Jess

Canada
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Profile information

Reply rate

100.0 %
Travel information

I am currently

Travelling

My next destination:
Chile - from Jun 2026 until Sep 2026
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Description

Hello! I am Jess, an adventure-seeking, animal loving , hard-working backpacker from Canada!
I have decided to pack up my life in Vancouver and explore South America. I think the best way for me to experience the country and meet people is through diving into local communities and volunteering my time. I am a hard worker, a friendly person and love to laugh. I have a Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology and many years experience working with animals. I have also worked for 10 years in hospitality as a Server and a Bartender as well as Reception. And Housekeeping.
Please me know if I can help you because in return you will be helping me see and experience this beautiful world.
Interests

Self development

Events & social

Writing

Books

Cooking & food

History

Outdoor activities

Sustainability

Vegetarian or vegan

Nature

Languages

Hiking

Beach

Animals

Music

LGBTQ

Pets

Movies & TV

Hitchhiking

Drawing & painting

Culture
Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
Spanish

Find a language partner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Being an elderly companion

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Art Projects

Languages

Some knowledge of:

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Light maintenance

Helping around the house

Animal Care

House & pet sitting

Hospitality/Tourism
More details about your skills

Animal care experience
Hospitality
Serving and bartending
Housekeeping
Cleaning
Age

38
What else ...

I love to read, learn Spanish, play board games, watch movies and just get to know new people in general. I enjoy different kinds of food, listening to music and experiencing different cultures around the world. My passions are traveling and animals...especially dogs!
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Tylenol
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegetarian

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24 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help our local team with ...)

I had originally signed on for two weeks at this Workaway.....I stayed for more than a month!
I felt like part of a close knit family as soon as I arrived, everyone was so warm and welcoming. The work is fair and very flexible.
I made some great connections and will certainly miss my Arica home!
Big hugs (and one flirty kiss on the cheek) to … read more

(Very good )

24 Jul 2026

Left by host (Help our local team with ...) for Workawayer ()

Fue un verdadero privilegio contar con tu trabajo voluntario. Tu compromiso, buena disposición y excelente energía hicieron una diferencia enorme. Gracias por tu entrega y por dejar un recuerdo tan positivo con nosotros. ¡Te deseamos lo mejor en todos tus próximos caminos!

(Excellent )

21 Jun 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help our animal assisted ...)

I can't begin to describe the gratitude I feel for having had the chance to volunteer and stay in this beautiful place. The mission of this organization of bettering the lives of local children in Tacna is wonderful...and I am glad I got to be a part of it for a short while. I quickly fell in love with all of the animals. build friendships with … read more

(Excellent )

1 Jun 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join us at our social hostel ...)

I spent one incredible month volunteering for this hostel and can't say enough about it. Friendly, comfortable , welcoming.....I truly felt like part of the family as soon as I arrived. The work was straight forward and simple, the staff were beyond helpful and friendly and the hostel itself was a great homebase in which to see the beautiful city … read more

(Excellent )

1 Jun 2026

Left by host (Join us at our social hostel ...) for Workawayer ()

Jess is a wonderful person! She’s extremely responsible, proactive, and very fast and efficient. We never needed to supervise her — she always did an excellent job. She was also always so kind to everyone, to all of us. She always supported us more than we needed and we feel very grateful for her great help.

(Excellent )

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Communication:
(5.0)

Skills:
(5.0)

Observed house rules:
(5.0)

24 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Help our local team with ...)

(Very good)

24 Jul 2026

Left by host (Help our local team with ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

21 Jun 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Help our animal assisted ...)

(Excellent)

1 Jun 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Join us at our social hostel ...)

(Excellent)

1 Jun 2026

Left by host (Join us at our social hostel ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

12 Mar 2024

Left by host (Help build superadobe igloos ...) for Workawayer

Jess and Rick, what a great couple of good people now became very good friends!! They are very clean, had very good communication, every work we ask it was very well done. If you’re looking for skill people, reliable, hard workers, this couple it’s the perfect duo!! Thank you both for coming and help us at our goat farm!! We look forward to see … read more

(Excellent)

27 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer for host (Help build superadobe igloos ...)

Galo de Allende farm became our beloved second home. With varied work tasks of feeding baby goats, helping to construct and paint the onsite igloo casita, supplying stores and selling products at the local farmers market, this Workaway was a true pleasure. Juan Diego and Laura were wonderful hosts who went above and beyond to ensure that we were … read more

(Excellent)

14 Feb 2024

Left by host for Workawayer

For 3 weeks, Jess and Rick were part of our dream team that went above and beyond helping us regrout 30 sqm of tile keeping ahead of the polishing contractor. They jumped in again to help prepare rooms and move furniture (multiple times) and deep cleaned so my family could have an excellent stay. They get along with everyone. They were fun and … read more

(Excellent)

10 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer for host (Reviving a 1920s colonial era ...)

I have been a part of Workaway for many years and can honestly say Brian was the best host that I have ever had.
My positive Workaway experience began before I even arrived, with Brian providing detailed instructions on how to arrive safely to his property in Guadalajara from the airport and gathering information on local places/vegetarian … read more

(Excellent)

20 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer for host (Experience unique life in the ...)

