Elina

Travel information

I am currently

Description

I enjoy outdoor life, both working outdoors (garden, agriculture, forest, maintenance of hiking trails etc) and hiking, bicycling & skiing. I enjoy working with others while I am independent with my tasks and happy to work on my own. I am also ready to work indoors as you can see from the list of my volunteering jobs below. Cooking - and eating - and learning about local cuisine and use of local ingredients is one of my interests. I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction, in particular history and contemporary society, I like seeing theatre and films, and love discussion on a wide range of topics.

Over the last three years, since I retired, I have been doing diverse volunteering jobs. A list below, I am happy to provide more information
- Helping with renovation of a flat in Valle d'Aosta and removal (painting, cleaning, packing, preparing the garden etc), 2 weeks, organised myself
- Maintenance of hiking trails in Thorsmörk, Iceland. 3 weeks, organiser: Icelandic Forest Service
- Helping in an organic farm, Sicily. 3.5 weeks via Workaway, review available
- Olive harvest, garden work and helping in the kitchen of an agriturismo, Puglia. 4 weeks via WWOOF Italy
- helping in renovation and reopening of an old camping site in Bretagne as well as closing down after the first season, in total three times, each 4-5 weeks. Gardening, renovation, cleaning, maintenance. Reference letter available

I have agreed to volunteer in the wilderness hut of the Finnish outdoor association, Suomen Latu ry, for 2 weeks in the beginning of March.

Volunteering has proven to be a good way to me to learn new skils and more about a country and its habits and culture.

The main reason for retiring early was to stay abroad for longer time periods, enjoy outdoor life and learn new things by volunteering while I am still in good physical condition. I loved my work for the European administration and the possibility to contribute to the protection of the environment and human health while working with great colleagues from all EU Countries.

Interests

Writing

Sustainability

Politics / Social justice

Plant care

Performing arts

Outdoor activities

Nature

History

Hiking

Gardening

Farming

Cycling

Culture

Cooking & food

Charity work

Camping

Books

Art & design

Architecture

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Finnish: Fluent
Swedish: Fluent
German: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Italian: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I would like to learn Italian by using my basic, beginner knoweldge. I am able to support others learning English (and Finnish and Swedish) e.g. via discussing, however, I have no formal teaching experience.

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Charity Work

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Some knowledge of:  

Gardening

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

DIY and building projects

Art Projects

More details about your skills

My working history of 35 years, and in particular the last 20 years in the international environment, has taught me a lot on how to ensure good common understanding on the goals of the work and on how to organise the work in practice. I am able to adapt to the different working cultures and to the needs of the situation. My university degree is on engineering.

It my free time I have been helping with setting up and maintaining vegetable gardens. I have been doing forest work (planting trees, cutting trees for fire work) at my cottage in Finland. I also like picking berries and mushrooms as well as fishing.

My mother tongue is Finnish and I am fluent in English and Swedish. In addition I speak some German and French. I would very much like to improve my basic Italian.

Age

63

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