Holly

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
At home
Activities i am interested in:
Interested in embedding in communities long enough to make some local connections and get some feel of the rhythm of life there. Very interested in opportunities to participate and be useful.
Description
UPDATE JULY 2023

Had an amazing time earlier this year visiting great places and meeting amazing people. Traveling abroad is on pause for now. But I hope to reactivate my status down the line and get matched up with some great new opportunities in the future.

Cheers!

________________

Hello!

I’m in the middle of an “adult gap year”—taking a career break to explore and learn and refresh and restore.

I’m a traveler who prioritizes connecting to community. I appreciate being able to embed long enough to witness local rhythms and customs. I’m also a helper and am at my happiest when engaged and productive.

My professional background in non-profits and government includes live theatre, managing cultural grant programs, finance, human resources, and communications. I’ve spent the last ten years in election administration and recently decided I’m ready for something new.

On a personal level, I’m smart, fun, and responsible. Can work and play well with just about anyone (except mean people and bigots, of course). My life is rich with friendships and while I’m in mid-life, my energy has been described as ageless. (A compliment I love.)

Manual and household labor appeals to me for both its fitness and meditative aspects. I’m also open to more administrative roles like project management, developing communication materials, strategic planning, etc, if that would be helpful. Elder companion roles sound great. My teaching experience is in training small groups of adults but I’m patient, positive, and supportive—and willing to learn or try just about anything. (When it comes to manual jobs, I’m better with endurance and strength tasks than ones that require heights and agile footwork. I’ll pick vegetables or haul fenceposts all day, but probably wouldn’t be the best choice for climbing rope ladders to repair roof shingles.)

I’ve been exploring my own country for a few months and now I’m headed out for a loop around the globe. Current plan is to visit Portugal > East Africa > Southeast Asia > New Zealand > Peru for about a month each. I’m also flexible and open to pivoting based on opportunities or challenges that come my way.

I’m mostly travelling solo. Happy to consider joining forces with other Workawayers for opportunities requiring a pair of workers. Ideal stays include big/friendly host families, extended communities, NGOs, and/or opportunities hosting multiple Workawayers to share experiences with.

Am happy to provide a professional resume and personal and professional references if requested. And, of course, am happy to answer any questions.

Thank you for reading—and for being part of such an exciting cultural exchange community.
Interests
Yoga / Wellness
Sailing / Boating
Videography
Languages
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Nature
Outdoor activities
Performing arts
Pets
Photography
Music
Movies & TV
Mountain
LGBTQ
Fitness
Farming
Gardening
Hiking

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Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
More details about my language interests
I would be more comfortable helping people practice English than teaching it in a formal way. I don't have that kind of teaching experience, but I'm willing to learn and follow existing curriculum with some support. I have a very patient and encouraging personality. I am not a fast learner when it comes to new languages (I know a little bit of French vocabulary and do better reading than hearing) but I love learning what I can. I understand and appreciate the power in at least trying.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Languages
Gardening
General Maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
DIY and building projects
Teaching
Some knowledge of:
Being an elderly companion
Charity Work
Art Projects
Animal Care
Helping around the house
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Creating/ Cooking family meals
More details about your skills
I've worked professionally in administrative roles including finance, project management, grants, communications, and human resources. I'm a great organizer and communicator. Skilled with Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel, and am comfortable with technology. Am an exceptional proofreader and editor.

I'm very happy doing manual or household work as well as general maintenance, yardwork, animal care, and harvesting. I have some very light construction skills from helping create sets for theatre productions--so I'm comfortable with some power tools and am quick to learn techniques. I'm always happy to help in the kitchen as well, particularly chopping and prepping ingredients and cleaning.
Age
51
What else ...
I’m a helper at heart. I look forward to touring the globe these next months by including projects where I can be useful and excited about my contributions while slowing down to make genuine connections along the way.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Penicillin (antibiotic medication)
- Special dietary requirements

Feedback

7 May 2023

Left by host (Have fun with a mass of fur ...) for Workawayer (Holly)

It was absolutely wonderful having Holly here to help. Her easygoing, mature attitude and competence made my life so much easier. It was great that she used her initiative and was happy to do all jobs asked of her. She did a good job of helping with the dogs and puppies needs. The fact that one of our shy dogs fell in love with Holly on the first… read more

(Excellent )

7 May 2023

Left by Workawayer (Holly) for host (Have fun with a mass of fur ...)

I had a delightful time with Lyndsay and her family. They were so welcoming and really made sure I was comfy and had a chance to get out and see some of the things in the surrounding area, too. It was a nice balance between being productive and having down time for lounging/exploring/chatting. And they happily answered my zillions of questions… read more

(Excellent )

27 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Holly) for host (Stay with our Thai family in ...)

With a few tweaks, this could be an awesome place to volunteer.

I get the impression the family used to be more engaged and the organized cultural opportunities used to be more robust. But that it’s fallen off over the years.

The location is really peaceful/relaxing and the town is very authentic (no tourists). There are some very cool things… read more to do and see nearby if you can figure out how to travel there. And I enjoyed just slowing down and taking a break from the pace of traveling.

If you’re cool with outdoor/glamping then any of the accommodations would work for you. I slept on an open air platform that had four beds in a row like a dorm. Each with a mosquito net. There are also some canvas tents and some cabin options available when free. I was there at the hottest time of the year, and with all the fans provided, it was surprisingly comfortable. (Pay attention to the timing of burning season though.)

The big drawback for me is if you take the work seriously, you’re pretty well engaged from around 2:30 in the afternoon until 9:30 at night doing the one-on-one Skype classes. Including preparation before and documentation after. Yes, there’s a break for dinner and a couple stretch breaks. But it doesn’t really feel like free time. And while some of the students already know English and just want to practice conversation, others are truly beginners and looking for you to present lessons and draw them out to practice their words. The first type was a pleasure. The second type was draining. And all in all it felt like a full time job.

If it were 4 classes a day instead of 6 it would feel like a more fair trade for what volunteers get in return. I was fed very well during my week there but no one introduced themselves to me, I didn’t get much instruction on how to teach the students or get much communication overall, there wasn’t a cooking/culture class, and there wasn’t a group trip (or a goodbye or thank you). So what was offered to me in return didn’t feel like it matched what was asked of me. Volunteers seemed very sequestered and treated like a rotating workforce.

If you are very self-sufficient and up for finding your own pathway to cultural immersion, and you really enjoy teaching English, then it could be a great match for you.

I’m glad I had the experience. And the fellow volunteers were awesome. But with the long hours and focused effort required, and lack of perks and engagement in return, I wouldn’t have wanted to stay longer than a week.

Oh! Be sure you use the right address to find the place. There are two Ban Bon Doi Homestays a few towns apart and it’s not easy to figure out which one is the right one.

(Very good )

4 Apr 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Holly)

We really enjoyed having Holly with us during a week. Her patience and desire to help were really appreciated.
She adapted well in local life and children love her. Thanks again for supporting the project ! I'm glad our paths have been cross for some fund.
All in all its beyond talks and its great pleasure to have Holly as volunteer, God bless… read more

(Excellent )

4 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Holly) for host (Help our language and ...)

I had a very valuable experience at Juma’s charity school in Zanzibar.

The cultural immersion was fantastic and is a very authentic opportunity. Everyone in the village and our host family were so kind and hospitable. Juma is growing his program and he appreciates new ideas and frank feedback from volunteers.

When I stayed, there were several… read more

(Excellent )

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