Overall a very pleasant workaway experience. Our days consisted of sunrise coffee then one of us would walk Mana the Shepherd ,while the other sweeps the large premises and then walks Oso, the Rottweiler for an hour, while the other waters plants and mops. We’d have breakfast in the kitchen and finish any additional weekly duties before walking … read more the dogs again for 20 minutes each. We were typically done at 12:30pm.
On sunny days we enjoyed going to the Huanacaxtle Family Beach, east of the marina, where the water is calm and there are few people. We would cook dinner (kitchen wares could use some replacing) or go out to some of the delicious restaurants nearby. We particularly enjoyed the affordable quesadillas at La Silla de Roja or pizza and billiards at Falconi’s. Tuesdays is 2 for 1 vegan ice-cream at Vegan Paradice and Thursdays is free movie night at the pier. Weekends we explored Yelapa, PV, Sayulita, San Pancho, and visited friends at Litibu Ecovillage near Higuera Blanca.
The dogs are very sweet to people…but dog aggressive. You’re basically playing dodge the dogs on your walks or you’re in for holding fast while Mana or Oso barks and pulls. Some dogs in the neighbourhood are off leash so this can become challenging. Stick to less traveled paths to avoid other dogs and it’s ok, they are both very sweet with humans.
There are maybe too many plants, 40+. We found it best to sweep, water via bucket, then mop. Using hoses will flood the floors creating a muddy mopping catastrophe. Easy work, just put on some music and find your zen!
As the profile says, the grounds are “funky”. Though aging, the villa is beautiful and full of wonderful original artwork, murals, and little tokens from happy volunteers that came before us. The pool is wonderful and we enjoyed plunging after a particularly hot and filthy fulfilling day of labor. There is a lovely view of the sun rising over the mountains and ocean from the roof and a couple of comfy chairs by the pool for stargazing and whimsical conversation.
There are some opportunities for improvement. The workaway room has no electricity, so we used lots of extension cords which was fine and the internet was slow but functional. There is no door lock, or door knob, but the villa is secured by a dead-bolted metal door and no visitors allowed. Better cleaning equipment and tools are needed, but you can get the job done with what is there. The workawayer bathroom is shared without hot water and the toilet does not properly flush, requiring pouring a pitcher of water to expunge any leavings. Funky indeed.
The property managers, Terry and Lucas are very sweet people and were gracious to share their space with us for the month. They were also very flexible to let us take a few days off in exchange for feeding and walking the dogs for a few extra nights. We found communication a little difficult in the beginning , arriving without anyone to greet us except a tenant that luckily heard us knocking on the door. The same thing happened to the next workaway couple that we luckily heard knocking on the door, so this seems to be an ongoing problem. The work is easy and self explanatory, so not much input is needed, but management sometimes felt a bit harried and distracted. There is a clear outline on tasks to be done, best not to move anything or hope to make improvements to any of the property beyond the walking the dogs, sweeping, watering, or mopping.
Overall, we had a positive Workaway experience here. Terry, Lucas and Ulla are lovely humans whom we feel fortunate to have gotten to know in our short time with them and we absolutely loved Mana and Oso. Thank you for the experience!

(Very good)

19 Jan 2024

Left by host for Workawayer

Jess and Rick were very, very clean. They did an excellent job cleaning, even did a deep cleaning of the Main Kitchen!

The best deep cleaning Terry has ever seen in the last 4 years! They might have even found some places, that had not been cleaned in the last 10 years!

They did a very good job watering all of our plants.

And our dogs LOVED … read more

(Excellent)

13 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer

was really good have a jess as a help shes really good cleaning and hanging out with the costumers

(Excellent)

9 May 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Help at a chill hostel in ...)

My time volunteering with Marco at his hostel was fun, relaxed; a positive experience all round. Marco is extremely welcoming and goes above and beyond to connect with volunteers and guests alike, providing a comfortable, cozy space to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Daily tasks of cleaning the kitchen, stocking bathrooms, collecting laundry, sweeping, … read more

(Excellent)

9 May 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Enjoy the privilege of the ...)

Chacahua is a beautiful location with spectacular views of the beach, lagoon and a relaxed, chill vibe. Jorge provides an opportunity to live and work on the land, helping to further develop his property and really get to experience his lifestyle. He and his partner, Ida, were incredibly welcoming and kind. They organized a spectacular … read more

(Very good)

23 Feb 2023

Left by host (Help out at a nature and ...) for Workawayer

Jess was amazing with animals!
took care of the dogs and cats in the house very well, very responsible and reliable.
I also help myself in cleaning the house and with a little gardening and support myself on my social network of my line of natural products.
She’s very cheerful and funny
I highly recommend it!
Thank you Jess for taking care of my … read more

(Excellent)

17 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Help out at a nature and ...)

My two weeks with Guilia and her animals in the jungle were incredible. Surrounded by nature, sweet cats and dogs and tropical fruit, birds, insects....it seemed more like a paradise getaway then a volunteer opportunity. I immediately fell in love with all the animals and happily cared for them during my stay. Cleaning the house and helping with … read more

(Excellent)

30 Jan 2023

Left by host (Opportunity to experience the ...) for Workawayer

Thank you Jess for everything you helped us. You're really amazing your hard work under the sun didn't seem to bother you it seemed like you really enjoyed it and what to say your way of organizing things was fast and furious ;) I loved that. Remember that my idea is not to have a farm, my house is about to be a hostel and it is far from being a … read more

(Excellent)

20 Jan 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Opportunity to experience the ...)

I had an incredible Workaway experience with Rafa on his farm in Temascalapa. New to workaway, I was immediately greeted with open arms and a positive attitude. Rafa, his parents, his gorgeous neighbour Luna and his cute dog Sanson all greeted me as part of the family and I felt immediately at home. My daily tasks were diverse; shoveling dirt, … read more

(Excellent)

30 Apr 2018

Left by host (Join our vegan sanctuary to ...) for Workawayer

We were so grateful to have Jess, who amongst other things is an amazing cook! She was a great volunteer who did everything asked of her. She is a beautiful person who we thoroughly enjoyed having stay with us.

We want to say a big thank you to Jess and we wish her all the luck in the future!

(Excellent)