Katrien

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Kia ora! My name is Katrien, I am 28 years old and I grew up in Antwerp, Belgium.

In 2021 signing up as a workawayer was a big step towards a new kind of freedom and one step closer to a much wanted adventurous lifestyle. After working for three years and getting a taste of the normal adult life I started to notice that I wanted more out of life than the people I've surrounded myself with over the years. I was eager to discover what the world has to offer by meeting new people and learning from their mindsets and way of living. And so I went off with my campervan and traveled trough Europe and ended up staying with four amazing hosts.

Today, 3 years later I find myself updating my profile while I am traveling again.
I've left home in February and traveled trough Vietnam and Indonesia to eventually end up in New Zealand on a work holiday visa. Together with my parter I settled down in Wellington for half a year to work and restore our travel funds. As this period is coming to an end and my partner and I decided to split ways, I am looking for a place to regroup, connect with myself and others and live a simple life.

A little bit more about me:
To be honest at this moment I feel a bit lost. Breaking up with my partner brought up a lot of old wounds which I would like to work on healing. I am in a place where I am trying to figure out what is right for me after a year of making him the priority.
I've been told I'm kind, patient, observant and funny. I love learning new things and expanding my skills. I consider myself a hard worker and creative, someone who can adapt to many situations.
I´m up to travel to any country and work hard in any job as long I can feel comfortable where and who I´m with.

So far I had five wonderfull workaway- and WOOFF experiences.
Some are recent and local:
*Sep/Okt 2024* I stayed with a family with three little kids under 4 in the Wairarapa, NZ. They lived on there big bull and sheep farm. I mainly was there to support mom with the kids, keeping the household running, doing some gardening and joining them in the day to day life.
*Jun/Sep 2024* Together with my partner we joined a family in Southgate, NZ. We were there to house- and dogsit while they went overseas. Before and after their travels we spent time together working in the garden and maintaining the house. We were left with several tasks around the garden and the house and had a wonderful time taking care of Mocha, the dog.

Some are from back in 2021/2022:
* I stayed with Lou in the Aragonese Pyrenees. For almost five weeks I helped out at her self sufficient house/bed and breakfast. I mainly helped with the household and taking care of the guest.
* I stayed with Ayla in the desert near Cuevas del Campo. I had the opportunity to live in her cavehouse with her while getting introduced to a spiritual and back to basics kind of living. We worked in the garden, cooked our own harvested food, did some construction work,... and so much more.
* I stayed with Arianne at her bed and breakfast in Fuengirola. During my stay there were no guest but I helped with preparing all the rooms, cleaning the house and caring for her daughter.

I feel very lucky for these amazing experience and they only make me more excited for new Workaway destinations.

Interests

Events & social

Charity work

Sustainability

Culture

Outdoor activities

Mountain

Gardening

Hiking

Plant care

Yoga / Wellness

Van life

Nature

Farming

DIY & crafts

Camping

Cooking & food

Beach

Art & design

Animals

Adventure sports

Languages spoken

English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
French: Beginner

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Charity Work

Art Projects

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Some knowledge of:  

Babysitting and creative play

General Maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

Teaching

More details about your skills

I think the most important thing to tell here is that I am a quick learner.
I am a hard worker and not scared at all of getting my hands dirty.
I find myself pretty handy and creative.

I have a degree in childcare and have been working with children for many years.
As a young student I started working and I've had the chance to do a lot of different professions. From selling ice cream, working at the guestservices of the Antwerp zoo, fold laundry in an industrial laundry service,... to interviewing and hiring students for a big logistic company.

I find myself enjoying a big variety of tasks and even tough I sometimes hesitate to try new thing, I absolutely thrive on learning new skills ( especially crafts and manual skills)
I love working with people around me as wel as independently.

Age

28

What else ...

My intrest in nature has evolved to me being a volunteer at a local "plant library", a place where people can come to trade small pieces of there houseplants. Super fun and educational!

At the moment I am learning an practicing the art of spoon carving.

I am a full on animal-person. Ever since we got a dog a year ago I am sold to any kind of animal.

During my trip I got the chance to follow a 10 day Vipassana meditation course near Madrid. This was a first and intens introduction into the world of meditation and I am curious to learn and practice more with people who have more experience and knowledge.

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements
  Vegetarian