasons being for health and for the good of the planet.