AnneJan

From: Czech Republic

Account Type
Individual account
Travelling to
Czech Republic, United Kingdom
Travel dates
01/10/2019 - 31/05/2021
Nº of Facebook friends
16
Badges

My status
Travelling
Description
After two years of art academy, I started travelling at the age of 20. The world seemed to present a richer education than any school could offer.
I worked on my travels, many times as volunteer. Or worked to save money to travel, mainly in Holland and Ireland and the last 12 years in the Czech Republic where lives my 16year old daughter.
I worked in workshops and factories but also a lot outside: gardening, helping on farms (cows, horses, goats, sheep, chickens, bees) and for a few years in an Irish community looking after people with disabilities.
Learned the skill of basketry (willow) and taught others.
For one year I looked after an elderly couple in an old manor house in Ireland, minding their medication, cooking them simple meals and feed the deer in their walled enclosure.
I pointed walls, built stepping stones in gardens.
Worked two years in a bronze foundery, welding bronze statues, a job I loved.
For seven months I was in a Romanian orphanage with an Irish organisation, to improve conditions and stimulate children who had suffered severe neglect.

I used to enjoy singing Irish folk songs with guitar, but I'm afraid I forgot the chords.

Due to the corona virus the possibilities of moving around is limited. Luckily I found an excellent workaway host in the Scottish Highlands where I will stay for the winter.
Challenging times for many. May whoever reads this stay well and in good spirits.
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Language practice
Art Projects
More details about your skills
Gardening, basketry, philosophy :-)
Handling and care of animals.
Simple building skills with cement and stone.
Use of chainsaw, strimmer, cordless drill, hammer.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Czech: Intermediate
German: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Age
55
Nationality
Dutch
What else ...
Life is about learning. Though I love my books (philosophy, literature), the ultimate experience is out there, within circumstances dictating what needs doing.
New people, new situations, always adapting.
Besides having interesting conversations, I love to be practical as well. And learn in the process.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Photos

Feedback

15/09/2020

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Come and assist with the ...)

A very interesting and generous person, Bob. Someone who thinks big but with eye for all detail, and his mind swirling with ideas, which makes for interesting conversations.
The short time I stayed (I had to squeeze my visit between two other commitments) he took me to his impressive workshop while the other days he let me free to do some… read more

(Excellent )

21/06/2020

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Taking care of animals in the ...)

For almost three months I stayed with Kati working on her farm, and every other day working for Győző and Maja the neighbour sheep farmers. Stuck, you could say, because of the corona virus travel restrictions, but I couldn't have been in a better place than this little hamlet.
Kati's farm has the charm of a messy little farm of a past century,… read more

(Excellent )

16/03/2020

Left by host (Experience off-grid living on ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

AnneJan was a great contributor with his skills during the 3 weeks he stayed with us. In addition to the daily routine of taking care of our horses, he was mending fences and our raised vegetable beds, trimming trees, planting willows, and more... He was teaching us how to make water joghurt and shared his own culture with us that he has been… read more

(Excellent )

14/03/2020

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Experience off-grid living on ...)

There are different ways to appreciate this farm. One of my favorite was walking one evening from the nearby village and entering the quiet valley, the horses as silhouettes under the old cherry tree in the middle of a moonlit paddock.
Another favorite moment, the mornings, putting on shoes while overlooking the fields below, the horses waiting,… read more

(Excellent )

20/02/2020

Left by host (Join our happy and loud ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

AnneJan is an experienced Workawayer.
Having him around is great. He is disciplined, he can build and carry, comfortable with tools and he does a wonderful job even with an old wheelbarrow.
He sees what has to be done and does it. He was a great help removing tons of old bricks, making fire wood, cleaning up old stuff and taking care of the… read more

(Excellent )

18/02/2020

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Join our happy and loud ...)

I admire Edina's great heart, her love to care for a lively family. It comes with great challenges, especially with a house which isn't quite finished, a kitchen without shelves or cupboards so cooking arrangements were improvisory, to say the least.
At the other hand, they gave me a private space in a house across the yard, with kitchen and a… read more

(Excellent )

01/01/2020

Left by host (Help around house and garden ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

Anne Jan was really a great help to me, working independently and well, and a great companion for discussions with
a glass of wine, sharing his travel and life adventures with me and sharing joy of art and beauty..... Apart of work
in the garden and wood he painted pictures for me, made a basket, picked 5 kilos of rosehips for wine.....
I hope… read more

(Excellent )

07/12/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Help around house and garden ...)

