Nadja

Germany
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
Searching for a host in Italy from beginning of August till end of October/ beginning of November 2023.
Description
+++ Pre-info: At this moment I am looking for a host in Italy, some town or city where I can attend Italian classes during the morning and be a helping hand for you in the afternnons/ evenings.+++

+++ I am searching for a stay from mid July until end of October/ beginning of November 2023 +++

Dear hosts, workawayers and adventure seekers out there,

I welcome you with a warm smile and a big hug on my profile. I am more than happy having you here!

I am Nadja: advanced child care taker, animal friend, former lapland christmas elf, traveler, one of 5 siblings, owner of a big, open heart, pilgrim, ukulele beginner, artist and much more.

What I can offer are two helping hands and a pretty clever brain for all sorts of support.
I got experience in the field of marketing, child care, tour guiding, know how to keep places tidy and clean, I am good and respectful with animals, can cook and bake (preferible vegetarian), can draw beautiful pictures of animals and speak fluent German, English and Spanish.

I am open-minded and curious about everything that´s new, no matter if people, places or situations. Traveling has made me spontaneous, independent, adaptable and humble in recent years. I love having people around me, but also enjoy time and space for myself. I would describe myself as optimistic and cheerful. If I don't like something, it's lack of fairness and disrespect. I use to treat others as I would expect them to do.

So in case, this profile makes you a little more curious about me, don't hesitate to leave me a message :)

Loads of love,
Nadja
Interests
Plant care
Astronomy
Performing arts
Books
Events & social
Cooking & food
Sustainability
Cycling
Languages
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Vegetarian or vegan
Self development
Music
Charity work
History
Fitness
Movies & TV
Mountain
DIY & crafts

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Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I am coming to Italy mainly for learning Italian. In exchange I would also be happy to teach German, English or Spanish.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Some knowledge of:
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Art Projects
Able to teach about:
Babysitting and creative play
Helping around the house
Charity Work
Languages
Teaching
More details about your skills
Professionally, I come from the field of marketing, studied Business Administration with a spezialisation in marketing and worked afterwards a couple of years in an advertising agency and the marketing department of a big german company where I was mainly responsable for social media, project management and customer service.

In 2013, I spent one year as au-pair in the US and still have, until today, a lot to do with children and teenagers due to family, friends and other workawy experience. Playing, helping with homework, entertaining, outside activities ... all a piece of cake ;)

During my time in Spain and jobs in Finland, I gained experience as tourguide.

Besides, I love working with animals, especially dogs. I just love their pure and honest soul!

You should know that I don't mind getting my hands dirty at all. I do not fear hard work like gardening, harvesting or anything like that. (would probably need some instruction, though)

I am fluent in German, English and Spanish. The next language I want to add to the list is Italien - my goal for 2023!
Age
34
What else ...
Update from March 2023:
I am looking for a workaway position in Italy - in or close to a town with language schools for Italian. I could imagine to attend classes in the morning and being available for work in the afternoons/ evenings.

Right now I am looking for the entire month of April 2023.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  no
- Special dietary requirements
  I am vegetarian, but cook for myself even mostly vegan.

Feedback

25 Mar 2023

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host (Join our family and help us ...)

Unfortunately I was not able to match with Agnese and her family (yet), due to our time tables. Stil I can say that the communication (in text messages, video call and voice message) with Agnese was always friendly, respectful, positive, calm and warm. Also she never lets you wait for a response.
5/5 stars for great communication.
Thank´s a lot.

(Excellent )

12 Sep 2021

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host (Help our kid to learn ...)

Short description of my experience:
At first place, the family and I planned to stay together for about 2,5 months. At the end 365 days have past.

Long description of my experience:
The family, this is Juanfe, Montse, their 3 year old Lola and the youngest member Blanca, who has now almost 11 months.
When I got to know them over a year ago,… read more they were just three and I was totally convinced to stay in Cádiz capital, where I already had spent some weeks at that point. I did not realize by reading their profile, that they actually live in Jerez. After messaging a little back and forth, we quickly decided to meet. After the first sentences I noticed, they did not live in Cádiz and I started feeling terrible inside since they came all the way over to meet me. We did not meet for a very long time, had just a drink and interesting conversations (as far as my spanish at that point would allow it). But this little time together was enough to totally fall in love with them and open myself to the idea to move to Jerez.

