Heidi

Travel information

I am currently

Description

During my young years i grew up in the countryside, in a farming family. In this environment i gained a particular fondness for living and working both in nature and together alongside with other people. My 3 sisters and i learned to coexist with the turning of the seasons and from the ingredients given by our surroundings.

When i turned 18, i moved to the city where i attended university, studying Fine Arts. Afterwards i obtained a teaching degree and a master in Cultural Studies. I worked for art museums and theater festivals and taught art education at university college with undergraduate students.

A few years ago i took a course in tea tasting, where i learned about the terroir, production methods, preparation and recognition of the aroma of loose quality tea deriving from the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. These skills, to do with the senses and with nature, i try to nurture and develop further by attending masterclasses, doing internships and readings on the topic.

In recent years, I have been dividing my time and seasons between traveling, working and volunteering abroad, very often in places of art, nature and silence. During one of my travels, as a temporary residential community member of Bonnevaux, Center for Peace in France, I learned how to meditate in a contemplative way and learned to consciously integrate silence during the day. These elements have now been part of my way of living for many years.

I continue to travel when I can, to learn and share.

Interests

Languages

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

More details about my language interests
i would love to find a place where learning comes from being immersed in life, by having to speak it every day, preferably with opportunities to attend classes to support that learning method. At the same time i can help with learning how to use English, with vocabulary, verbs, pronunciation, ...

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Babysitting and creative play

Being an elderly companion

General Maintenance

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Animal Care

Charity Work

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Some knowledge of:  

Gardening

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Hospitality/Tourism

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Art Projects

Teaching

More details about your skills

*I've learned to do physical work at the farm of my parents, although i'm not educated in agriculture, but i enjoy working in nature and i gained knowledge about it by doing it for some years now, aswel do i see what needs to be done, i notice things and i'm eager to learn.
*I've got the experience of working outside, on my own as well as in a group
*I'm a member of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture / vegetables - fruit - flowers ) and i cook, mostly vegetarian, with vegetables from the community garden. During the last years i have worked as a seasonal worker for several large and small CSA farms in Belgium and France.
*I obtained a teacher degree, i can teach in Dutch and English or help with communication in English for website purposes, ...
*I'm a certificate tea master, although i still have a lot to learn, i could guide tea tours in English, help in the tea production process, support in external communication, ...
*I have been a workaway - volunteer for some years now and while traveling i have helped organizations and families with registering as an official host and establish an online profile on platforms for volunteers, such as Workaway or Wwoof. I can help hosts with creating a host account, offer support with determine the volunteer profile they are looking for, organize the communication of volunteers, ...
*I'm trained as a visual artist, although i did not practice it during my professional career, i use these skills in daily life, while organizing or taking care of flowers and plants, while cooking and serving, while writing and speaking, while sewing clothes, ...

Age

42

What else ...

Amongst my intrest in farming, gardening, languages, food, culture ... i have a particular intrest in tea production, determining flavor and aroma, learning to understand the rituals of a tea ceremony, sharing tea with people, ...
For some years now i have developed a curiosity and an eagerness to learn more about loose tea deriving from the tea plant Camelia Sinensis. I am longing to go deeper into this knowledge by expanding my experiences to a more practical level. For this i have been searching for a traineeship in countries that grow and produce loose tea and broaden my knowledge on different production methodes, varieties, terroir, ...
The understanding and skill gained in such an experience, as well as the attention and the customs that surround tea i would love to carry out around the world.

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