Matthew

Canada
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hi soon-to-be friends!

It feels somewhat strange attempting to sell myself as an appealing guest, like I am marketing some fancy new product ("NEW and IMPROVED, now SELF-CLEANING"), but here goes: At my core, I would like to think I am a loving person, and I care about my friends and family deeply. I am always ready to join friends for some impromptu karaoke, hikes, or philosophical banter, and to share laughs all the while. I should also mention that I make a lot of jokes--some of which are even funny!

As for why I want to travel, when I think about meeting new people, learning from them, and building memories with them--these are all meaningful pursuits for me. A few years back and for various reasons, I resolved to live a life that was meaningful to me, and my plans for travel are an extension of that decision.

I look forward to meeting you all!
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Winter sports
Self development
Pets
Performing arts
Nature
Outdoor activities
Mountain
Languages
Hitchhiking
Farming
Fitness
Hiking
Events & social
Cycling
Culture
Charity work
Books
Camping

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Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
German: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
Can Teach: English (Native); Wish to Learn: German
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Being an elderly companion
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Animal Care
Charity Work
Languages
Some knowledge of:
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Able to teach about:
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
I know my way around power tools, and have experience with DIY projects. I'm not shy about getting my hands dirty either. If you need tree trunks dug up, or heavy patio stones moved around, I'm your man.

I enjoy pursuing personal projects! I mounted a gymnastic ring support system to my bedroom ceiling and, with the help of a friend, I built an unpowered magnetic levitation system using scrap copper tubing, scrap wood, bismuth, and some magnets I bought online.

I speak English fluently and would love to set up a language exchange!
Age
26
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  I'm vegan at home, but flexible when travelling

Feedback

26 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Help our family at our home ...)

My stay with Stephanie was short, but I still had a good time. My room was very large; more than enough for my needs. Likewise the food on offer was delicious (Stephanie is quite the cook).

The highlights of my stay were walking Monty in the morning and evening, and visiting the Grüner Jäger for the weekly Social Melting Pot event. I highly,… read more

(Excellent )

21 Sep 2023

Left by host (Help us with DIY and feel at ...) for Workawayer (Matthew)

Matt was a great company.He was really considerate and reliable. He has also always been open and funny when playing with our son.
He was great help with our projects since he is very handy and engaged.
His skills in talking german are quite good and it was no problem at all to communicate (even in german). We hope to see him again!

(Excellent )

3 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Help us with DIY and feel at ...)

My stay with Franzi, Philipp, and little Vincent was great! Franzi and Philipp were so accommodating and friendly from the moment I arrived. The work really isn't too much, just walking Hazel and helping out with other projects as requested. And in exchange the food and accommodations were great!

Also, for people who enjoy climbing there's a nice… read more

(Excellent )

29 Jun 2023

Left by host (Help with restoration and ...) for Workawayer (Matthew)

Danke für dein Interesse an den vielfältigen Aufgaben. Immer auf der Suche nach Input, nach Neuem, zum Lernen. Obwohl keiner die Sprache des anderen gut kann, haben wir uns immer wieder an komplexe Themen getraut. Oft habe ich Nachts noch Recherche betrieben um zu verstehen. Eine interessante und spannende Zeit, um Austausch von Lebenserfahrung,… read more

(Excellent )

20 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Help with restoration and ...)

My month with Michael was definitely interesting. There aren't many places you can go to work on a giant wooden snail, and now I can say I've done that. One of the things I really liked about this Workaway is that things got done quickly. Michael had clear goals and we worked on them right away, without any procrastination or overthinking. That… read more

(Excellent )

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26 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Help our family at our home ...)

(Excellent )

21 Sep 2023

Left by host (Help us with DIY and feel at ...) for Workawayer (Matthew)

(Excellent )

3 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Help us with DIY and feel at ...)

(Excellent )

29 Jun 2023

Left by host (Help with restoration and ...) for Workawayer (Matthew)

(Excellent )

20 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Help with restoration and ...)

(Excellent )

19 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Help us with family daily ...)

