Profile information
Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hi there!
My name is JT- I am a 24 y/o American from Wisconsin. I am working at a NGO & magazine at the moment, but these opportunities end in August. Afterwards, I will begin backpacking Asia- a huge life goal and desire of mine. While traveling, I am hoping to spend patient time in places rather than rushing through. With a tight budget, using Workaway will be a way to accomplish this goal.
I have quite a lot of travel experience in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the United States, however, I have never done a Workaway. My travel experiences in the past have either consisted of long distance roadtrips or bus/train trips. While I have been able to see a lot, I have always hoped for the time to travel slower- giving me the time to fully appreciate a place.
I am currently working at the International Institute of Wisconsin where I work for the International Visitor Leadership Program. IVLP is a really interesting exchange program that is fully funded by the State Department. I act as a liaison for foreign visitors. This summer I have worked on projects including: economic coastal development for Papua New Guinea, social media advocacy for West African Delegates, and a program for German Bundestag members. The opportunity has given me the chance to learn about global social, environmental, and political issues from foreign visitors.
I am also interning with an editorial team at a Business magazine in the United States. We focus on economic growth of Milwaukee, WI (the city I am from). Our city is much smaller than most major cities in the US. It has been interesting learning about my states role within the complex American system. Wisconsin is a mostly rural state with lots of agriculture. We are situated in the Mid-west on the great Lake Michigan. I come from a town of about 7,000.
I graduated from the University of Madison Wisconsin with a BA in Journalism. Madison is the second largest city in the state and our state capitol. It also borders two lakes and has many hiking paths. In college I was also involved with various clubs and organizations while also hosting a radio show. Through my University I was able to spend a semester living and studying at NUI-Galway in Ireland.
I spent my last three summers working at a Summer camp near Yosemite National Park. This last summer I was the director of the backpacking program. We were able to take kids on backpacking and camping trips throughout Northern California. I received my Wilderness First Aid certificate in the process. Spending my summers at camp meant living in open air cabins without electricity or running water. I spent all my days outside- hiking, camping, or working on side projects. I gained a lot of experience while being 2,000 miles away from home.
During my travels I am planning on spending time learning about the places I am in and writing small journalistic pieces about them. I am very interested in history and discovering the nuances of a place. Furthermore, I am hoping to spend time applying to Masters programs and/or jobs in my current field.
Here you can find my website where I have written several articles on my interests/travels:
https://jtschultz.com
I am very interested in learning about the cultural and religious values of places and have a desire to learn about other peoples worldviews. It is my goal to spend time learning about Buddhism and its role in Asian countries.
Please feel free to reach out in order to learn more about me and my goals while joining you in your country!!!
Interests
Movies & TV
History
Music
Writing
Hiking
Charity work
Sustainability
Farming
Culture
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerMore 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.
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
General Maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
Some knowledge of:
Art Projects
Charity Work
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Able to teach about:
Languages
More details about your skills
Writing & Communication Skills: During my time studying journalism I wrote dozens of articles on topics ranging from Human Rights to Art. My experience at University allowed me to explore a wide breath of subjects from International relations to religious studies. I was able to take several course on mass communication and marketing.
My current experience in journalism/communication comes from my two current jobs. Working at the International Institute and Wisconsin and for a Business Magazine.
Tutoring: I have 50+ hours teaching english to refugee students. I achieved this while volunteering for a literacy program in the US. This taught me a lot about working with non-native speakers and identifying ways to communicate. Most of the students I worked with were between ages 8-13. Most were from Myanmar (Burma), however, I worked with Afghan, Congolese, and Thai students as well.
Camp Counselor: While working at a Summer camp I was able to work with groups of 5-6 kids at a time. I was responsible for them throughout the entire day and shared a cabin with them. The job is described as being a surrogate parent over the course of 10-weeks.
Backpacking Guide: I was able to take campers on over 40 trips into Yosemite National Park. I guided hikes raging from 5 miles to 5 days long. This requires a great amount a responsibility and clear thinking. My final year, I was the Manager of the backpacking program. I was responsible for mentoring five guides and ensuring that the program ran successfully.
Service Industry: For periods of times throughout my life I have worked in the hospitality/service industry. I have been a dishwasher in restaurants, served tables, cleaned bathrooms, prepared meals for customers, and organized events. I spent the last winter working at a sleigh ride company in Colorado. This operation has no running water and was powered by a generator. It came with many challenges, but I learned a lot.
Furthermore, I have learned a basic level of skills in painting, construction, gardening, and lawn care by working for my parents, going on volunteer service trips, and personal interest.
Age
24
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Special dietary requirements
