Profile information
Description
Hello, we are Melinda and Chris, we are incredibly excited to be embarking on a career break from our life and jobs in Edinburgh to explore and experience more of the wider world.
We are both hardworking, friendly, and looking forward to really immersing ourselves in different cultures and ways of living, whilst also contributing to something worthwhile.
In Edinburgh we are both active volunteers for a charity called Venture Scotland, which enables young people to enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Our volunteer roles include maintenance of a bothy (a Scottish word for a refuge hut in the mountains) and taking groups of young people on activities such as kayaking and abseiling. Through this we have learnt a variety of skills ranging from cooking a chilli for 15 people, building paths, building confidence, creating safe environments, and flooring attic spaces.
Interests
Self development
Pets
Charity work
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Books
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Cycling
Camping
Beach
Adventure sports
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerMore 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.
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Teaching
Animal Care
More details about your skills
A bit about Melinda,
I love adventure, I love the outdoors, I love building things with my hands, I love getting out of my comfort zone and I love animals.
Skills wise, humm…I can make a great veg chilli and spicy bean hotpot. I have a lot of experience of working with groups of people, facilitating learning and presenting to large audiences. Practical wise, as well as the above, I am always willing to give something a go, I learn quick ish and also able to use my own initiative.
As a job I coach entrepreneurs to build themselves and their businesses. I am also a qualified yoga teacher.
I'm not afraid of a challenge and living in difficult conditions, including living on a beach in Mexico, waking up to crabs on my face and scorpions in the toilet; to sleeping in huts in arctic conditions and hiking to 5642m (mount Elbrus).
My main philosophy in life is to be kind, to myself, to others and to the world. I have had lots of challenges in life and these have enabled me to build great resilience and a growth mindset.
A bit about Chris
I work as an Educational Psychologist, supporting vulnerable children and families in an area of Scotland. This involves working as part of a range of teams to help improve difficult and complex situations; it is a demanding and rewarding job, which I really enjoy - though after 15yrs, I’m excited to be taking this career break!
In my spare time, I like to balance work with getting outdoors & doing things with my hands.
I am a keen hiker; I have climbed a hundred and twenty-something (not that anyone’s counting!) of Scotland’s tallest mountains, and recently loved a self-guided, multi-day hut-to-hut trek in the Italian Dolomites.
I am a lifelong cyclist; as well as battling Scotland’s hills & weather in the saddle, I love taking my bike abroad to solo-tour across & around new countries.
I have also recently started learning some basic woodworking skills and have built my first piece of furniture.
I am happy on my own and enjoy little more than the solitude of a day on the mountains.
I also enjoy working as part of a team and am comfortable taking on responsibility or leadership.
I have lots of experience leading and navigating group hiking activities.
I really enjoy opportunities to learn about new people, cultures, and histories - ideally by getting to travel, meet folk, and hear their stories!
Other bits that might be relevant…I have a full UK driving licence and lots of experience driving abroad, I love animals, I really enjoy working with children, I love cooking for myself and others…oh, and I have a Scuba Diving qualification!
Age
44 & 44
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Special dietary requirements
Photos
Friends
Feedback
The work was varied, from helping chop down trees, shovelling snow, feeding the dogs, lifting & shifting a wide range of stuff around the property, to baking cakes. It was hardwork, challenging and very rewarding.
It was a… read more
