Eline & Gijs

Travel information

We are currently

Description

We are Gijs and Eline - both of us grew up in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where we've lived all our lives. It's the second biggest city in the Netherlands, so you can imagine how the city environment has been of big influence to us. And here in the city, we've been committed to the art of cinema.

Growing up without a lot of nature, it took some time for us to realise how much we are drawn to an environment outside of the city. But even within city surroundings you'll find ecosystems thriving. Eline has been working on an urban farm for a year, learning more and more about natural systems that are present in the urban environment. It takes some slowing-down and close attention, and then you notice a whole universe. Where this might speak for itself when you live on the countryside, this is not the case when growing up in a urban landscape, where concrete seems to reign.

We both became attracted to life on the countryside, but we are also still in the process of becoming familiar with it. Gijs enjoys working with the hands, has experience in making wine, working with wood and carpentry. Furthermore he's very social human being, easy going with people and animals, and loves to make people laugh (disclaimer: the jokes at times can be quite bad :-) Furthermore, his language skill is impressive (Fluent Spanish, very good French and starting Italian).

Eline has good sense of curiosity - with a vast belief that it's within this sense of curiosity where lies eternal gratitude and humility for the larger natural system of which we form part. Somewhat more serious and calm, but always with a soft touch to her surroundings, whether it's people, insects, plants or animals. She has experience in apiculture and wishes to deepen her knowledge and skill within the world of pollinators. The languages on her side need a bit more of practice, but she can get along in the French language.

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Italian: Beginner

More details about my language interests
Both Gijs and Eline speak almost fluently English and have basic experience with teaching. We’d be able to help teach basic language skill. Gijs speaks fluent Spanish and can teach Spanish.

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:  

Charity Work

Languages

Eco Projects

Life at a Farmstay

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

General Maintenance

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Some knowledge of:  

Being an elderly companion

Teaching

Gardening

DIY and building projects

Animal Care

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Able to teach about:  

Art Projects

Babysitting and creative play

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

We'd love to learn more about all things which are present when living within a natural environment. We've been sharing dreams and ideals of living in a more sustainable, communal and autonoumous way, possibly on the country side, but we understand that it takes a lot of work, patience, trial and error, and hence we are looking at examples from people who've already taken the step.

We both have our own interests: Gijs fell in love with the wine-making process, and looks to gain more experience in carpentry. Eline fell in love with bees, and seeks to learn more about eadible and medicinal plants, permaculture, and the art of natural essences. Both of us have experience working within a community, and are curious to methods of forming a cooperative.

We have quite some experience with Wwoofing, in France and Catalunya, and all times have proven extremely fulfilling in many ways.
Next to the exchange of knowledge and practical skill, it simply is so lovely and heart-warming to become a part of a family or a community, to learn and teach languages, to be outside, cook, spend time with kids (if there are any), animals and contribute to a community and, hopefully, to a better world, one step at the time.

So together we intend to travel through Europe, gaining experience on different farms. We will travel around in our blue Volkswagen campervan, visiting France, Italy, Greence, Albania, Slovenia and other countries. We're open to a lot and want to learn as much as possible, and cannot wait to meet you! :)

Age

31 & 32

What else ...

We’d be happy to get in touch with you by phone or video call, to talk everything through and to get a more personal sense of each other and to see if there’s a reciprocal match!

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  Cats

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  Special dietary requirements