Billie & Yumemi

Travel information

We are currently

Description

On the small southern island of lutrawita/ Tasmania, during some cold dark winter night (it might not have been, but this detail adds the the allure), Yumemi was searching for emergency temporary housing for a teenager in need. She ended up dropping that teenager off to Billie. Months later Billie and Yumemi ran into each other at a hip hop dance class. After that Billie helped Yumemi build a 20m slide for somen noodles for her upcoming art installation. In return Billie taught Yumemi how to kill a chicken. This is their story.
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In 2025 we have taken a year off of our respective jobs (both working in youth education, engagement, and arts) to have a sabbatical. It's not the quite "Eat, Pray, Love" variety~ neither of us are trying to find a lost sense of self and our midlives are years away yet~ but we are giving ourself plenty of opportunities for the world to throw some curveballs and to get our hair windblown. Essentially, we have retired until we run out of money. But as we know having a few retired friends: a lot of retirees tend to be the busiest, most passionate, most-engaged-with-the-world people. Our selling point is that we still have functional hips and knees.

This year we've got an eye to making art, but we also find that there is no better joy and no better source of inspiration that to get into the weeds with people, help where we can, and genuinely participate in communities.

Collectively we have worked in schools, farms, galleries, offices, homes, factories, and international waters. Billie studied ecological science and education, and has worked in regenerative farming, community gardens, as a beekeeper, and a kindergarten and high school teacher. Yumemi moved to Australia from Japan, by herself, at the age of 13 and studied fine arts. She's made ceramics, blown glass, made fashion shows out of old kimonos, and currently works in program design and facilitation for young people through art in local councils. We have both been involved in social justice campaigns and community projects. We've both dug holes, planted trees, cleaned houses, and done all sorts of odd-jobs.

In our spare time you might find us hiking, reading books, free-diving in the ocean, or cooking delicious meals. From all accounts we tend to laugh a lot and have some fairly interesting conversations.

Billie uses they/them pronouns and Yumemi uses she/hers. All fine if that's all new to you, but we do ask that you are compassionate to difference in cultural perspectives.

If you would like to know more, get in touch!

Interests

Farming

Politics / Social justice

Sustainability

LGBTQ

Culture

Charity work

Music

History

Plant care

Art & design

DIY & crafts

Books

Cooking & food

Gardening

Photography

Writing

Performing arts

Drawing & painting

Carpentry

Animals

Cycling

Team sports

Sailing / Boating

Mountain

Hiking

Outdoor activities

Nature

Dancing

Camping

Beach

Languages spoken

English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Italian: Beginner

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

Some knowledge of:  

Charity Work

Eco Projects

Being an elderly companion

DIY and building projects

Helping around the house

General Maintenance

House sitting

Languages

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Able to teach about:  

Art Projects

Teaching

Gardening

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Babysitting and creative play

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Hospitality/Tourism

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

Both Yumemi and Billie have worked in a wide array of jobs, most recently in youth engagement, education, and the arts (Yumemi as a Youth Arts Officer for local councils and Billie as a Teacher).
We are both compassionate, patient, and good communicators. Beyond this, we are both capable humans, both having upbringings outdoors and country, and understand (and love) a bit of hard work. We are mature, curious, critical thinkers, and are able to navigate conflict with grace. We like to think we have a good sense of humour too.

To make it an easier read we might just make a little list of tangible skills we bring, just in case...
- Horticultural and Agricultural experience (particularly community garden facilitation, small scale market gardens, and traditional methods of community planting)
- Animal Husbandry (Goats, cattle, horses)
- Experience in tools and machinery (power tools, chainsaws, tractors, etc)
- Apiarist (Billie worked as a beekeeper for 3 years)
- Basic construction (Timber framing, installation, cob, bamboo)
- Project and Event Planning and Management
- Volunteer and Team Coordination and Facilitation
- Design and artistic practices
- Use of Technology

We also write, make ceramics, blow glass, run workshops, cook feasts, and both been clumsy for long enough that we have developed keen reflexes. Dogs tend to like us... if that says anything.

What can't we do?!? In all seriousness we are humble but confident in our abilities. We are pretty good to have around.

Age

34 & 31

What else ...

We make art, read books, write things, go for hikes, go swimming, cook elaborately, and love a good wine with friends.
We tend to be generally interested in the world which means we find interesting things wherever we go.
We might get obsessive about a particular weed and go on a research tangent about it for weeks. We might meet an Aunty in the street and spend the next Wednesday afternoon helping her sort her photo albums. We might make friends with a shopkeeper and convince them to teach us how to practice a very niche trade. We might just sit in the grass and enjoy the breeze... We just like to interact with the world and give time and space for those experiences.

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