Badges (4)
Photos
Profile information
Travel information
I am currently
At home
My next destination:
Portugal - from Jan 2022 until Dec 2022 View all
Description
(Note: For the time being, I am pursuing a paid position in portugal and am no longer active as a WorkAway volunteer)
Hello! I am a WorkAway volunteer, traveling around Portugal.
I am American by birth but now carry a Dutch passport. I grew up in Nigeria, West Africa, studied in Michigan, USA and have lived the last 25+ years in The Netherlands. I dance Tango, like to sing, and am learning to play the guitar. I try to practice a bit of Ashtanga Yoga. I have a CELTA diploma and I am also trained in massage.
As well as volunteering my time and skills, I am also interested in options for more long term or paid work.
Interests
MountainYoga / WellnessFarmingGardeningCarpentryArt & designSelf development
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Art Projects
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Helping around the house
Language practice
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Able to teach about:
Teaching
More details about your skills
I have worked as a house painter and have many years of DIY experience. My 20 years of employment doing maintenance for an American Embassy taught me basic skills in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, tiling, plastering, floor installation etc. I am also a photographer, a painter, and have reasonable computer skills (technical and creative). I almost always find a way to do something, even if it isn't the 'standard' solution. I like creative solutions. I can work very independently, but love sharing a job with someone.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Portuguese: Beginner
Age
54
Nationality
(Originally American) now Dutch!
What else ...
Since I have been attending to family business during this last year, I have not been volunteering since july 2020.
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
NoSpecial dietary requirements
No
Feedback
16/02/2020
Left by host (Help with gardening, sorting ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
It's sometimes difficult to leave a feed back that would really make a precise feeling and form that everybody can understand or sense. I have been hosting a lot of people since 2 years. I have had very good experiences. I would talk with you kris about this experience... You stayed enough time to make a really difference in my house, and within… read more
(Excellent
)
30/12/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Help with gardening, sorting ...)
If I could give more stars for 'communication', I would. It is probably the thing that Sylvie does best, and maybe the reason I ended up staying so much longer than expected. Sylvie is a lovely woman with a huge heart. She has a lot to say but is even better at listening. Yes, there was work to be done, and I did my share, but working together… read more
(Excellent
)
30/12/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Help with the build of a ...)
This was my first experience staying with a Spanish family and there are so many good things to be said about my stay. Sergi and Neus are warm and welcoming and made me feel immediately at home. One cannot help being impressed by the shear amount of work they have done together building their home, and yet, all is done with a certain lightness and… read more
(Excellent
)
24/12/2019
Left by host (Help with the build of a ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
It was great to have Krister with us. He is really skilled with the tools, working with wood. He is very open minded, and also taught us a lot of english, and we had really interesting conversations about a lot of different topics. You will always have the doors open at our home!
(Excellent
)
12/02/2019
Left by host (Live and learn French with ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
Kirster stayed with us for a few weeks. Extremely nice person. Open and Happy. Very interesting conversationas brillant mind. A real pleasure to have him with us. Astounding photographer, wonderful painter and very artistic.On top of it a l very good with his hands and capable of great quality practical work. He created a little wine cellar cum… read more
(Excellent
)
07/01/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Live and learn French with ...)
The three weeks I spent with Dominique and Patrick in a little hamlet in a corner of Normandy was an experience I would do over in a heartbeat. I was welcomed to their home as if I was already family, and only felt more so during my stay. My first week was shared with Jakub, a fellow WorkAway’er, which added to the positive diversity of the… read more
(Excellent
)
Friends
Photos
Feedback
16/02/2020
Left by host (Help with gardening, sorting ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
It's sometimes difficult to leave a feed back that would really make a precise feeling and form that everybody can understand or sense. I have been hosting a lot of people since 2 years. I have had very good experiences. I would talk with you kris about this experience... You stayed enough time to make a really difference in my house, and within… read more
(Excellent
)
30/12/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Help with gardening, sorting ...)
If I could give more stars for 'communication', I would. It is probably the thing that Sylvie does best, and maybe the reason I ended up staying so much longer than expected. Sylvie is a lovely woman with a huge heart. She has a lot to say but is even better at listening. Yes, there was work to be done, and I did my share, but working together… read more
(Excellent
)
30/12/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Help with the build of a ...)
