Dan & Carol

United States
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Travel information
We are currently
At home
Description
We are a flexible, friendly, very active and fit engaging couple who are each finishing careers in health and health teaching. We have both traveled extensively, and recently together are worked as volunteers in Asia and later in Scandinavia and Poland. We love hiking and exploring other cultures. We've done volunteer work on trail maintenance, program coordination, and teaching yoga (Carol) and meditation (Dan). We each have much experience teaching with children, teens, young and older adults. Some of that teaching is recent English as a second language. We would like to learn more in gardening and ecology and human rights and social welfare. Dan has varied science reading and volunteering interests in Colorado. Most recently we found a workaway with a Polish NGO who needed volunteers for a few weeks on the border of Ukraine, They are no longer listed here- they needed too many hours. As of September 2023 we live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Interests
Events & social
Art & design
Sailing / Boating
Plant care
Performing arts
Languages
Farming
Music
Animals
Books
Self development
Yoga / Wellness
Mountain
Sustainability
Writing
Technology
Photography
Charity work
Cooking & food
History
Hiking
Gardening
Blogging
Culture
Nature
Politics / Social justice
Outdoor activities
Languages spoken
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Life at a Farmstay
Animal Care
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
General Maintenance
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
Able to teach about:
Being an elderly companion
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Charity Work
Languages
More details about your skills
Dan: health assessment, nursing care, health teaching, teaching, computer and Internet as well as Microsoft Excel etc., office machinery, cleaning, sanitation, past CPR/ first aid trainer, basic sciences, basic carpentry and other repair skills, extensive travel in developing world. Medical literature research and health writing. Meditation teacher.
Mutual skills: ecology, cooking, computers,gardening, housekeeping, English teaching ESL course and multiple volunteer experiences, cooking.
Carol: health writer, Occupational Therapist, disabilities (physical and learning) in all age groups, gardening, yoga, developing world experience in Mexico and Central America.
Age
75 & 72
What else ...
Japanese flower arranging, preparing fossils. Some Asian cooking
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Dan is allergic to soy, but can have small amounts like soy sauce. Can eat cheese butter or cream, but not milk.
- Special dietary requirements
  If there is variety of food, no problem. No tofu, can eat vegetarian, like sometimes chicken or fish, occasional other meat

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26 Jun 2019

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Dan and Carol are an adorable and energetic couple with lots of stories to tell and experiences to share. I miss them and their captivating stories from months of volunteer work in Asia.
They helped me with all kinds of practical work, such as gardening, painting, wood work, assembling IKEA furniture and general maintenance. They also shared… read more

(Excellent )

9 Jun 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help out on our steep ...)

My husband and I stayed for two weeks with Ingvild and Martin on their farm in Norddal. We arrived at the time of a family celebration for their son's confirmation. We helped prepare by cooking several meals, cleaning, serving, raking grass, and organizing. We had the opportunity to meet their wonderful family and friends during the weekend… read more

(Excellent )

14 Feb 2019

Left by host (Join our community and share ...) for Workawayer ()

It was fantastic to meet medical experts and great human beings -Dan and Carol. They were with us for about a month and enriched us and our institutions with their genuine concerns, support and expertise.
Dan conducted workshops and interactions for the nursing institute and students of Class 8th in the Academy. He conducted medical checkup and… read more

(Excellent )

6 Feb 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join our community and share ...)

We found during our stay of about a month that the Society and its associated schools are a remarkable educational institution not only well ahead of our expectations for a private organization in India, but working with many of the same progressive principles used in good schools in America. The teachers in general are innovative, attentive to… read more the needs of their students with also a plan for them to succeed in India standard exams, and partnership with parents. The vision of the founder Manjua is very progressive and forward-thinking, and she is always looking for new ideas. They even fund some migrant worker families in the area to have their children attend free classes who would otherwise seldom get education, learning for example Hindi, which in India is only learned in stable school environments. Dan was delighted to advise them on nutritional supplementation for these students. This Society is everything it claims to be, and more so. If you have any expertise in special needs students, Carol can attest that they will welcome you to help these students and their teachers.
The students at the School are friendly, curious, confident in their English, and looked forward to conversing with us. We were well utilized for the school needs with enough discretion on our part for us to be involved in a way satisfactory to our wishes for involvement.
Students are involved in environmentalism, arts, sports as well as the standard subjects needed for college entry if that is a goal.
In many parts of India, schools can be handicapped by lack of public support, limited hands-on learning, personal attention from teachers, and scarce resources. Some facets of the complexity of life in India are inescapable here in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, one of the poorest regions of India. Streets can be dangerous and public parks are limited, so exercise and community safety are limited. Living in Faizabad can be a challenge while volunteering here, but the staff goes out of their way to provide for volunteers’ needs as best they can. The staff and teachers were extrodinarily receptive to our recommendations, even if we as health professionals had to suggest that in some areas some significant improvements could be made, or something was sub-standard.
Medical care in this community and India in general is not up to Western standards, and we came down with influenza, so get your shots ahead of time and make use a travel clinic. Mosquitos in winter are hardly a problem this far north.
If you come to India for the first time, the staff will be helpful in getting you to places like the train or bus station, but research ahead.
Trains are a great way to see India as it really is, and many cities do not have airports. See for example https://www.tripsavvy.com/indian-railways-trains-travel-classes-1539646 and plan to book trains months ahead or at least several weeks ahead. If a travel agent is not hired, trains can be reserved online once you manage to create an account at the official government https://www.irctc.co.in , but using this site can be easier if you also have an account with other sites that are easier to use such as Cleartrip.com. Foreign tourists have seats reserved if they book well ahead of when they are open to India nationals. If you want more information, Dan would probably be willing send you advice.

