Ilona & Peter

Netherlands & Belgium
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Profile information

Travel information
We are currently
Travelling
Description
Hello! My name is Ilona and I am positive, enthusiastic, creative, cheerful, open-minded and caring. At the moment I work as a child psychologist. I like to play the harp, to go kayaking, to bake pies, to read and to travel.
I have previous volunteer experience taking care of kangaroos at a wildlife sanctuary in Australia. This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! When I returned to the Netherlands, after volunteering, I finished my studies and decided to save money to continue traveling. I have almost saved enough money for a trip around the world. As a child I always wanted to have a husky dog, but my parents did not allow this as we lived in a city and did not have enough space. Right now, as an adult, I understand their decision. However, I still have that dream, to be together with huskies, preferably in their natural habitat. I would love to take care of huskies, learn about Alaskan culture, visit beautiful nature and, if possible, learn how to control a dog sled.
Interests
Camping
Sailing / Boating
Water sports
Hiking
Farming
Gardening
Animals
Pets
Music
Astronomy
Culture
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Able to teach about:
Languages
More details about your skills
I have previous experience taking care of kangaroos, dingos and kookaburras. I love to take care of animals. Furthermore, I am very creative. I love to play music, to write, to cook or bake. I speak Dutch, English and a little French, German and Spanish. I am willing to help around wherever I can.
Age
31 & 33
What else ...
I am an active and adventurous person. I like to cycle to work (which is an hour one way), I do Krav Maga for about 4 years, I like to go kayaking and to walk in nature. I am a good listener and like to be around people and animals. I love to help wherever I can. I am an optimist and enjoy the small things in life.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Feedback

21/10/2022

(Help with children and farm ...)

Sam and Doug welcomed us in their home after we had been through an atrocious Workaway experience where we were forced to leave. We arrived at the last minute at Sam and Doug and could only stay for three weeks because of future travel plans that were already arranged, but we wished we could have stayed longer.

Sam is the most caring host we… read more have met and she cooks amazing meals. The sushi with steamed buns is the best we have tasted! In addition she made an excellent poké bowl, cooks meat to perfection and she has cute creative ideas such as cutting hotdogs into octopuses for her boys (thereby meaning the children, not Doug). She will do everything to make your stay as pleasant as possible and her sense of humor is fantastic. Doug is outdoorsy, funny and underneath his tough hunter look is one of the most gentle hearts. When he dropped us off at the airport at the end of our stay, there were four confused ponies on the road. Other cars barely stopped, but Doug made sure he guided the ponies back to the paddock from which they escaped, warning other cars and calling the owner during the process. He also made sure we were on time for our flight ;)

Their two sons are both adorable. The eldest can test your limits, cheating if he cannot win a game, but he is the best. He is a loving child, always cheerful, full of energy and we miss him a million. The youngest is so affectionate. He has a strong character as well, guiding you to the game closet or the place with the snacks, thereby showing you what he wants. He has beautiful eyes and the face of an angel, making it hard to resist his wishes. We cherish the memories of watching “Stickman” together, his favorite movie. We miss him a million too. Then there are the dogs who love to cuddle, but are also excellent hunters and there is a mischievous cat who loves to steal yarn (which made Ilona’s crochet project a challenge), a couple of horses, an amazing pony that loves to eat volcanoes and a dozen chickens.

During our stay we felt completely at home. McBride is a small and cozy village with nice coffee places, some small shops and a brilliant pub. Our bedroom was nicely decorated with fairy lights, something we loved. The work was not difficult. Ilona mainly took care of the children, making sure they had their breakfast and lunch (Sam would cook dinner for everyone) and played games with them. Peter helped Doug by constructing animal traps and he helped Sam by organizing the garden and the sheds. In our spare time we could hike in the beautiful nature of British Columbia.

Sweet Sam, Doug, boys and all the animals, we will always remember you, you have a place in our hearts and we truly hope to return some day.

(Excellent )

30/08/2022

(Experience our lifestyle and ...)

From the first day, all fifteen dogs had stolen our hearts and we knew it would be very difficult to leave (although less difficult than taking all 15 of them and being chased by two angry vikings). Every dog has its own little quirks. We will never forget smart Sitka, who is overenthusiastic but we will forgive her strong hugs with sharp nails… read more

(Excellent )

23/08/2022

Left by host (Volunteer at a Sanctuary for ...) for Workawayer ()

We were so happy to host Ilona and Peter. They are very hard workers with true compassion for the animals. The amount of free time our volunteers spend with the animals tells us a lot about them as people, and Ilona and Peter spent so much time when they could have been doing other things, just sitting with our animals and enjoying them. For us… read more

(Excellent )

22/07/2022

(Volunteer at a Sanctuary for ...)

We stayed for six weeks at the Animal Sanctuary and it was a wonderful experience! Pigs might not seem the most glamorous animals, but then you have not met Priscilla, a spoiled little girl raised on blueberries. She loves to push her carrots and apples out of her food bowl. Why would you eat that in a world where there are nicer fruits right ;)… read more

(Excellent )

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