Sophie

Switzerland
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
I'm a very curious person, the kind who tries everything (but I have to admit it: without having a really good level at anything... but enough to enjoy :-)). I like playing the piano (just the chords to sing with), I'm learning the ukulele, I learned how to knit when I was living in Finland (to study), I learned the basics of tin whistle (thanks to my travels in Ireland), I love to take care of my organic garden in permaculture style, I was responsible for a pathfinder group for more than 10 years (so I know some fire techniques, outdoor lifestyle, kids' animations, group games), I've done quite a lot of social work in my free time (singing animations for old people and children, giving basic food with an organization for poor families in Switzerland, volunteering as a teacher abroad..). I do yoga every morning. I make my own bread, cream cheese, soap, balm, hand cream...

I'm really close to my family and a believer. It gives me love to share all around, and I believe the world is full of nice people!

I love workaway because it has given me a lot of opportunities to make new friends and learn from around the world.

I'm an easy-going person, almost always in a good mood and smiling. I'm living in a shared house with 10 other people (my two lovely grandparents included :-)) so I'm used to dealing with different lifestyles and it has never been a problem for me. I can even say that I like it a lot. I'm well-organized and I'm not easy to get over-stressed, but that doesn't mean I have no energy. I am just trying to use it on purpose to not waste it by worrying.

On the professional side, I'm a passionate history, French language, and home economics teacher (home economics: nutrition, responsible consumption, and cooking - I love teaching cooking as feeding ourselves is a great way to enjoy taking care of us and gives us the opportunity to share!). Thanks to workaway, I often learn new recipes while traveling. I teach "regular" kids and I did some extra degrees to be able to teach pupils with learning issues (every kind of dys-, hyperactivity, focusing issues) or socio-psycho-emotional difficulties. I used to work for years in an area with a lot of migrants, with all the joy and colors it brings, but also the challenges. I learned a lot from my pupils (from them, their culture, but also about myself through our interactions).

For 3 years, I was working 3 days a week, and the other 2 days, I was studying music in a professional musical school (singing, dancing, acting). I love my teaching job and I won't change it, but sometimes I have little artistic projects for my pleasure... It gives me balance.
Interests
Self development
Sustainability
Mountain
Hitchhiking
Farming
Events & social
Plant care
Yoga / Wellness
Vegetarian or vegan
Performing arts
Outdoor activities
Nature
Music
Hiking
Gardening
Dancing
DIY & crafts
Culture
Charity work
Cooking & food
Books
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
German: Intermediate
Spanish: Intermediate
More 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.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Being an elderly companion
General Maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Art Projects
Able to teach about:
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Languages
Teaching
More details about your skills
Cooking, gardening, taking care of kids or grandparents, teaching, social work (special care, group game, organizing activities...), basic knitting and sewing, singing, basics home made product s (soap, cream, balm, Landry soap, déodorant...)
Age
36
What else ...
My life lightmotiv : Do your best and let it be, God 'll take care.

In other words: don't worry !
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  I am vegetarian

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3 Apr 2025

Left by host (Hands-off elephant sanctuary ...) for Workawayer ()

Sophia was a great addition to the team! She is hard-working, reliable and versatile. She was of great value to us and we would love to have her again. Thank you for your kindness and all your hard work!

(Excellent )

2 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Hands-off elephant sanctuary ...)

I'm feeling very lucky I had the opportunity to volunteer here. Honnestly, I knew nothing about elefants in general, nothing about the history of elefants in Thailand and nothing about there situation now. I learned so much !! I realized how fascinating they are and how close to us they are in there behavior and feelings. I was very proud when we… read more

(Excellent )

3 Dec 2021

Left by host (Help us with German in İzmir, ...) for Workawayer ()

Sophie is an amazing person. Clean, tidy, creative, participatory, helpful, respectful, a very good pastry chef and cook, a very good decorator, a wonderful teacher and a storyteller. Words are not enough to tell her energy in home... Our kids and we were very happy and relaxed during our time with Sophie. It was a pleasure to chat with her about… read more

(Excellent )

