Louise

United Kingdom
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Profile information

Travel information

I am currently

Travelling

My next destination:
Mexico
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Description

I am retired but having a tough time accepting that this is so.
I worked for 40 years as a primary teacher in the UK specialising in Early Years Education and Behaviour Management but for the last 15 years have worked as a self employed Play Therapist. Supporting children's well being is important to me and if I can do this by working holistically with families this is more beneficial for the whole family. I hold a very old and basic TEFL qualification.
I have spent a lot of my life living abroad with my parents and as an adult have worked / volunteered with VSO abroad in Nepal(Gender and disability inclusion advisor) and Rwanda(literacy and .learning through play)
In these most unusual times I am now interested to find out about sustainable living, but don't yet have skills in this area.
I am travelling in the hope of finding a great place to live. I am currently struggling to learn Spanish.
I have completed several workaways and some pet sitting jobs: supporting English learning, translating for websites, companionship for a lady suffering from MS. My next will be in a refuge for cats where I believe there are more than 50 cats!.
Interests

Nature

Languages

Culture

Water sports

Self development

Sustainability

Plant care

Pets

Music

Gardening

Books

Charity work

Cooking & food

Beach

Animals
Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Nepali: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I have a basic TEFL qualification but am a UK qualified primary teacher so feel able to teach English. I would like to learn Mexican Spanish

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

I'm interested in:

Light gardening

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Some knowledge of:

Being an elderly companion

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Animal Care

Able to teach about:

Babysitting and creative play

Languages

Teaching
More details about your skills

teaching, devising games and activities for children, basic gardening, home cooking, caring,
Age

72
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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16 Nov 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help out at a cat sanctuary ...)

I intended to volunteer with Anita for 6 weeks but actually stayed for 8.
Anita and Jim were so kind and helpful supporting me to achieve some of my local goals and always wanting to help me.
The cats were amazing. It took me some time to learn them and I left with some still a mystery to me.
The work was not arduous, about 3 hours of feeding, … read more

(Excellent )

16 Nov 2022

Left by host (Help out at a cat sanctuary ...) for Workawayer ()

It was great having Louise her. She is thoughtful, thorough, helpful and pleasant. Her calming effect on the cats was amazing! She's welcome back anytime. Thanks, Louise

(Excellent )

19 Oct 2022

Left by host for Workawayer ()

She is very kind and was always willing to help me and my caregivers. I could always count on her, and it was a pleasure to have her staying.

(Excellent )

23 Sep 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Come and speak English to me ...)

I stayed with Mary in Guadalajara for 6 weeks.
Mary was very good at initial communication and helpful about my travel plans. She was very welcoming even tho I arrived at 11.0 pm.
Initially it was hard to get to grips with what Mary wanted me to do. She is bed bound but actively enjoys chatting with others and sharing films together. She wanted to … read more

(Very good )

13 Apr 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Come, see and enjoy the most ...)

I had a wonderful stay here in Mexiquilo. I felt guilty because it felt like a holiday.
Yeraldhy and Mohan communicated well with me from the start and met the bus as I arrived in the evening.
Yeraldhy had taken the trouble to explain what they hoped for during my stay and I did spend some hours helping to translate their website into English.
I … read more

(Excellent )

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These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Communication:
(4.3)

Skills:
(4.7)

Observed house rules:
(4.7)

16 Nov 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Help out at a cat sanctuary ...)

(Excellent)

16 Nov 2022

Left by host (Help out at a cat sanctuary ...) for Workawayer

It was great having Louise her. She is thoughtful, thorough, helpful and pleasant. Her calming effect on the cats was amazing! She's welcome back anytime. Thanks, Louise

(Excellent)

19 Oct 2022

Left by host for Workawayer

She is very kind and was always willing to help me and my caregivers. I could always count on her, and it was a pleasure to have her staying.

(Excellent)

23 Sep 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Come and speak English to me ...)

(Very good)

13 Apr 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Come, see and enjoy the most ...)

(Excellent)

5 Apr 2022

Left by host (Help indigenous kids in San ...) for Workawayer

she is best person to help children, always on time for kids.
Personality is excellent. My self, learn new experience.
Thank you

(Very good)

2 Apr 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Help indigenous kids in San ...)

I was with Kevin for a month. I have waited a week or so before leaving this feedback as I wished to be measured in my responses.
Kevin was great at communicating during our initial discussions in dates etc however when it got near to my arrival date he requested that I came a month later, this did mean that I had to quickly make alternative … read more plans..Kevin met me directly from the bus and took me back to the accomodation which is desperate to the 'centre' where I would be working.
I think it would be better, and there are plans for volunteers to live in the centre.
The accomodation feels quite basic with the bathroom some distance to the upstairs rooms, there was no hot water except in the showers near Kevin's own home, but the wind often blew out the pilot light mud shower. I found it easier to bucket wash.
There is a big kitchen where you have to get used to the tap that constantly drips and the gas that leaks if not turned off at the mains
The weather was cold during the night and when inside during the day. Kevin kindly supplied lots if blankets and a warm coat.
He also eventually agreed to keeping open the top room which was the warmest and comfiest room to sit in the evening.
Other people have commented at how generous Kevin has been, and I do believe he would give you whatever you needed but you have to ask and you have to know that he is likely to have something and that it is ok to ask.
My hours working were quite short
I was teaching English with only 2 lessons and preparation each day. I was also working with Lucie in the day care and spent some hours making resources and encouraging Lucie to use them.
I could have worked more hours but Kevin did not ask this of me.
Kevin has many activities on the go at any one time, this means that many of them are not completed and can lead to disorganisation and uncertainty about what is required.
My biggest difficulty was in ongoing communication.
Kevin did not share information that might have been important for daily living or decision making. He often made decisions himself without communicating or discussing. Initially I asked many questions, trying to understand how things worked but Kevin really did not like to be questioned.
{redacted text}
Fellow volunteers should also know that Kevin welcomes some of the young residents to stay over whilst using the internet, he also welcomes bikers in a ' couch surfing' sort of way. He will not always let you know these other people are around the place and that you may bump into someone strange on the way to the toilet in the middle if the night.
So rather than a ' clised' residence, it becomes more like a hostel residence.
You will guess that I did find my time here challenging.
I continued by doing what I was asked and keeping my head down.

(Good)

22 Feb 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Emotional health workshops ...)

I was with Vane for 2 weeks and enjoyed my experience with her.
She was great at ensuring communication prior to my visit was timely and met me at the bus station. When she realised that my poor Spanish meant that there were some things I hadn't understood, she changed her communication style to ensure I was informed
Vane lives and works in a … read more

(Very good)

28 Jan 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Help with English language ...)

Emelio communicated well with me during our initial contact, he met me at the bus station and made sure I had everything needed.
During my 3 week stay he seemed to be super busy having changed his working location and encountering some work difficulties. Because if this communication became more difficult but Emelio used WhatsApp to keep in … read more

(Very good)