John

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
I am from Southern California and love to surf. I'm looking for adventure, and to learn new skills. I recently spent four months in Spain as a Workawayer. It was great.
My next destination:
Peru
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Description
I like motivating others. I have done extensive volunteer work with the American Red Cross and have done projects all over the country helping others in need. Recently I have worked with migrant children at the U.S./Mexico border. I like learning new things and am looking to gain a new perspective about the world around me.
Interests
Carpentry
Team sports
Writing
Culture
Art & design
Charity work
Cooking & food
Beach
Movies & TV
History
Fitness
Politics / Social justice
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Arabic: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I want to be fluent in Spanish. I can read, write, and speak it fairly well. I want to learn to speak Arabic. I can speak a little bit. I can also read very basic phrases with help. I want to learn french. I know nothing about it, but am willing to learn if given the opportunity.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Languages
Teaching
Some knowledge of:
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Able to teach about:
Being an elderly companion
Helping around the house
Charity Work
More details about your skills
I am a licensed emergency medical technician and have four years of working experience in an ambulance running both basic and advanced life support calls. I have over seven years and 4000+ hours of volunteer experience with the American Red Cross. I worked mostly in disaster scenarios assisting people who have been affected by wildfires, floods, hurricanes etc... I also worked in international relations assisting families who have been separated by war or famine. I worked in blood services for a time as a blood transporter to local hospitals and as an administration worker at blood drives. I have strong situational awareness and tend to accomplish tasks without instruction. I have strong stress management and a generally calm demeanor. I have a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice. I speak Spanish conversationally. I am a fairly decent cook and my friends tell me I am funny.
Age
29
What else ...
There is this board game called, "joker," played with marbles, that I absolutely love. I like poker, and scrabble. Who doesn't like UNO? I love anime and follow all the latest shows. I like old movies. I was a big drama club kid in high school. I didn't act, but I was big into the backstage work and was a part of every production my school put on. I like running, even though I have not done it as much as I would have liked lately. I think it gives me the opportunity to explore my local area.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Feedback

1 Aug 2021

Left by Workawayer (John) for host (Climb and collaborate in ...)

I am an American from Los Angeles, CA. I just completed my 3rd week here. I am unsure how long I am going to stay here so I thought now was as good a time as any to leave feedback.

IT WAS A MAJOR CULTURE SHOCK. Moving here is like jumping back in time 100 years. I love it. There is so much nature, wildlife, and history everywhere. Not a day has… read more gone by where I have not learned something new. From how to raise chickens, to how to treat an allergic reaction with a leaf, there has not been a dull moment. The people here are amazing and full of life. I have valued every moment shared with every person I have met. Paco is a phenomenal host. You can tell he truly cares about his workaways. He is, hands-down, one of the hardest working people I have ever met. He lives life at lightspeed and shows no signs of slowing down, ever.

That said, for you potential workaways out there, please make sure you are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready for this prior to coming out. This is a very remote and isolated village. I mean no grocery stores, McDonald's, or bars. The closest bar is a very long uphill walk if you do not have a ride (You likely won't most of the time). You must also get very comfortable with the other workaways you live with. If you are not totally comfortable with having roommates, being in shared spaces or communicating your thoughts and feelings in an efficient and respectable manner, trust me, this is not for you.

You do have your own room so its not like you are face to face with someone all the time, but once you leave your room, expect to have to open your mouth at some point. A simple, "Hey what's up" can totally transform someones day.

I have two pieces of advice. One, you get out what you put in. This means that if you want adventure, you need to do the research or just go out and find something new (bring a walking stick haha). Second, slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Do not overexert yourself and risk injury. Let your body tell you what you can and cannot do. Paco is very very understanding. He will also tell you about all the cool hikes in the area. Trust me when I tell you that you will not run out of jobs to do or mountains to climb. I come home every day tired and satisfied with a job well done. Also, this is workaway not lounge away. Paco gives you a lot of freedom, the absolute least you can do is crank out 3 shifts a week at about 8 hours per work day or 6 shifts a week at 4 hours per day. The choice is yours. It makes everyone happy.

Also, I cannot stress enough how valuable it is to at least know conversational Spanish and have a decent vocabulary. A lot of very useful information gets lost in translation when you do not understand what anyone is saying. Paco's english is better than most, but even with my decent level of Spanish and perfect English I found myself getting frustrated at times because I cannot communicate a concern effectively or Paco cannot explain a job fully and efficiently. It is a minut point and very rare occurrence, but definitely worth mentioning.

(Very good )

20 Jul 2021

Left by host (Climb and collaborate in ...) for Workawayer (John)

What can I say about my volunteer, kind man, lover of slow conversation, worker, very strong man, good traveler, he likes to try new foods, in a few days he has become a new inhabitant ... Do not hesitate if knocks on your door ... a fantastic volunteer

(Excellent )