3 Dec 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help us with German in İzmir, ...)

I had a very nice time at Ayse and Ahmed place. The kids are curious, smart and fun so it s very nice to play with them. They are not gonna ask you to play always the same game or to read always the same story, no, they are happy to learn new games and activities so I guess they would enjoy everything that you can bring them out of your… read more

(Excellent )

28 Nov 2021

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Shophie was one of the best persons ever entered the house. She's a cheerful, funny, smart and very kind and loving person. Nothing was a problem to her. There wasn't water in the house for a couple of weeks, due to the summer drought and she was helping with serving guests. She was singing while washing dishes with a small cup of water. And yes,… read more

(Excellent )

12 Oct 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with some simple tasks ...)

I stayed few weeks at Promaha and it was great !
People smoke a lot there (I dont), the drink a lot too (I dont), they stay awake until late (I dont), there is no hot water for the shower (a bit anoying with cold weather, especialy for the one with long air), there is no heating system or electricity in the upper room (but you can sleep down… read more

(Excellent )

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3 Apr 2025

Left by host (Hands-off elephant sanctuary ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

2 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Hands-off elephant sanctuary ...)

(Excellent)

3 Dec 2021

Left by host (Help us with German in İzmir, ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

3 Dec 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help us with German in İzmir, ...)

(Excellent)

28 Nov 2021

Left by host for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

12 Oct 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with some simple tasks ...)

(Excellent)

18 Oct 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help at our hostel and learn ...)

I stayed a short time at Brahim hostel but quickly I felt part of the team.
Before applying, I didnt want to do workaway job in a hostel because I ve seen a couple of time volonteers being exploited in hostels under the cover of 'you are my friend now, do that for me' and it s kind of hard to put the limit when you live in a place and that… read more

(Excellent)

18 Oct 2021

Left by host (Help at our hostel and learn ...) for Workawayer ()

Sophie was with us just for couple of days but she was incredible. Rating her with just 5 star its not enough. She helped us a lot around the hostel on everything. She have great skills also on communications. Wish to have you here again. This hostel is going to miss you. Thank you Sophie for everything.

(Excellent)

22 Jun 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Travellers and horse ...)

I had a great time at the camping farm. When I first read this workaway profile, I was surprise by how many positive, nice, kind and grateful reviews there is. Now that I ve been there, I understand it perfectly !
First of all: Arnold and Bernadette sincerly care about people around. It feels really good when you travel since a while to feel that… read more

(Excellent)

16 Jun 2021

Left by host (Travellers and horse ...) for Workawayer ()

Sophie is the kind of Workawayer which made us, and other host, very VERY very happy. First of all she is a lovely and always cheerful person who easily makes contact with anyone. So on a place like ours, were in Spring and Summer people come to enjoy their holiday she is a big asset. She is wonderful with children and she made our daughter very… read more

(Excellent)

15 May 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Organic beekeeping ...)

I had a great time at Willy's place. It was like a little paradise for me with the big garden, the old house (not so warm when it was cold, like every old house, but the feather blanket was perfect :-), the old church on the backyard, the flowering trees, the good food and of course the bees ! The work was different almost every day (diging,… read more

(Excellent)

20 Apr 2021

Left by host (Non-profit plant-based ...) for Workawayer ()

Sophie was a amazing cooking, plant loving permicultural legend. Looking after the kitchen and plants while helping me with admin and research.

She shared so many wonderful skills with us and we had lots of laughs along the way.

Sophie was here with another workaway Ludmilla and they really were great fun and never to be forgotten. Especially… read more

(Excellent)

16 Apr 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Non-profit plant-based ...)

I had a very good time at Row s place. I was really impressed by her, how brave she is by building a comunity on her own ! What a strong woman ! She s having so many ideas for the house, the garden, creating a coffee place, developing this and this...She never stop and she s working hard ! It was a bit difficult forge me to stop working sometime.… read more

(Excellent)

19 Jan 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Come and join our journey on ...)

I had the blessing to met Maria and Dora while traveling in Samothraki. I helped a bit in the garden but I wasn't their workaway worker (I did workaway in another place at that time). Anyway I d like to review this profil because I can for sur give my testimony.
I was so glad when I first met Maria, I felt from the beginning that she was a kind… read more

(Excellent)

7 Jan 2021

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help looking after lodgings ...)