This was my first experience staying with a Spanish family and there are so many good things to be said about my stay. Sergi and Neus are warm and welcoming and made me feel immediately at home. One cannot help being impressed by the shear amount of work they have done together building their home, and yet, all is done with a certain lightness and… read more
(Excellent
)
24/12/2019
Left by host (Help with the build of a ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
It was great to have Krister with us. He is really skilled with the tools, working with wood. He is very open minded, and also taught us a lot of english, and we had really interesting conversations about a lot of different topics. You will always have the doors open at our home!
(Excellent
)
12/02/2019
Left by host (Live and learn French with ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
Kirster stayed with us for a few weeks. Extremely nice person. Open and Happy. Very interesting conversationas brillant mind. A real pleasure to have him with us. Astounding photographer, wonderful painter and very artistic.On top of it a l very good with his hands and capable of great quality practical work. He created a little wine cellar cum… read more
(Excellent
)
07/01/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Live and learn French with ...)
The three weeks I spent with Dominique and Patrick in a little hamlet in a corner of Normandy was an experience I would do over in a heartbeat. I was welcomed to their home as if I was already family, and only felt more so during my stay. My first week was shared with Jakub, a fellow WorkAway’er, which added to the positive diversity of the… read more
(Excellent
)
10/02/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Join me in the garden in a ...)
Originally I planned to stay in Haimps for three weeks, but even after stretching that to four weeks, my time with Florence and Carole seemed to just fly by. To stay in their home was such a pleasure. I arrived as a stranger, but left as a good friend. The discussions we had were open, honest and touching and I feel I received as much as I gave.… read more
(Excellent
)
07/02/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Krister)
My super Hero just left... he is MacGyver in person...
truly nothing phase him. But before I go onto his talent, let me tell you about the man and to tell you the truth coming from me it is huge... Krister is educated, well travelled, reflective, sensitive, he respects your boundaries and intimacy. We talked about most subjects, sometimes we… read more
truly nothing phase him. But before I go onto his talent, let me tell you about the man and to tell you the truth coming from me it is huge... Krister is educated, well travelled, reflective, sensitive, he respects your boundaries and intimacy. We talked about most subjects, sometimes we… read more
(Excellent
)
28/01/2019
Left by host (We're looking for help to ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
Krister was a joy to host. He arrived one very cold and foggy day, having ridden for approximately 4.5 hours from his previous Workaway, frozen to the core! We quickly offered him some homemade soup and once he had warmed up a bit, showed him to his room and found a suitable place to put his 40 year old Honda bike. It took Krister several days to… read more
(Excellent
)
19/01/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (We're looking for help to ...)
My three weeks with Donna and Keith was amazing, mostly because they themselves are amazing. You cannot help but be impressed by the shear amount of work they have taken on by moving to France, and yet, amid all the chaos and unexpected challenges, every day was a joy to be there. They project a very positive attitude, and show a deep love and… read more
(Excellent
)
07/01/2019
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Join us to create a space for ...)
My three weeks spent with Mila and Jonathan were enjoyable and rewarding. At first I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of ‘possible’ projects, but as the days progressed, things got sorted out. While I was there, the weather was a little dreary, but the presence of two other WorkAwayer’s and 5 month old James made things sunny in the home.… read more
(Very good
)
11/11/2018
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Come and be part of our life ...)
It was truly a pleasure to stay with Kristi and Karl in their old but beautiful farmhouse. I felt at home immediately. I only spent a week there, sort of 'last minute', but I am so happy they took me on. Karl has a lot of experience in building or restoration techniques and even in that week I learned a lot. He is very keen to share what he knows.… read more
(Excellent
)
05/11/2018
Left by host (Come and be part of our life ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
Krister stayed with us for a week, he was a pleasant man and we enjoyed his company. He worked well and happy to try new things. We wish him well on his further travels.
(Excellent
)
10/10/2018
Left by Workawayer (Krister) for host
for (Looking for some extra green ...)
Staying with Lisa and Kini was an absolute pleasure, and the perfect start to my WorkAway trip. Lisa is very open and easy going, and took me in at the very last minute! Kini is a very smart, talkative, fun loving and engaging boy who is also very good at playing alone when necessary. He added life and spice to the days. Lisa lives on the edge of… read more
(Excellent
)
05/10/2018
Left by host (Looking for some extra green ...) for Workawayer (Krister)
We had Krister in our house for 3 weeks and it is really hard to let him go again! Not only he did some great work in our garden, but he was a perfect match with our tiny structured household. Our garden was a little wilderness before he arrived, but it is now a manicured little wilderness :-) It was always a pleasure to come home from work and… read more
(Excellent
)