Valarie

United States
Login to see last activity

Badges (1)

Photos

View all

Give the gift of Workaway

Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Central Greece, Greece - from Apr 2025 until Jun 2025
View all
Description
My name is Valarie and though I was born in the big city of Los Angeles, California, I grew up in a rural location in mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco where my family grew many trees and plants, and also raised many animals. It was a very unique childhood that cultivated in me a deep appreciation for Nature and love for animals. When I started college, I chose to study medicine (though I was also very much interested in arts/writing), which led me to living the city life in the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, Oregon for my entire adult life. While I was working in a large hospital with cancer patients, I began questioning the root cause(s) of cancer. This question led me to study Naturopathic and Classical Chinese medicines for 7 years in Portland, Oregon. After finishing school, I moved back to California. After being in private medical practice for seven years and experiencing some health challenges of my own, I decided to travel in Europe and write my first book. In March of last year, I began volunteering to help farmers through WWOOF and I have learned some new things and gained skills in sustainable, organic methods of growing and building things. Last, though certainly not least, I am on this wild and fantastic adventure with my beloved dog, Buttons.
Interests
Pets
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Charity work
Languages
Plant care
Writing
Drawing & painting
Gardening
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Animals
Team sports
Dancing
Mountain
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Beach
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Being an elderly companion
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Some knowledge of:
Babysitting and creative play
Helping around the house
Helping with Computers/ Internet
DIY and building projects
Able to teach about:
Languages
Art Projects
Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
Animal Care
Life at a Farmstay
Creating/ Cooking family meals
House sitting
Charity Work
More details about your skills
List of skills that I can offer:
Healthcare
Teaching (eg health, life skills, English)
Food preparation
Gardening/Farming
Cleaning
Animal care
Age
50
What else ...
I enjoy hiking and being outdoors with my dog, exploring new places, meeting new people and learning about new cultures. I also am cultivating a meditative lifestyle in which I spend time drawing and painting things in Nature.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  mold, potatoes, oranges
- Special dietary requirements

Website Safety

Feedback

13 May 2025

Left by host (Join us and experience a ...) for Workawayer ()

For the first time in 3 years on Workaway I met such a difficult person.
After we spoke on the phone, I agreed to host her earlier even though I already had a workawayer she had to share the apartment with. I hosted her in my bedroom with all my personal belongings, for her to have more privacy.
On the first day I saw her lock my room, when I… read more explained to her that we are not a hotel and that my personal belongings that I need every day are in there, she replied that she had a bad experience and was afraid of the other workawayer.
On the second day, I explained to her that I have two simple rules: first, she should ask me for anything of mine she wants to use, and second, she should put back anything she uses.
On the third day I saw that she was eating my food even though I was clear about how much food I could provide. We went to the supermarket to buy if she wanted anything more. Despite this, she continued to use my things like opening and eating the almond paste, opening a new jar of coconut oil, and not using the already opened jar. She made a salad with half of my expensive ingredients without asking me even though I told her I wouldn't try it because of the many ingredients in it. With the dessert she also made with my ingredients without asking me, she stained the entire freezer with orange juice and didn't even think to clean it. She spilled cream in my kitchen drawer and she just covered it with kitchen paper without cleaning it.
When I made comments to her about simple things about how to use my kitchen properly, she would reply: I forgot or ah too many rules in here to remember (that's rude!!!).
#redacted#One of the tasks she had to do was clean the windows, she refused the mild detergent so she said she would clean them with vinegar. I explained to her that because of the spring pollen they wouldn't clean well, so the result was that the windows were foggier than before
On the fourth day, she really pissed me off when I discovered that without asking, she took summer blankets and used a heater that wasn't for use instead of telling me that she was cold so I could give her what she needed. I also discovered that she was opening my personal drawers and closets, so I asked her to sit down and talk and if we don't find ways, she should leave. She started talking nonsense and locked herself in the room until the next morning. We were waiting for her at breakfast but she didn't show up, so I decided to check if she was okay. When I entered the room, it was hell! She had left and the room was very dirty, it smelled bad and all the blankets were covered with dog hair even though I told her that her dog can't sleep on my bed and I even gave her a dog bed that I had, there was also dog hair and mud all over the sofas and floor that she didn't clean it. I had also told her that she should have the dog near her so that the cats wouldn't be afraid, and she had him off-leash and fed the dog with cat food.
She made me feel sick and uncomfortable in my own home.
Thanks to the other workawayer and his support, I was able to get over it in the following days and continue peacefully.
It was a real nightmare for me that will make me very strict with my choices in the future

(Negative )