Melissa

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
At home
My next destination:
Hawaii, United States
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Description
I am a very easygoing person and love to laugh and make jokes about just about everything. I think what makes me the happiest is just the people I am around. I have made a lot of great friends over the years and spending quality time and making jokes together is really what I think makes life so beautiful. Another thing that makes me really happy is learning new things and getting out of my comfort zone (which is a big reason I joined work away). I have done quite a few volunteer positions and different jobs locally and have really enjoyed getting to meet people and learn new ways of doing things from them.

I am an adrenaline addict and always up for the next adventure but I am also content just hanging out with others. My greatest passions at the moment are anything outside in nature, biking, hiking, reading, photography, clean eating, and sunsets.

I am a very outdoorsy person and love/need to be outdoors in nature. I am a slalom ski racer and a Thai boxer and along with that train regularly to keep up my physical and also mental health. I have also recently been interested in meditation because I believe it is great for self-development.

I am new to work away and joined in order to fill out my dream of traveling the world and break away from the norm of settling down right away. By far the biggest thing on my bucket list is that I would love to visit southeast Asia and backpack that continent. With its exotic landscapes and incredibly rich culture, I think it would be a life-changing experience and a great way to just learn more about the world and the people in it.
Interests
Events & social
Outdoor activities
Adventure sports
Culture
Farming
Music
Charity work
Sailing / Boating
Self development
Pets
Mountain
Hiking
Team sports
History
Cooking & food
Beach
Camping
Cycling
Books
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Helping around the house
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Able to teach about:
Being an elderly companion
Creating/ Cooking family meals
More details about your skills
One of my biggest skills is getting along easily with just about everyone. I have worked jobs as a home health aide and countless customer service jobs and have always been able to easily get along with clients and people I meet in the workplace. I love every minute of getting to hear other people's stories.

Another one of my abilities is being self-sufficient when doing new things. After being told what I am supposed to do, I can generally pick it up easily and work independently without needing much help and having to be told what to do.

Another thing that I am good at is working with animals. I volunteer at a local animal shelter weekly and we have two family dogs that I have trained and worked with since we got them. I have experienced quite a few difficult situations while working with rescues at the shelter but I have enjoyed every minute of it and have gained valuable experience from spending time working with the animals and trying to bring them out of their shell.

I am also first aid and CPR certified, fairly good with computers/technology, willing to lend a helping hand, hospitality/customer service, swing dancing (willing to teach!), and good with public speaking.
Age
19
What else ...
In my free time, some of the things I like to do is reading, mountain biking, hiking, in the winter skiing, and cooking! If I had a day off to do whatever I wanted, you could find me at the library looking for a new book to read or trying out a new healthy recipe from one of my cookbooks. And after that, I would take my dogs hiking on the trails near my home. One of my biggest hobbies though I would say would have to be dancing. I started dancing at the age of 4 and fell in love with it. I no longer dance with a studio but I swing dance once a week through a club (favorite part of my week) and take a tap dance class twice a week at my school.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Gluten allergy
- Special dietary requirements

Feedback

26 Sep 2023

Left by Workawayer (Melissa) for host (Join our family raising our ...)

I can't believe it has taken me this long to leave a review! This was my first workaway experience and it could not have been any better. I spent a month living here with Synorra and her family and I am incredibly grateful for all they have done for me during my stay. The profile was very accurate for the kind of work you will be doing so… read more definitely make sure to read it carefully so you can come fully prepared. The work is very hard, dirty, sweaty, and you will often be covered in chicken poop but it is also sooo rewarding, and you learn so much about animal and plant care. I found the work, although super hard, to be a lot fun especially with all the other workawayers! The baby chicks were always so fun to see and you definitely get attached to a lot of the animals there. I definitely miss their three super sweet dogs! Synorra does such a good job teaching you about farming and I feel like I learned so much in such a short period of time. I am even considering getting chickens now! Along with that, she knows a lot about the culture and history of Hawaii, so I was able to learn so much about that during my stay and Synorra always answered any questions that I have. She has such a passion for what she does and is very involved in the community which made it was so amazing to learn from her. Synorra does an excellent job of communicating and makes detailed to do lists which were very easy to follow so I never felt confused on what to do. If you ever have any questions though, she is super quick to responding to text messages and was always very patient with us. The food there was also amazing and dinners were always one of my favorite parts of the day as we would always have fun conversations at the table and with everyone helping it made cleanup fast afterwards as well. I got to try so many fun dishes from other cultures as well which all tasted amazing! The accommodation is super nice, and I never had any problems with bugs as they spray the rooms with bug repellent to keep them away. There is also a nice, shaded area in the carport with comfy couches that me and the other workers would often hangout in after work and in the evenings. Also, a great spot for post work naps haha
As you are only working 25 hours a week, you also have plenty of time to explore the Island. A lot of places were 2-3 hours away by bus so I would save those for my days off. But there are some really pretty beaches and hikes within 30 minutes by bus as well as the most beautiful and secluded beach only a 3 min walk away where you can see some of the most amazing sunsets! There is usually hardly anyone at the beach which was an added bonus as well. There is also another beach a little over 30 minutes away by bus, electric beach, which was super amazing for snorkeling and there is a hike right by their house which gives you some of the most amazing views ever. Synorra gave me a lot of recommendations of places to go while I was there, and they would always invite the workawayers with when they went places. We even all dressed up in pink to see the Barbie movie after work one day! there is a longs drugs store five minutes down the road which sells pretty much anything you could need.

A few things I would recommend bringing: A lightweight jacket that can easily fit into a backpack (bus rides are super cold sometimes!), a pair of shoes you don't mind getting ruined as you will be stepping in a lot of mud, some old T-shirts to use for work you don't mind getting dirty, headphones/ear pods to use on the bus as it can get a little boring during longer trips, and at least one portable charger (with how hot it is your phone battery will drain super-fast when out and about exploring).

This place will always hold a special place in my heart and I am beyond thankful for my experiences that I had here. Thank you to Ayla for teaching me how to surf and how make pickles as well as showing me the best snacks to eat and being so fun to hang out with in general, thanks Isabella for making the most amazing food, thank you Stephan for being so welcoming and easy to talk to, and of course thank you to Synorra for being such an amazing host and teaching me so much about the island and about farming! You really get a sense of family here which makes leaving the island so so sad but I will carry the memories with me forever!

Thank you sooooo much for everything!!

(Excellent )

31 Jul 2023

Left by host (Join our family raising our ...) for Workawayer (Melissa)

I’m so honored to be her first review! I’ve hosted so many first timers and I can say to other hosts,”Don’t worry. Most of them are just fine if you communicate ahead of time all expectations and how you structure everything”

Melissa is amazing. She came in with such a sweet demeanor and smile. Don’t get confused though, she’s a fierce, detail… read more

(Excellent )