I was originally planning to stay with Floh and Inga for two months, but ended up staying an extra two months because I was enjoying myself so much! Traben-Trarbach is a lovely, peaceful, and friendly town with several hiking trails nearby. There's also a bouldering gym an hour away by bus for those who are interested :)

Plus, the family is… read more great! Inga and I had lovely conversations on a variety of topics, from raising a family, to traveling, to relationships, and even mental health. She's a very introspective person and has a lot to teach, and I found myself relying on her for advice more than once. Floh and I didn't have so many late night chats, but we definitely had fun. I remember holding hands, jumping around in a circle in the kitchen on my birthday. He also introduced me to the German naked sauna experience, which was super cool (but actually very hot - DO NOT SIT ON THE TOP LEVEL OF THE SAUNA).

And then there's little Phili. My hosts are being generous when they say we were best friends after just a few days. In truth, it took a while for me to figure her out, but she was a great teacher and I really do think we were best friends by the time I left. Phili is such an intelligent, positive, and delightfully confident child. She speaks German, and understands a fair bit of English and Russian. If you're learning German, Phili will be great partner. You'll learn such terms as "Fee", "Schmetterling", and "Zauberstab".

As for tasks, you'll primarily be playing with Phili. You'll also be preparing guest rooms for hostel and rental guests. Inga and Floh love workawayers who can cook, so that might be a responsibility some nights per week if you're confident in the kitchen. Garden and woodwork are also possibilities, especially if you already have some knowledge in these areas. As for "learning to brew beer", brew days don't actually happen very often and depending on the length of your stay you might not get to participate in one. You're almost certainly not going to learn enough to go home and make your own IPA, but if you ask questions you can learn the basics.

The work schedule changes from week to week depending on Floh/Inga's needs, so if you need your free days to happen on the same two days every week, that's something you should discuss before arriving. Also, if you want to do some traveling for a week, you have the option to "save up" free days and spend them all at once.

I found the accommodations more than sufficient. Depending on availability and time of year, you might be staying in the nice bed in the hostel room or a private workawayer room. I recommend the hostel room if you like meeting people, especially during the tourist season (Summer-ish). Food is provided, but if you want to buy yourself a pack of beer or some chocolate, that's at your expense. There's a warm shower, laundry machine, and a place where you can keep your toiletries.

Having spent four months with the family, of course not everything was sunshine and roses. There were occasionally family arguments—like every family has. But please don't let that discourage you from visiting! I found that there was enough space in the house to give distance whenever a fight was happening, and I think for most people it won't be an issue.

Phew! That was a lot! Did I get everything? Yeah I think I got everything.

Workaway friends - I wholeheartedly recommend the Traben-Trarbach experience. I'll certainly be visiting again.

Inga and Floh - Thank you so much for welcoming me into your family and showing me the loveliest side of the town you call home. I had such a delightful time, and will see y'all at Mont Royal 2023.

(Excellent )

4 Mar 2023

Left by host (Help us with family daily ...) for Workawayer (Matthew)

Matt arrived to our place in December 2022 and is still here at the moment when I am writing the reference. It was so far three months that he has spent with us and 1,5 more to go.
Matt is incredibly smart and positive person, it's a pleasure to have him around. He quickly adapted to our daily routines and family rules and has been big help in… read more

(Excellent )

14 Dec 2022

Left by Workawayer (Matthew) for host (Come enjoy this extraordinary ...)

My experience staying with Reinhard and Sabine was a positive one. I learned a lot of woodworking skills from Reinhard, Sabine made lovely food and taught me about German history, and both were really patient and gracious in speaking German with me. My confidence using German increased a lot because of them.

Two things keep me from giving a full… read more

(Very good )

11 Dec 2022

Left by host (Come enjoy this extraordinary ...) for Workawayer (Matthew)

Matthew stayed with us six weeks. Main projects have been a wooden surface of a garage and insulating the roof. Matthew was one of the best helpers we had up to now. He is an open minded, widly interested and humorous person. He learned german very fast and enjoyed cultural exchange and conversation. We wish him all the best for his next stays and… read more

(Excellent )

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