Alex

Travel information

I am currently

Activities i am interested in:

Language exchange (soon to be CELTA certified), learning gardening skills & odd jobs. I'd LOVE to learn & help with: cooking, wine-making, cheese-making, sailing, etc.!

Description

Salutations!

I'm Alex, and here's the nutshell version of my story:

I'm from the mountains of Western North Carolina in the U.S. Whenever I see mountains, my heart does a looptyloop.

I'm in my early 30s. In my 20s I was engaged in school and working various service industry jobs, mostly restaurants and customer service. I completed a 230 hour yoga teaching program and taught hatha yoga on and off for 7 years. My practice has been dormant for a while now, but I sense the seeds stirring again. My bachelor's degree is in Women and Gender Studies, my master's is English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition. I have worked as a college lecturer teaching composition (and occasionally literature and business communication) for the past 6 years. I've found a real passion for teaching and I believe I'm doing some good with it.

One thing I have always wanted to do - no, more than wanted: yearned for deeply in my soul - is travel. I love meeting new people, engaging with other cultures, drinking in architecture that was constructed when beauty was still a principle of design (unlike with the depressing strip malls that spring up like cancerous weeds here in America), adventuring with my greatest love, Food, and generally being free and unfettered in movement and spirit. I have traveled a little bit across the states, namely the beautiful deserts of the Southwest visiting the Hopi and Navajo tribes, Colorado, the southeast, the midwest (currently live in Iowa), and NYC. I've also visited some places (touristy but still dripping with beauty and history) in Mexico. But now, mama's ready to spread her wings and fly all around the globe.

I'm motivated when I can see that I'm making a difference in the world, even in small ways like walking my dog to make her happy. I'm motivated by the prospect of stimulating new experiences, be that the first farmer's market of the season right down the street or a broadway musical. I'm motivated in the rare occasions when I'm part of a group that's working toward something (not an experience I've had for some time now).

What makes me happy? Well, a helluva lot. Rainy days with books and tea. Brilliantly sunny days and exploring. Nature. Beauty in all its forms. History. Animals!! Swimming. Gardening. A really good book. FOOD. BATHS. Clawfoot tubs. Spiral staircases. Friends. Friends. Friends.

Like all Workawayers, I'm here because I want to travel. But something interesting has happened now that I'm all of a sudden a "grownup" (ha!) - I want to learn skills that are very new to me - for example, gardening, canning, fixing things, baby carpenter skills, advanced cooking skills - all the things that I didn't learn as a young person for one reason or another. I've lived "in my head" all my life, and that's only been exacerbated by my time in academia (ugh, listen to me - "exacerbated." What a drag). I'd love to one day be a much more self-sufficient person, not to mention a well-rounded one. I hope to have my own baby farm one day with a luscious veggie garden and animals, and even some evidence of my handy-work.

While I am a beginner (or worse!) in many areas (gardening, farming, building) and would require your teaching (and let's be honest, initial hand-holding), I'm known for being enthusiastic and trying my best. I grew up hearing my dad always telling me "If you're gonna do something, do it right" and it's stuck.

If you've read this far and you think we'd be a swell match for a time on this weird spacemarble - cool! Let's do it.

All the best of all the things,

Alex

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner
Italian: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I had a bit of schooling in French, but did not approach fluency. I'm currently trying to teach myself French, Spanish, and Italian (you know, getting all those Romance languages jumbled in my head). I would very much like to become fluent in one or more languages!

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

General Maintenance

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Animal Care

Languages

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Some knowledge of:  

Being an elderly companion

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Charity Work

Art Projects

Teaching

More details about your skills

Social skills - I'm patient, a great listener, kind, and I get along with most people

Teaching - experience mostly with 18 +, but I'm also great with kids and have volunteered with them in drama camps and yoga classes

Writing (creative and professional - my current undertaking is grant writing)

Basic animal care - I'm all about dogs and cats, and I'd love to learn how to care for horses, goats, chickens, etc.

Beginner cooking, cleaning, and gardening

Theatre! I've acted all my life. This could translate to fun games and plays involving kids and adults. :)

Certified yoga instructor

Age

34

What else ...

In my spare time, I enjoy journaling and dabbling in creative writing. I hope to get it together enough to publish a book someday.

I have to pet every dog I meet (or goat, or cat, you name it. If I could pet an otter? I would die happy. Did you know that otters have favorite rocks? And a special skin pouch that they use to carry around their favorite rocks? And when they aren't prying open yummy shellfish with them, they play with them and juggle 'em all around? Isn't that just the BEST?!)

I dream of swimming with manatees some day.

I'm very easy going and agreeable. I also love to be spontaneously weird. Life is too short to not occasionally (at least!) let one's freak flag fly.

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