(Excellent )

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26 Jun 2019

Left by host for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

9 Jun 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help out on our steep ...)

(Excellent)

14 Feb 2019

Left by host (Join our community and share ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

6 Feb 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join our community and share ...)

(Excellent)

24 Jan 2019

Left by host (Stay in one of the heritage ...) for Workawayer ()

Working with Dan & Carol the lovely couple for the last couple of weeks has been fun, rewarding and a very good experience. they very hardworking, putting in extra hours when needed and was great with the guests. Dan help us a lot in the computer work , so i going to tell Dan , we finally change the PC hahah, last hope will meet your 1 day again ,… read more

(Excellent)

1 Dec 2018

Left by Workawayer () for host (Stay in one of the heritage ...)

Carol and I had a wonderful time while doing some work at Howard's well established and popular hostel. We had not worked at a hostel before, so did not know what to expect, but everyone was helpful in showing the ropes, and patient with questions for further clarification. This Workaway is especially good for socialization with a great location… read more

(Excellent)

2 Dec 2018

Left by Workawayer () for host (Teaching English to middle ...)

This has been the best and most rewarding of the four Workaways we have done so far. The school, parents and most of the children are eager to learn and pleased to meet teachers from the world beyond their experience with classes that are interesting and interactive. The students, staff and parents are receptive to seeking new ways to develop… read more creativity and problem solving skills in their school and at home. The children love singing and dancing. Many of the teens listen to Western music. The staff gave us complete freedom to plan our lessons, and use our own methods. We taught three 45 minute classes from 9-12 am, and an optional class from 2-3 pm. Our weekends were free to explore and relax.

The staff eagerly helped us plan our teaching, accommodating our personal needs, and fitting into the local community.

The accommodations are quiet, spacious and convenient to the school. The staff prepared, delivered, and graciously served three delicious and healthy meals a day for us. Food can also be heated up in a steamer. Late fall and winter are warm in daylight hours, however, the evening, night and early morning hours are cold. There is no heat in the apartment or hot water. A space heater is available for the colder hours. It is advisable to bring warm clothes and sturdy shoes. Cleaning dishes and bathing is done in the bathroom, and water needs to be heated. People who bring food are often willing to wash the dishes. There is no shower or sink in the Western sense. Laundry services are available. Wi-Fi reception at the apartment is good with a Wi-Fi router the school loans to us when not teaching.

The town of Hakha is a wonderful place to explore with several shops selling longyis (regional dress worn by men and women, usually with hand-crafted fabric) restaurants with local food and gorgeous views. Transportation into the main part of Hakha is available from Hakha Thar 7 days/week. Staff can also provide motor bike rides and may be willing to occasionally lend you one. We also enjoyed picking strawberries, and visiting the rice fields outside of Hakha. Although Chin State is predominately Christian, we never felt any judgement about our different faiths (Buddhist and Jewish). I attended a church service where I enjoyed the joyful atmosphere with song and dance.

The school in Hakha, Chin State is in a beautiful mountainous remote area where tourists are rare, and you may find yourself socializing with some neighbors and an occasional person willing to try some English, but mostly we had each other and the warm, intelligent school staff for company. Parts of Burma are off limits, and in there have been occasional problems in remote areas of Chin State. We find Hakha and traveling in Burma to be quite safe Several online resources for understanding the politics and culture of Burma are available. This is not the first time I have taught Burmese ethnic groups, so I was not surprised by how socially supportive and cheerful they are living with considerable economic challenges.

We suggest you plan ahead a little on your own and in consultation with the school on how to get here, as there are various bus/ van or plane options all of which you can expect to take at least two days from Mandalay or Yangon. We took a short flight from Mandalay to Kaleymyo, spent the night there, and took a van to Hakha which was an eight hour trip. There are 4 hotels in Kaleymyo, and a few good restaurants. Some of the roads are paved, partially paved, and unpaved. The driver was very skilled at negotiating the hair-pin turns and curves. We live in the Rocky Mountains at 5,000 ft. elevation. We did not have difficulty acclimating to the 6,000 ft. elevation, however, this may be a challenge for those living at sea level.
In summary, this is not a comfortable place to be relatively alone, but it will perhaps be for you, as for us, one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences.

(Excellent)

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