A couple weeks later I would then move to their really gorgeous place which I quickly used to call home. They were afraid I might not like it, but honestly there was nothing at all that you possibly could not like. A spacious, clean, bright, lovely furnished and kind of separated part of their apartment was now mine. I don't know how to describe it, but I had a really deep feeling inside of being at the right time, at the right place, with the right people.

For that reason it scared me off that the upcoming first week with Lola was the toughest I could ever imagine. She was just 2, I was totally new to her, she was tightly bonded to her mom and did not want me at all. And she did not miss any situation to show me exactly this. It was hard and I really believed the family would blow the project off. It was their first experience with a care taker living with them. Then exactly after one week, it was the first time, Lola purposely smiled at me and saying "Buenos días" without being forced by her parents. A huge stone fell off my heart, everyone in the area could probably hear it. This little guesture meant so much to me that I returned to my room to cry.
Lola can be really stubborn, but so can I. We had some tough fights and arguments and got both sometimes quite mad at each other. It was a long way to gain her trust and respect, to make her accept me and to finally reserve a little spot in her heart for myself. But all the work was definitely worth it. Now she calls me "Mama Nadja". And yes, I feel like a fusion of older sister and mother to her.
Lola is a really smart girl, very competitive and self confident. She loves being creative, likes to rearrange things and has been talking since she was 2 in a way some kids with 6 years are not able to speak. Playing with her is really fun. She is open for new ideas, loves to dress up in her costumes and would run and jump around all day when letting her.

Then in October last year, Blanca was born. The in my eyes happiest and most beautiful baby in the world. Blanca is most of the time easy going. She is able to spend some time playing on her own, she dearly loves her sister and gets more and more active every single day.
Taking care of them both at the same time is normally well manageble.

What I really appreciate, and I know it is nothing ordinary, is that Juanfe and Montse trusted me from the very first day on. They trusted me with their home, their belongings, their money and their most valuable treasures: their children. It was never at issue to test me, to check on my work or to keep a watch on me. They knew I would give my best and take good care of their girls.
Montse and Juanfe made me a member of their family with everything that comes with it: They took me to meet their families and friends, invited me for celebrations, helped me with spanish bureaucracy, helped me when I felt sick, showed me around places, and made no big deal of cooking vegetarin for me. They are very open-minded, open to new dishes, open to listen to life stories, open to suggestions, ... It makes them both rally happy seeing you with their little ones trying out new handicraft, new games or whatever is creative.
Juanfe especially loves making fun about my future spanish husband (who I haven't found yet ;-P).

I could write an entire book about my spanish family. But let me just end with this:
Meeting these individuals was the best that could have happened to me. I am blessed to be called family member by them. And I wish to keep this bond with them forever.

(Excellent )

12 Oct 2020

Left by host (Enjoy a vegan experience and ...) for Workawayer (Nadja)

We can only consider ourselves lucky to have met Nadja and to have had her in our lives. She came to us at a difficult time, following the lockdown in Spain and we needed help, so much help. Nadja jumped in and had our backs the entire time she was here. We knew that we could rely on her, regardless of the situation. She was always there with a… read more

(Excellent )

17 Sep 2020

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host (Enjoy a vegan experience and ...)

Gib was du kannst und bekomme noch mehr zurück!

Ich bin eine der Glücklichen, die 8 Wochen auf der Finca verbringen durfte, Ninas und James' kleinem Paradies, irgendwo im Nirgendwo (so fühlte es sich für mich zumindest an). Gegen Ende wollte ein Teil von mir gar nicht mehr weg und das aus gutem Grund. Ich kann diesen Ort jedem guten Gewissens ans… read more Herz legen, egal ob Gast oder Helfer und hoffe, dass er noch lange so erhalten bleibt.