Petra is a wonderful host. Her house warm and cosy, with fire blazing in the woodstove and the smell of vegetarian food from the kitchen. She is a great cook. Her kitchen full of jars with fermenting cabbage and fruity wines.
The start of winter. Work mainly the stacking of wood in the big barn for her father or for her friends in the village.… read more

(Excellent )

20/12/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Join our permacultural ...)

A truly off-the-grid farm, where cutting wood still takes centre position, at least this time of year (December). We fixed fences, drove in poles, dug trenches in the dark cellar. Goats came from the woods to say hello. Bajun a beautiful dog with tremendous energy, and little Jack thinking the same of himself.
David and Anna are great hosts and… read more

(Excellent )

11/12/2019

Left by host (Join our permacultural ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

AnneJan was great all the way. An exceptionally pleasant, friendly and helpful person. Great with our kids, very competent and reliable and a pleasure to have around. Best possible recommendations and many thanks from us.

(Excellent )

05/10/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Bio construction and horse ...)

cestería poesía música
a la sombra de un árbol majestuoso
con una copa de vino
e historias llenas de risas e historia

This is, first of all, an atmospheric old courtyard in the shadow of an ancient algarrobo tree surrounded by adobe buildings and the soul of the old craft of basketry.
Gerardo, in high respect of historic values, would pick up… read more

(Excellent )

23/09/2019

Left by host (Organic project, seasonal ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

It has been a great pleasure to have Annejan (Juan!) with us during a little bit more than one month. And also so much helpful: there was no task impossible for him, and always done with great enthusiasm and love! His very last contribution was a wonderful cat painted in the front door wall, so beautiful (I am only sad that he is so far away under… read more

(Excellent )

20/09/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Organic project, seasonal ...)

What a wonderful place! Teresa with great energy turns a piece of dusty land into a bit of paradise. Young fruit trees, many about to blossom, with irrigation system carefully laid out. Mature mollia trees among the cacti. A time of pruning. First smell of roses which climb upon the house. The five llamas roam along the fences. Three dogs waiting… read more

(Excellent )

11/08/2019

Left by host (Permaculture and experience ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

Hey Anne-Jan or Juan ! You've been a great example of a perfect volunteer. Taking it easy, enjoying every minute of your stay and a good worker. That's said. Hope to see you once again my friend! Andres

(Excellent )

02/08/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Permaculture and experience ...)

This place up in the hills, a two and half hour hike from Samaipata, is really worthwhile to spend a three weeks in tranquility. The buildings a wonderful combination of adobe walls, artwork and glass bottles filtering the sunlight.
The mornings started with kundalini yoga, which for me was an introduction. Andres was a good teacher with a great… read more

(Excellent )

11/07/2019

Left by host (Help us with babysitting at ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

Regarding to Annejan, he's a hard working gentleman and more than I have expected from someone help.
AnneJan is the genuine kind of person that we need to continue making better and beautiful this lovely planet. From 0 to 20 We will give 21 to this altruistic, wise, humble and team player man.
Thanks so much for coming for help and share all… read more

(Excellent )

06/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Help us with babysitting at ...)

This was the first place I helped where the emphasis was not so much on the work as on inner development. It took me some time in the beginning of my three weeks' stay to truly understand.
I was willing to get out there and get things started, for a lot of things had to be done... the barren desert ground to get cleared and prepared for healing… read more

(Excellent )

03/06/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Beautiful family farm in ...)

Esta es una familia maravillosa. Con mucho gusto ayudé con todo. La comida era muy rico.
Tambien fue especial estar allí para una celebración de boda.
Mi única arrepentimiento, mi español aún es muy mal. Perdóname. (Ahora mismo estoy usando un diccionario.)
Pero lo disfruté todo.
¡Muchas gracias!

(Excellent )

21/05/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Help with permaculture, ...)

