Chantal

Travel information

I am currently

Description

I have always been curious about other cultures - Belgium is a bit small :-).. That's why I moved to France and Italy for a few years and worked in tourism in Turkey, Thailand and, again, Italy. Italy and Turkey feel like second homes to me now... But I love the whole mediterrean area...
Apart from tourism, I also worked as a language teacher, in customer service. I also did secretarial and more general office work for many years.

Due to a number of reasons - of my own choice (taking care of my mother) - and not - accidents (they happen!) - I haven't always been able to travel as much as I would have liked, so I want to somewhat catch up now that I stopped working.- which I did not want to, actually. I need to be active.. But after discovering workaway, I concluded that this could be an even more interesting way of working for me now.

My skills are very much in the "human" field : I am empathic and patient, I like listening to people, helping to solve their problems.... So tourism and customer service were my favourite jobs...But I like being outdoors too - I also have to: I don't drive, so I move around by train and bike. So I am also interested in helping with gardening, farming (I pick my own vegetables with an organic farmer, I see how much work needs to be done there)...

I appreciate straightforward and honest people. I have friends of all ages, but most of them are a good deal younger than I am, and that works very well, keeps me young too 🙂.

I am not at all interested in social media - I don't have a smart phone, just an "old fashioned" mobile one. But what does interest me is researching on independent internet channels to find out what is happening "behind the scenes", what you don't hear or see on mainstream media. Natural healing and body care has also become a passion: healthy food (but I still have a sweet tooth 🙂), water, essential oils, sauna, fascia, massage, light and sound frequencies... I like reading, walking, cycling, swimming (I love being near the sea..), clothes - I find them second-hand too (I helped out for more than 20 years in a vintage shop) - , colours, decorating... I enjoy discovering little restaurants and cafés, hidden spots in a town, in nature...

I feel it is going to be hard to choose at workaway because there are so many countries and opportunities that appeal to me!

Interests

Art & design

Nature

Books

Languages

Yoga / Wellness

Fitness

Beach

Cycling

Languages spoken

German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Gardening

Being an elderly companion

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Charity Work

House sitting

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Some knowledge of:  

Hospitality/Tourism

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Teaching

More details about your skills

I am good at languages: I am a native dutch speaker, but my french is nearly as good as my dutch. I studied english and german, and speak Italian very well due to my years there (and listening to lots of italian programms).
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I don't have children of my own, but did years of babysitting, worked several times as an au pair when I was young.

I love being outside, moving... so helping out with gardening, in the fields... would be nice

Age

65

What else ...

I don't count the hours when there is work to do, but I am not a person who gets up at 6, and I always take a break after lunch.

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
  No, but I eat lots of vegetables, fruit...Keeps you in good shape! I don't eat meat every day, but I definitely don't want to be vegan or vegetarian