Friederike

Germany
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
At home
My next destination:
Iceland
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Description
I'm Friederike from Germany. I'm working as a foreign language secretary at the University of Jena.
Doing workaway was and is a great way for me to get to know locals and their way of life. Something that you can hardly experience as a "normal tourist". Even though I'm back to a 9 to 5 job now, I'm trying to participate in an workaway stay from time to time.

I would describe myself as an open-minded, courious and calm person. I value nature. I took part in a Gospel choir in my freetime and I love dancing Lindy Hop. Apart from that I enjoy listening to music, movies, taking photos, reading and going for walks.
Interests
Cycling
Blogging
Gardening
Dancing
Hiking
Music
Culture
Animals
Sustainability
Photography
Nature
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Beginner
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
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Eco Projects
Some knowledge of:
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
Able to teach about:
Helping around the house
Languages
More details about your skills
I was a workawayer in France from October 2019 to May 2020. I helped with:
- Gardening (planting, weeding)
- General house chores
- Cleaning
- Renovation works (painting)
- Animal care/ farm stays including staying on a dairy farm in Brittany and a vineyard in the Jurancon region. Work that I was doing there: feeding the animals, helping in the cheesery, fruit picking, preparing firewood, helping out at the markets/ AMAPs (packing, dealing with customers), work on the vineyard (planting new vine stocks, stapling and attaching wires, removing shoots, putting vine tendrils into the wires), tidying, painting work, cooking
- Assisting in the English classes at "Cfa Les 13 Vents" in Tulle/France
- Assisting a pastry cook at "Cfa Les 13 Vents" in Tulle/France who prepared for a competition
Apart from workaway:
- Farm work:
I did an internship on a farm in Germany. They ran fruit-growing (mainly fruit trees) as well as cattle breeding (zebus). I helped with clearing out the stables, fruit picking, cutting hedges, sweeping leaves
- Child care:
I was an au pair in England a few years ago and took care of two children aged 8 and 12.
- Office work:
I've been to Ireland for half a year working for a tour operator being part of the inventory team. Through my job as a secretary I'm used to be in contact with clients and I'm computer literate.
- Hotel/ B&B/ Tourism:
I've done a two weeks internship in a hotel in Germany which involved taking care of the guest rooms, cleaning and tidying up.
Age
31
What else ...
I indeed have a driver's licence but as I haven't driven a car for more than three years, I'm not really confident in driving right now.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  I don't tolerate lactose i.e. I'm intolerant but not allergic to milk :)

Feedback

31 May 2020

Left by host (Discovery of Béarn and life ...) for Workawayer (Friederike)

Friederike est une personne très agréable qui sait s'adapter à toutes les situations .
Elle est très consciencieuse dans le travail qu'on lui demande d'effectuer et s'intéresse à tout .
Curieuse d'apprendre tout ce qui est nouveau pour elle . Très sociable et avenante ,elle devient vite une amie .
Nous espérons qu'elle reviendra nous voir très… read more

(Excellent )

23 May 2020

Left by Workawayer (Friederike) for host (Discovery of Béarn and life ...)

What can I say! This exchange has been perfect! Originally, I wanted to stay only for three weeks but then corona happened and I couldn't go back to Germany. I ended up staying for more than two months (24 February to 18 May). I'm very grateful for that! Mylene and Jean-Paul are open-minded, caring and very welcoming hosts. It was a real cultural… read more exchange for me. They are more than happy to tell you about their region, culture, food and of course about the wine. They took the other workawayer and me out for trips to the sea, to the mountains as well as to other events happening around their social lifes (like the concert of their music group). I will never forget our hike in the Pyrenees!
Staying on the farm is a lot of physical work. The weather decides what you do. If it was nice, we often worked in the vineyards. When rainy days occurred, there was always something to do inside. In the vineyards we helped with planting, removing shoots, attaching wires, threading the vine tendrils into the wires etc. Other works on the farm included to set up or to repair fences for the cow pasture, painting, tidying up, helping with making fire wood, cooking etc. My favourite task was feeding the chickens. ☺
When I was there, the butchering of the ducks happened as well and we were welcomed to help with the plucking. But don't worry, you don't have to. My French is not really good but Mylene and Jean-Paul (and everybody else really) encouraged me a lot on trying and they are happy if you do. Even though there is still a lot to learn for me, I have learned much more in these two months than during my other times in France. They also have a few adorable pets that I already miss a lot. The food is another great thing I miss. Mylene is a fantastic cook! Almost everything is homemade and she loves to bake and spoil you with cakes, cookies, delicious desserts etc. And there is often a great selection of French cheeses around :)
It felt like a home away from home. I miss you! <3

Une petite commentaire en francais:
Je suis restée plus de deux mois de fin février à début mai 2020 à la maison de Mylene et Jean-Paul. Ils sont très sympas et accueillants. J’ai appris et découvert beaucoup : la vie et le travail dans une vigne et dans une ferme et avec les animaux, le goût des repas françaises impeccables et du vin Jurançon, le français, quelques endroits de la région Béarn et au delà etc. Un grand MERCI, Mylene et Jean-Paul, pour votre hospitalité généreuse et cette expérience impeccable! Vous me manquez. À bientôt, j’espère!

(Excellent )

2 Feb 2020

Left by Workawayer (Friederike) for host (Participate in family life in ...)

I stayed with Thierry and Anne for about two weeks. They were my rescuers when I tried to find a last minute host close to Paris. They welcomed me into their home even though they normally just have one workawayer staying with them and someone was already there. I'm very grateful for that! I enjoyed great French food and got to know some new… read more

(Excellent )

16 Nov 2019

Left by Workawayer (Friederike) for host (Volunteer at a vocational ...)

I stayed here for almost a month and it has been a wonderful stay and a great cultural exchange for me! I throughly enjoyed assisting in the English classes helping the students with their English as well as learning a lot about the French culture, food etc from them. Ouided is such an open-hearted person! If you have any queries, she tries to… read more

(Excellent )

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31 May 2020

Left by host (Discovery of Béarn and life ...) for Workawayer (Friederike)

(Excellent )

23 May 2020

Left by Workawayer (Friederike) for host (Discovery of Béarn and life ...)

(Excellent )

2 Feb 2020

Left by Workawayer (Friederike) for host (Participate in family life in ...)

(Excellent )

16 Nov 2019

Left by Workawayer (Friederike) for host (Volunteer at a vocational ...)

(Excellent )

17 Oct 2019

Left by host (Lend a hand in the ...) for Workawayer (Friederike)

Friederike is a very agreeable, quiet young woman. She adapted readily into my household and occupied herself very well looking after my two "grandchildren" who were here for a visit. She quickly saw what had to be done for my geese and ducks. For a couple of days she looked after the whole place with another new workaway who had arrived to take… read more

(Excellent )

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