Alexandra

United States
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Travel information
Travelling
Description
I have been traveling and volunteering for the majority of the past four years. I have been able to sustain this travel by finding seasonal gigs and through my work online as a writer. Most of my travels have been done in the states by camper van/truck, however I have managed to get some backpacking in abroad as well.

My volunteer/work trade experiences have opened me up to the world of farming, animal care, communal living, and so much more. I'm hoping to homestead and live off the land one day so I'm very interested in learning anything to do with self-sustainability. I'd love to learn about permaculture, regenerative agriculture, food preservation, and more.

I'm passionate about animal care and rescue. I'm a vegan myself and I am interested in learning how sanctuaries/rescues operate as well as animal care in general. I have a special spot in my heart for horses and would love to learn more about equine care and of course riding.

Please know that not all of my work exchanges have been through WorkAway, and I have more experience than my references imply. I have also done exchanges through HelpX, Volunteer Latin America, and by reaching out to communities and organizations myself.

I have a home-made truck camper so I don't require housing, just a place to park! Plugging in is nice but not necessary as I travel with a solar panel. My pet (cat) journeys with me, however she mostly sticks to the camper and is always leashed and attended to when outside. If it is very hot or very cold where I am camped I may require to plug in to run a moderate amount of AC/heat. Small use of the furnace on solar is okay.
Interests
Mountain
Beach
Nature
Camping
Adventure sports
Fitness
Yoga / Wellness
Dancing
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Van life
Charity work
Farming
Gardening
Sustainability
Animals
Pets
Languages
DIY & crafts
Writing

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Art Projects
Teaching
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
DIY and building projects
More details about your skills
I went to school for business and have worked in admin, marketing, and sales. I have worked front desk, host, and hospitality at retreat centers. I picked up some time in kitchen prep at these centers as well.

I have experience working in gardens, minimal experience with animal care and am very interested in learning in learning more about both.

I have a ton of experience with kids from daycares and nannying to teaching dance for all ages and aerial skills to the older kids.

I am a writer and have done press releases and website blurbs for non-profits and communities.

I’m a pretty diverse person and have a ton of interests. I’ll be excited to learn about any task you throw my way.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
More details about my language interests
I’m a native English speaker looking to increase my comfort level with conversational Spanish
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Age
27
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  I’m a vegan- no meat, dairy, or eggs

Feedback

26/09/2021

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host for (Help out at our hot springs ...)

I only stayed a short time with Gordon. My stay was during the spring, outside of date harvesting season, but I truly enjoyed my time with him and the other workawayer I shared my time with. The workload was light and enjoyable and consisted of weeding and watering. We spent many many hours chatting about everything under the sun, including… read more

(Excellent )

26/09/2021

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host for (Ride a horse, walk a camel, ...)

This is a very late review, I volunteered weekly with Esther at the farm for about two months in the fall of 2020. Esther was very hospitable, friendly, and I learned a lot from her in my time there. The kids were very sweet and always looking to interact, and my few short meetings with Chuck proved him to be very kind and inviting as well.… read more

(Excellent )

24/09/2021

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host for (Help a rainforest ...)

The conservatory was absolutely beautiful. The animals are well kept and very cared for. The workers there were very passionate about their work at the sanctuary from giving tours, keeping animals, growing plants, and of course guiding WorkAwayers. The surrounding community is safe and friendly. They are very welcoming of volunteers. There are… read more also other projects in the area so there are more volunteers to meet. There are lots of tours and a national park nearby that you could easily hitch hike to and from. There is also a hike within walking distance from the volunteer house that passes through several farms with cows and horses and eventually goes into the rainforest to a wonderful waterfall that you can swim at.

Glenn was very reliable in terms of communication before my arrival. He picked me up in town and told me all about the area on the ride in. He seemed to be genuine in his desire to offer an opportunity for people to learn and go after their own desires. Glenn sends a lot of information to study before arriving, and giving the tours really concretes that information. It only takes a couple days to get a hang of the tours and before long you realize you have learned way more than you thought you were. The information is not easily available once you arrive-- there are no books and there is no real orientation or training. However if you ask and try your hardest to learn while you are there, the workers on site can provide you with a lot of knowledge about the sanctuary, the butterflies, the nature, and the culture of the area. It is also a great opportunity to practice Spanish for someone with a solid base in the language.

Glenn was absent for pretty much my entire stay, but the workers and other volunteers were able to help integrate me into the work. I do wish that there was more learning opportunity readily available- maybe this would be possible at a time when Glenn was on site. Regardless of this, I learned a lot in my time at the conservatory by talking with the workers and other volunteers and researching our questions.

My only complaint of my time there is the house. Every volunteer said they deep cleaned when they arrived, and yet it was still really gross. Glenn expressed that he leaves it to the volunteers to manage, but it was not manageable at the time I was there. Many ants, many many cockroaches, too dirty to go without shoes, and many of us cringed at using the kitchen. Maybe this has been taken care of by now. The roof also caved in when I was there over the front patio where we would all usually be sitting, but I assume this isn't a frequent thing. To be fair, the listing does say the house is bare bones. However the challenges presented in the housing is not the same as regular Costa Rica housing in my experience from living with locals throughout the country. I still stayed at the house for just over a month as the work and the experience were worth dealing with it for me... though I would definitely have enjoyed it more if the housing was better taken care of.

If you are a self-starter, hard worker, and can put up with a messy buggy house, then this is the volunteer gig for you.

(Very good )

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26/09/2021

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host for (Help out at our hot springs ...)

(Excellent )

26/09/2021

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host for (Ride a horse, walk a camel, ...)

(Excellent )

24/09/2021

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host for (Help a rainforest ...)

(Very good )

08/08/2021

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host for (Visit our habitat in the ...)

I had a great experience at William and Laura's place. The work, the property, and the people were all more than you could ever ask for out of a work-exchange. Their family was incredibly hospitable and went out of their way to make sure we were always comfortable and had what we needed. The work mainly consisted of tending to the gardens, cutting… read more

(Excellent )

26/07/2021

Left by host (Visit our habitat in the ...) for Workawayer (Alexandra)

Aley was great during her visit. She is kind, intelligent, and cares a lot about others. While visiting she helped with gardening (great help), cleaning trails, painted poly on a bunch of cabinets, installed sheet metal underpinning, painted a piece of art for us, and was eager to pitch in here and there whenever asked. Hanging out was great too,… read more

(Excellent )

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