George

New Zealand
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
France - from Dec 2022 until Aug 2024
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Description
Hi there, I'm from New Zealand and am currently travelling France and wider Europe on a working holiday Visa.

I speak English, Conversational Japanese, and I am currently learning French.

I'm a landscaper by trade so would love to help out with gardens or construction projects.

I volunteer with a planting/water care group back home in New Zealand and I have spent a month volunteering with Rewilding Appenines in Italy.

I'm also an amateur cook and an artist; I would love to learn from anybody possible.
Interests
Team sports
Plant care
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Beach
Carpentry
Languages
Gardening
Fitness
Farming
Cycling
Cooking & food
Culture
Camping
Charity work
Art & design
Outdoor activities
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Intermediate
French: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I would absolutely love to improve my French skills.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Being an elderly companion
Teaching
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Art Projects
Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Life at a Farmstay
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Able to teach about:
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
I am a young landscaper who has:
6 months of construction experience
6 months of soft landscaping/planting experience
1 year of gardening/nursery experience
Age
24
What else ...
I'm a very active person, I love to go for walks, runs and cycles.

Love card/board games, especially chess.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Feedback

1 Apr 2024

Left by host (Gardening, repairs, ...) for Workawayer (George)

Awesome! George was a life-saver, accepting a last-minute opportunity to stay with us - and to look after our place and animals while we were away for 3 days. He was a great communicator and understood our last-minute need. George is intelligent, passionate and interested in life - we had some great conversations. He was super responsible and we… read more

(Excellent )

31 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (George) for host (Gardening, repairs, ...)

Donna and Nik were great hosts! They very kindly entrusted me with housesitting their gorgeous oasis in St Georges, aswell as looking after their adorable and (mostly hahaha) well behaved pets.

I call their house an oasis as that is what it felt like to be there. The courtyard and the layout of the house(s) makes you feel that you are truly… read more

(Excellent )

17 Mar 2024

Left by host (Help with gardening in ...) for Workawayer (George)

George the Great!!!
I never knew when I picked up George at the train station, a complete stranger, that a few weeks later I'd be dropping off a close friend back at the station.
We spent hours playing darts and drawing/painting. Beers by the fire as we burnt the piles of branches etc we'd pruned out the garden.
Georges time keeping was rubbish… read more

(Excellent )

25 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (George) for host (Help with gardening in ...)

Wow! It's hard to put into words how amazing my stay with Claire, Faquhar and June was. I arrived as a complete stranger and left feeling like part of the family.

If you stay with these three, you'll know what I mean, but without spoiling too much:
June is absolutely adorable and is sure to provide endless entertainment.

Farquhar is an… read more

(Excellent )

23 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (George) for host (Ecological renovation and ...)

This was the first of three (so far) workaway experiences for me, so I was not sure what to expect. Overall my experience was not bad, but not incredible either.

Franck was a very generous host when it came to knowledge and materials. I really enjoyed learning about his project and he was extremely kind to explain certain aspects I took interest… read more in, I found his passion quite inspiring.

He gave me clothes and boots to work in, and there was always wine, beer, coffee and basic food available which I very much appreciated.

He very generously took me to a Christmas market nearby and also gave me some great tips on what to check out around the area, even letting me use his bike.

Although I hate to write anything negative about someone who has been kind to me, there are two points I feel that must be made for future workawayers.

I am no stranger to basic living. However, the place was a bit beyond basic, especially for winter.

The place has almost no insulation, on top of that the door doesn't close properly (if you want electricity) as there is the cable for the electricity that runs through the door along the floor.

The only way to heat the squat is with a small pot belly fire that had a very sketchy chimney. It didn't exactly heat the place, more just kept you warm if you were next to it.

Perhaps it was my bad luck but the first night I arrived it was -5°C, and the room I slept in was almost just as cold as outside. I slept with all my jackets on + three blankets. Luckily, I moved up stairs after the first night, which was warmer.

The place itself was quite dirty and messy, there were very old things in the fridge, as well as dirty dishes left in the sink.

Overall I don't believe there was much effort in preparing this place for my arrival, Franck offered me to sleep inside the main house some nights, but this was only possible a few days a week.

The work itself was okay, I was mostly helping renovate one of Francks apartments, as well as doing odd jobs around the farm. As with any construction/renovation site, there are obvious risks when working in this environment. There was almost no attention paid to health and safety of the site, apart from the provided earplugs and old dust masks. Although I didn't bring these issues up at the time, looking back, I think this was pushing it a bit far, especially since the buildings were old (dangerous), and I have no contract or remuneration if something goes wrong.

Overall a mixed experience, but if Franck can take this feedback on board, I'm sure other workawayers can have a fantastic time staying in Schalkendorf.

(Good )

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1 Apr 2024

Left by host (Gardening, repairs, ...) for Workawayer (George)

(Excellent )

31 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (George) for host (Gardening, repairs, ...)

(Excellent )

17 Mar 2024

Left by host (Help with gardening in ...) for Workawayer (George)

(Excellent )

25 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (George) for host (Help with gardening in ...)

(Excellent )

23 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (George) for host (Ecological renovation and ...)

(Good )

23 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (George) for host (Come and help us with ...)

What a fantastic stay with Nadine and Mamie! This was my second workaway experience and I absolutely loved it. Nadine is kind, caring, generous and hospitable.

I was lucky enough to spend Christmas with the family, and wow, I've never felt more welcome (and well fed).

I helped around the house where I could: Preparing meals, chopping wood,… read more

(Excellent )

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