I spend 6 weeks at Kalambaka, it was great and I was a bit sad to leave.
The hotel is very nice and very well located: only few minutes walk to the center where you can find all the basics stuff and close to the path to go up to the monasteries. I went up almost every day to enjoy the view, to walk around up and down. It was lovely everytime and… read more

(Excellent)

17 Jul 2019

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help on our Permaculture farm ...)

I enjoy a lot my time on this wonderful Island. Anthony and Julia are both very generous, nice and kind (and Julia took time to correct my English all the time. Still a lot of work but it was great to have someone to help to learn English better :-)).
The job was really nice and interesting to me, I enjoy a lot the opportunity to organize my work… read more

(Excellent)

19 Aug 2018

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Sophie came to volunteer with us for an all too short two weeks in August 2018 and took the place by storm. Not only is she extremely capable, hard working and generous with her knowledge but she is a delight to be with: always positive and cheerful. As a permaculture gardener, an accomplished cook and a Home Economics teacher, she was a perfect… read more

(Excellent)

22 Apr 2017

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Dear Sophie

Thank you very much for your detailed review.
We are sorry to hear you couldn’t fully enjoy your volunteering experience.

Kindly note that we are constantly working on improving the structuring of the English classes as we are aware it might sometimes be difficult for new volunteers to find a „starting point“. Since your stay in… read more

(Good)

12 Feb 2017

Left by Workawayer () for host (Volunteer/teach children from ...)

I had a nice time but not so great.

I would no say that you should not go there and I think that they are nice profect...but for the job you can do, it's not so useful I think but depend on what you're looking for. ... and by the way I would recommend to not be naive when ready the feedback and to remeber that unhappy people about there… read more experience are often not writting anything (I met unhappy volonteers at this school and none of them wrote a thing...)

Children and teenager are really kind and it was a pleasure to be wih them. The school is a peacefull place, really healthy place for the kids. I think they are lucky to be here and I recomand to take spanish classes here to support the school.

For what I did:

In the morning, they ask me and 3 other volonteers to teach english. They split the school in 4 group, because we where four volonteers. They (director and teachers) had no idea of what the children did before in english (more or less). They gave us no books, no plan at all. Only volonteers are teaching english but the school is not supporting the organization of those lessons at all. They say that it's because they don't know english but I think that they can help for some basics. For exemple, after working hard one week with an other volonteer to try to organize a studying plan, we realized that the the school has a small librairy with english books (and methode). By organizing things in the library, we found that other volonteers did the same than us: organizing a studying plan. What a waste of time to not gave it to us ! What a waste of apprentice for the kids to have a "lost" teacher every time which is trying to know what to do and what has been done ! And as the class are split in the number of volonteers able to teach english which is not always logical with the knowledge of the kids.

In the afternoon, I was suppose to hepl but they where less than 15 children for 2 official teachers from the school and, at the maximum of my stay, 8 volonteers. Too much. You are free to do your planing at school but when I say to the director that I was not coming one day because we where to much and I felt unuseful, I took it bad... Nice atmosphere then...

On the picture that the school posted, you can see volonteers activities. They where none when I've been theire. With 2 others volonteers we started salsa class somewhere in town. When we said it to the school director he say "We do have free class for our volonteers but if you prefere to do it at some other place and paid for it..." Nice. Again, they forget to tell us something usefull. And the worst I think is that the director took bad that we took the class at an other place. No sense.

So I recommend to go there if you want to meeet nice people without having to much responsabilities and with an very flexible working time (plan as you wish, take free days...) and if you wish to financialy support a nice school.

I do nit recommend you to go there if you'd like to work seriously, you'll get crazy (by the way I'm a real teacher so that's probably why I did nt like this unorganization that much. I worked around the wordl in a lot of other schools but this one was one of the worst in organization... but a lot of love is given to the kids, you can really feel it).

(Neutral)

2 May 2016

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Thanks so much for supporting the poor Maya families of our community!

(Excellent)

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