Nina und James sind sehr offene und kommunikative Herzensmenschen. Man befindet sich in einer liebevollen Atmosphäre, es wird viel geredet, erörtert, diskutiert und manchmal eben auch gestritten. Kommunikation ist beiden überaus wichtig und der feste Grundstein für so ziemlich Alles. Mir zeigten sie, dass sie an mir als Person interessiert sind und ich nicht nur ein weiterer Helfer bin, der in Kürze sowieso weiterzieht. Sie sind ernsthaft interessiert und besorgt um eine gute Zusammenarbeit und das Wohlergehen ihrer Helfer. Es war für mich jederzeit ein respektvolles und faires Verhältnis. Ich habe mich nicht nur als Teil des Teams, sondern als Teil der Familie gefühlt.

Doch neben all dem Idyll, machen wir uns nichts vor, auf der Finca lauert unbeschreiblich viel Arbeit! Ob im Garten, in der Küche, bei der Vorbereitung der Gästehäuser, der allgemeinen Instandhaltung, beim Bewässern, der Bespaßung des kleinen Lenny, dem Wocheneinkauf, der Poolpflege, im Marketing und Handwerkeln... die Liste ist niemals abgearbeitet. In diesem Sinne wird alles und jeder gebraucht! Nina und James sind für jede Art Hilfe überaus dankbar und wissen jeden Einsatz an Zeit, Arbeit und Schweiß wertzuschätzen. Die Anstrengungen werden wahrgenommen und wenn man mehr tut, als eigentlich vereinbart, sind sie stets bestrebt, Ausgleiche und Freiräume zu schaffen.
Eigeninitiative, Zuverlässigkeit und Selbständigkeit bei der Arbeit sind unabdingbar. Im Gegenzug bekam ich Vertrauen und die Möglichkeit, Entscheidungen zu meiner Arbeit selbst treffen zu können. Etwas, das ich sehr mochte, bin ich doch kein Freund davon, dass mir ständig jemand bei jedem Schritt auf die Finger schaut. Selbst ohne Erfahrung in so manchem Bereich, gibt es immer eine offene Tür an der steht "Kein Problem, probier' dich aus und lerne. Und wenn es daneben geht, ist es auch in Ordnung."
Man wird nie zu etwas gezwungen. Alles wird, soweit möglich, am Vortag besprochen und Einsätze je nach Stärken und Vorlieben geplant. Je nach Aufgabe ist eine freie Zeiteinteilung möglich oder auch nicht.

Meine Hauptaufgaben bestanden in der Vorbereitung der Gästehäuser, Gartenarbeit und der Betreuung von Lenny. Ans Kochen habe ich mich nicht herangewagt, übersteigt das gebotene Level an veganer Küche meines doch um Welten! Dafür habe ich mich bei der Vor- und Nachbereitung engagiert, was absolut in Ordnung war. Für Nina und James ist einfach wichtig, dass man sich einbringt, egal wie und wo.

In meinen 8 Wochen habe ich die Familie und die Finca in vielen Situationen kennengelernt, den schönen, aber auch den stressigen. Dies hat mich dazu gebracht, mehr über mich selbst in Erfahrung zu bringen und für meine Persönlichkeit viele Dinge mitzunehmen. Es ist weit mehr, als ich erwartet oder erhofft hatte. Ich weiß, dass ich die Finca und seine Herzensmenschen nicht das letzte Mal gesehen habe und freue mich auf die nächsten Wiedersehen.

Danke für Alles!

(Excellent )

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25 Mar 2023

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host (Join our family and help us ...)

(Excellent )

12 Sep 2021

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host (Help our kid to learn ...)

(Excellent )

12 Oct 2020

Left by host (Enjoy a vegan experience and ...) for Workawayer (Nadja)

(Excellent )

17 Sep 2020

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host (Enjoy a vegan experience and ...)

(Excellent )

30 Dec 2019

Left by host (Good food, ancient history ...) for Workawayer (Nadja)

Nadja is reliable, well organized, kind and polite.
She is perfect with children and knows how to involve them in smart activities.
Benedetta and Matteo had a good time with her.
She is also open to accept advices about interaction with children.

(Very good )

12 Dec 2019

Left by Workawayer (Nadja) for host (Good food, ancient history ...)

I am absolutely fortunate I found this family as my first workaway experience.

It was so much fun taking care of Benedetta for almost 5 weeks in october and november. She is lovely, open minded, knows exactly what is wrong and right. She is creative, intelligent, playful and always up for things she hasn't done before. Benedetta is so full of… read more

(Very good )

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