Jana

Travel information

I am currently

Activities i am interested in:

I am currently located in the US (Texas). I enjoy biking, and just about any type of fitness. I'm recently retired, so hope to travel quite a bit to see the rest of the world.

Description

Last summer, I vacationed for a week in Ireland, and I fell in LOVE! The trip was TOO SHORT! I believe that I might want to move to Ireland in the next few years, so I would really benefit from finding out what it is like to live and work on some property. I am recently retired and wishing to come to Ireland the whole summer (or longer) to learn more and spend more time. I enjoy helping others and learning about other places. I believe that I'd fit into most scenarios with guests. I do enjoy being alone, so housesitting would be a wonderful fit. I also feel like being housed with folks that can teach/tell me about Ireland would help me get to know Ireland better. I'm very handy around the house. I have a passion for feeding people. I love to host guests (for parties/get-togethers and such). I grew up on a 500-acre farm, so I know the work that goes into managing livestock and crops. I love to garden and create meals from fresh food (veggies or meat). I know how to yield a hammer and many other tools, and I'm not afraid to jump in and give it a go. I'm very tidy and enjoy organizing and cleaning. I love doing laundry. I'm a hard worker and would ensure all the tasks assigned/needed would get done, but I would prefer to be partnered with guests that don't mind if I'm periodically gone a few days at a time ... a) for a few bikepacking trips with a group there in Ireland and b) to otherwise explore beautiful Ireland. (I have some places that I want to go, but tips on where to explore would also be welcomed!) How long I'm gone and how often is completely negotiable. I have a kindness for all animals and find that they mostly like me back. As an empty-nester, taking care of small children (diapers, feeding, etc.) isn't my favorite thing to do right now, but I wouldn't mind helping out a little; I just wouldn't want that to be my "main" task... but cooking, shopping, cleaning up, picking up, organizing rooms, etc., that's "my jam". "Older kids" (teenagers+) are fine. My son is about to be 22yo, so navigating those "close to adult" years is still fresh in mind and exciting to watch.

Interests

Gardening

Astronomy

Plant care

Cooking & food

Yoga / Wellness

Winter sports

Water sports

Outdoor activities

Sailing / Boating

Team sports

Nature

Mountain

Hiking

Cycling

Dancing

Fitness

Camping

Beach

Adventure sports

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I would like to learn any other language, but it's not required.

Find a language partner

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Light gardening

House & pet sitting

Life at a Farmstay

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Some knowledge of:  

Charity Work

Eco Projects

Creative DIY projects

Animal Care

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

I think I've mentioned most of my skills in my description above, but one "extra add" is that I've been working behind a desk for 30+years, and due to that career (and working from home), I've learned just enough technical (IT) skills to feel comfortable-ish. Toward the end of my career, the repressed inner drive to provide "acts of service" to people grew strong. I'd say that my cooking skills are exceptional, and it's been one of the things I've been enjoying the most in the last 5-years. I love everything about it ... planning, shopping, organizing, chopping, cooking, presenting - even cleaning up after. I rarely sit down these days and consider myself quite active, and I like to stay busy. I completed my 1st Ironman a few years ago and am currently training again. I'm very fit and pretty strong. As I mentioned above, my grandparents had a large farm as well as a lumberyard, so I grew up working the farm (animals, gardens, etc) as well as helping build things ... up to and including houses. Again, my ideal exchange would be for me to jump in, learn and work hard a majority of my time there, but also with some freedom to travel around and actually see as much of Ireland as possible.

Age

55

What else ...

I will be bringing my bike to do some bikepacking with a group around Ireland. They are still working on the dates, but the trips would probably last a few days up to a week, so I'd be gone during those trips. There will be plenty of advanced notice to plan around my vacancy.

Some more information

• 

  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  No

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  Special dietary requirements
  No