Leslie

& Gregory

Travel information

We are currently

Description

Hello! Our family (Leslie, Greg, & son Kiko 8yo) has taken this year to travel and see the world together. We wanted to show our son different ways of being that could help us connect with a more community/love/care based model than the money/success driven model our home country seems to glorify so much. We also wanted to see who we might become once we stepped out of our comfort zones.

So far it has been an interesting process of self discovery for each of us, each day arriving in a new head and heart space. Leslie and Greg have each practiced Vipassana meditation for the last 10-15 years and we feel like this journey is an opportunity for us to really bring the practice off the cushion and into the real world. Each day we are learning to find ease and comfort in uncertainty and practice love and acceptance when we’re uncomfortable. And we are getting plenty of opportunities! We are also finding moments to relish in the togetherness and the shared joy of seeing the world through our 8 year old’s perspective.

Our journey together can get kind of isolating when it is just the three of us each day, and we are hopeful that workaway is a chance for us to connect more deeply with the communities we travel to, while also showing our son the beauty of generosity and mutual care. We’re also hoping to help him meet some more kids, as he is missing his classmates!

Our greatest happiness comes from time spent together in nature as a family. And cuddling cats, each of us loves to cuddle cats. :)

Interests

Writing

Yoga / Wellness

Vegetarian or vegan

Sustainability

Self development

Photography

Pets

Outdoor activities

Nature

Mountain

History

Hiking

Gardening

Farming

DIY & crafts

Culture

Cooking & food

Camping

Books

Beach

Animals

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate

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.

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:  

Charity Work

Eco Projects

Gardening

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Babysitting and creative play

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Some knowledge of:  

Languages

DIY and building projects

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

General Maintenance

Helping with Computers/ Internet

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Able to teach about:  

Teaching

More details about your skills

Together we have renovated two homes, and fixed up a third (lots of projects, but not such a complete renovation). In our first home Greg installed new hardwood flooring, did a lot of patchwork to walls and moulding, and together we did a lot of painting (interior and exterior). In our second home, we resurfaced and built out a new section of our deck, built and installed a Japanese soaking hot tub (from a kit), completed substantial parts of our kitchen remodel (including appliance and cabinet installations), and again painted a lot! Greg also installed new bathroom vanities and took on some basic plumbing issues. In our third home Greg replaced our toilet and some of our electrical fixtures. He sealed and patched our concrete steps and built the handrails to our city’s code.

In college Leslie interned in a historic cabinet making shop, learning 18th and 19th century methods of woodworking (think hand planes and mortise and tenon joints). While she’s no expert woodworker, she does feel very comfortable building things. Anytime we purchase furniture, she is the one to put it together (with Greg’s help if it involves super heavy lifting!).

Greg has completed Phase 1 of the Earthship Academy’s program in sustainable building practices. With Leslie’s support he built out a van for our family during the pandemic—learning much along the way!

We are independent workers, and with some initial guidance can feel comfortable/happy to take on projects on our own.

We both love children and are always looking for ways to involve our son in learning opportunities. Leslie homeschooled him throughout the pandemic (kindergarten and first grade—teaching him to read), and together we are currently world schooling him on our trip.

When Leslie is not working (very) part time as a consultant for meditation teachers, she teaches mindfulness/Vipassana practices to children and adults and would happily share if there is interest. Greg is taking some time off from his career as a civil rights attorney, and is also a meditation teacher—leading retreats and daylongs in nature meditation practices. You can see more about his work here: www.awakeinthewild.com/guide-gregory-crespo/
and Leslie’s: www.mindfulnessonline.us.

Greg is an excellent cook, and is always coming up with new creations in the kitchen. And Leslie is an excellent baker--she is often happiest when she has bread rising or cookies in the oven.

Age

41 & 48

What else ...

We have brought some fun games with us on our trip (Sleeping Queens, Pass the Pigs), and would love to play them with you. And while it is not our personal areas of delight, our son would love for you to know that he loves Minecraft and Pokemon; he also has been enjoying learning chess this year, and is always happy to share a joke or a riddle (or a lot of jokes and riddles!).

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  Avocado, quinoa, stone fruit, melons

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  Special dietary requirements
  Can’t eat: Avocado, quinoa, stone fruit, or melons; due to some sensitivities our son has a pretty limited diet, but we can bring most foods for him