Carla

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Kia Ora,

A bit about myself..

I'm born in the Netherlands where I've trained and worked as a nurse and later as a massage therapist. After extensive travel and work overseas, I immigrated to New Zealand in 1993, where I've been living for 25 years. I


I love New Zealand and its beautiful nature, with much potential for sustainable ecological living and its close knit communities. Initially my partner (at the time) and myself opened up a restaurant, which was fun and very succesfull.

After our separation while solo parenting two beautiful boys, I did a counselling and craniosacral therapy training .
I then started working from a private clinic as a counsellor, massage therapist and craniosacral therapist. One day a week I did volunteer counselling at a local woman center and at a school. Together with some other like-minded women, we started a womens sacred circle which has enriched all our lives and is still going strong after 25 years.

For a while I'd lived in a yurt of the grid, living mostly of a beautiful, very productive vegetable garden , swapping organic vegetables for olive oil and other goodies with neighbors and friends. I love a simple lifestyle closely connected with nature and working together within a community.

In 2018 I returned to the Netherlands to spend time with family, esspecially my mum who is fragile on the one hand ,and at the same time she's still going strong at 92yrs old.

In the Netherlands I have since been working at an hospice as a specialised palliative care nurse. It may sound strange to some, but I absolutely love my work in the hospice...to be able to nurse and guide human beings at this precious time facing the end of their life as they know it, being with them when they cross over, is very humbling to say the least. I like the holistic aproach in the hospice, looking out for the persons needs on a spiritual, emotional and physical level, offering complementary care if the need is there, as well as working together and guiding a great team of dedicated volunteers. It is a place where tears and laughter are shared , with an enormous dosis of love and often humour.

However, in october last year I got offered a great opportunity to cross the atlantic ocean as a crew member on a catamaran. So I've decided to take a break from my work and go for it. I now have just completed the crossing and I am ready for new beginnings...

Hence puting out this profile on workaway...I love to do some volunteering for 2 months.

I am interested in working around health and wellbeing, retreats etc.
Also volunteering in humanitarian projects, ecological sustainable living, and contributing in growing peaceful conscious communities.

Values which I hold close to my heart are transparency, loyalty, contribute/work with dedication and heart/ love.

Some of the qualities that others have mentioned about me in previous work, are empathy, compassion, caring, organised/practical.

My experience is in holistic care like mentioned above (e.g. counselling, massage) Also permaculture/gardening, living of the grid, hospitality, management, co-creating sharing/sacred circles, community living, sailing, preparing food, a little bit of handy and building work and a good dosis of life experience.

What I love to do in my free time;
Swim in the sea/ocean year around.
Walking on the beach or forrest.
Reading.
Sharing a meal with a good friend
Meditating.
Yoga
Listen to inspiring teachers.
Just be.

What I like to learn / grow in;
# Preparing/cooking plant based food/vegan meals
# Looking better after myself/ boundaries
# Truly believing and embracing abundance
# Building with natural materials
# always more to learn in maintaining healthy conscious relationships starting with myself.
# ...and so much more, one is never too old to learn I believe!

I am aware of our responsibility for looking after our planet, each other and ourselves with love, kindness and commitment.

If I sound like the right person for you and your project, then please contact me!

I am available from half januari - april 2025.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Warm greetings,

Catharina

Interests

Plant care

Music

Cooking & food

Beach

Hiking

Charity work

Pets

Sustainability

Gardening

Dancing

Self development

Camping

Vegetarian or vegan

Sailing / Boating

Outdoor activities

Books

Animals

Yoga / Wellness

Nature

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent

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 I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Eco Projects

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Some knowledge of:  

Hospitality/Tourism

Gardening

Babysitting and creative play

Being an elderly companion

Animal Care

More details about your skills

Nursing, counselling/communication skills, facilitating women circle, gardening/permaculture, sailing, some building skills, child care, animal care, host and management skills, customer service, caregiver, Massage therapy, cooking. Willingness to grow and learn!

Age

63

Some more information

• 

  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

• 

  Allergies
  no

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  Special dietary requirements
  prefer local/vegetarian