Such a charming village that I gladly extended my stay from three to four weeks. Sitting high on a plateau, the views are beautiful. In the streets, the regular donkey, sheep, goats, and the occasional full-packed colectivo with luggage strapped on the roof.
The people are friendly.
But the area is poor. There is no waste collection, so the… read more

(Excellent )

02/03/2019

Left by host (Help on my permaculture ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

Annejan is wonderful. A willing worker and a fast learner. He was easy to share the house with and the dogs adored him. Indeed for a few days after he left they would hang around by the door waiting for him to come and get them for a walk.

Anybody who gets Annejan as a volunteer will indeed be very fortunate. He has promised to come back again… read more

(Excellent )

01/03/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Help on my permaculture ...)

For a month I stayed with John, walking his beautiful dogs through the snowy landscape, watching them chase the deer which were in a couple of gracious leaps at a safe distance and looked back as if to ask why we stopped running. But by that time Jackson was happily rolling in the snow while Daisy sniffed some creature or another under the frozen… read more

(Excellent )

26/01/2019

Left by host (Help us with our project to ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

Excellent worker, dedicated and constant. Always willing to collaborate on what is necessary with a good attitude, good humor and a good heart

(Excellent )

18/01/2019

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Help us with our project to ...)

A family of great people, in a spacious, clean house with a terrace from which it is wonderful to observe birds through binoculars.
Cassiopeia the lovely horse peeking through the door at times.
Down by the gate the climbing wall.
The road, leading into the Combeima valley, is lined with odd little shops and open air restaurants with local… read more

(Excellent )

30/12/2018

Left by host (Share with local farmers and ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

AnneJan has left many things behind. His good heart and kind attitude. Also his high commitment and hard work, always getting up early and making many things by his own. :muscle: we worked very hard but also had fun dancing and sharing a fruit, a meal or just a quiet view from the top of the mountains. As he mentioned, it was really hard to say… read more

(Excellent )

18/12/2018

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Share with local farmers and ...)

A beautiful location of this modest farm on top of a hill. Each morning Pablo milks the cows. I enjoyed helping him and Sebastian, mainly by keeping the calfs in check, and set them free again to roam the orchard.
Ivan's ideas to develop the finca into a clamping site. It has great potential but a lot need to be done. Ivan open to suggestions and… read more

(Excellent )

18/11/2018

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Come and help with our ...)

Tabitha was there to welcome me, as a companion, and when she left a week or so later, I was mostly on my own, feeding the chickens, Leona the dog and the cats. During the day, Angel and René showed me what I could do on the farm - mainly the watering of the coffee plants, and showed how to harvest papaya and bananas if I wanted any for my… read more

(Excellent )

12/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Come learn about Biodynamic, ...)

Was one month enough? Probably not. So many things happening on different levels.
Walter and Susan truly inspiring.
The peacefulness of the farm with a quiet fire always burning in the spirit house.
The two cows grazing with their calfs, to be separated for the milking in the morning.
The two donkeys asking gently for attention, which can disrupt… read more

(Excellent )

26/09/2018

Left by host (Natural Farming at a remote ...) for Workawayer (AnneJan)

Anne Jan arrived at our farm as first volunteer after the big landslide (that destroyed our road) and had to stay long before he got company of another volunteer. He was very patient with our primitive conditions, and helped improve our infrastructure. Anne Jan have very good community spirit, and take the initative to do things. He started early… read more

(Excellent )

29/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Natural Farming at a remote ...)

The last two and a half months I stayed in Eilif's farm, it was a time well spend.
Not only is there the superb landscape, majestic views from the farm inviting for trekking in the weekends. (Mind you, the "hill" close to the farm is a steep 1700m climb.) There is also the farm itself - it takes time to understand.

Watered by a narrow irrigation… read more

(Excellent )

04/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (AnneJan)

AnneJan was a very welcome workawayer with his independent approach and willingness to delegate another more inexperienced workawayer. I didn't have to do anything other than give a promission to take the garden upon himself.
That was an incredibly welcome approach in my busy and by then extremely tired time! He took a great burden from my… read more

(Excellent )

26/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (AnneJan) for host for (Enjoy the countryside and ...)

Two and half weeks in this rustic campsite of Marc and Betty. Plenty of work to be done, and with their permission I made the garden my project, which at this busy time of the tourist season (August) could do with some tending.
Campers coming and going. Conversations in different languages while activities of guests, hosts and co-workers blended… read more

(Excellent )

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