Bianca

United Kingdom
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Laos - from May 2025 until May 2025
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Description
Hello!

My name is Bianca, I'm 29 years old and live in Oxford, UK. Here is a brief summary of myself:
I grew up in the Netherlands and moved to the UK when I was 18. I recently graduated from my PhD in Religious History at Cambridge University. My research was on the history of traditional religion, missionaries and colonialism in Indonesia. Apart from research I also love nature, animals (mainly my dog Milo), sports, writing, learning languages, and finding new things to add to this list of interests!

~Workaway goals~
I would like to try different kinds of volunteering, but am mainly interested in somewhat environmental projects such as ocean preservation, permaculture, beach clean-ups, sustainable tourism, or working with animals. I also love writing, so am happy to help with blogs, grant applications, articles et cetera. I have done several workaways before (in Indonesia), including: writing for a local magazine, permaculture projects, teaching English to children, creating sustainable tourism, helping with an arts project, and some DIY projects. I'm very disciplined and hard-working, but also creative and good at dealing with unexpected situations. I would love to share my skills with people and learn new ones. I'm a very social person but also appreciate having moments for myself sometimes- to go on walks, drives, swimming and snorkeling. I enjoy doing workaways where I can learn about the local culture and language.

Don't hesitate to ask me anything!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
Indonesian: Intermediate
Italian: Intermediate
French: 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.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
Charity Work
Some knowledge of:
DIY and building projects
Being an elderly companion
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Art Projects
Helping with Computers/ Internet
General Maintenance
House sitting
Able to teach about:
Languages
Teaching
More details about your skills
Languages:
English and Dutch: native speaker; I also read German, Italian, Indonesian and French but only speak these on a basic level.

Teaching:
I have experience tutoring, especially teaching languages, and would be confident teaching English.

Animals:
I have some experience caring for horses and helped out at a ranch for a brief Workaway trip in the past. I broadly follow the concept of natural horsemanship, though I am not too knowledgeable on individual methods. I can ride but have not done so much recently. Very keen to learn, and also happy to help out with other animals!

Other:
I may be small-looking but I'm actually quite strong! I love woodcarving and have some experience with building from previous workaways. I'm also good at writing: blogposts, poetry, lengthy scholarly articles, you name it. I'm first-aid trained and have a driving license. Also great at baking pancakes.
Age
29
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Peanuts
- Special dietary requirements
  I'm vegetarian, but happy to just eat whatever is available or cook for myself!

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2 Mar 2020

Left by host (Learn and experience Batak ...) for Workawayer ()

Bianca is amazing! She stay with us around 2 weeks. Since the first day she get Jetlag after long flight from London to Medan. Bianca helped a lot of program here. She teach english, she learning our traditional Dance from Batak Culture, she help our garden. she join all of program here including to Recycle program. I am also very happy when… read more

(Excellent )

27 Feb 2020

Left by Workawayer () for host (Learn and experience Batak ...)

This is a really special place with some really special people. I stayed here for two and a half weeks and had many wonderful, mostly unexpected experiences. I loved teaching English to the small children, who all came to hug me at the end of each class. I also taught English at a local high school, and the students were really enthusiastic and… read more keen to learn, so unlike European students! I went to the German education centre several times and felt so welcome there: Rebecca, the head of the centre, is a very inspiring person and made me delicious vegetarian food! Daniel and his team (especially Anna and Josua) really care about the project and about helping Batak people, which I found very inspiring. Daniel has to organise a thousand things all by himself so was often busy, but there was always someone around to talk to or help me. Daniel helped me organise all my transport, and a guide and accommodation for my trip to Bukit Lawang, and Anna took me and another girl on a nice trip to Lake Toba.
When I arrived I wasn't sure what work I was supposed to do because no one asked me to help, but eventually I just joined the projects that the rest of the team was working on, and the many events and teaching classes that were organised. As has been pointed out in other reviews, your main job (apart from teaching) is to help Daniel promote his project to local governments and visitors by just being present. I learned a lot about Batak culture because Daniel hosts many events with traditional Batak dance, music etc. They also organised a recycling event for local children, with an artist who gave a workshop on making art from plastic, which was awesome. They are trying to educate local children on environmental issues like plastic waste, which we Europeans can learn a thing or two from! The food was a bit plain, but only because I'm vegetarian. Try the chocolate fruit though, it's delicious!
Being at this place was a wonderful and humbling experience, and I miss Anna, Josua and the little children from the English class a lot! Daniel, although a bit quiet, is a truly inspiring entrepreneur with a wonderful vision and a kind heart, and I believe that he will make the place into an even greater success. If you are looking for a real Indonesian experience (including Indonesian chaos, just roll with it) and want to really feel like you are changing lives, come to Siantar!

(Excellent )

11 Dec 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Creative writers and ...)

This was my first workaway and an unforgettable experience! Gili Air is a little treasure, way more amazing than I expected. There is so much to see and do, without being too crowded or touristy, and there's a lovely community of locals and expats: so many inspiring people who care about the island and are trying to help preserve all its beauty.… read more

(Excellent )

8 Dec 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join a hostel and restaurant ...)

Nias island will always occupy a special little corner in my heart. South-Nias has a unique and ancient culture that is still largely untouched by Western influences and tourism, and there are many beautiful and fascinating places to visit: it's not just surfing- there are beaches, islands, waterfalls, jungle rivers (with crocodiles), traditional… read more

(Excellent )

5 Dec 2019

Left by host (Join a hostel and restaurant ...) for Workawayer ()

Bianca is simply amazing! When she arrived she planned to stay with us only 2 weeks and she ended up leaving 2 months later! Since the first day she is been showing great diplomatic skills and thanks to her dutchness she managed and helped out with a lot of building projects: many Bamboo shelf(always better than the previous one), she designed and… read more

(Excellent )

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