Michele

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Hello,

I'm Michele and I joined WorkAway for the first time in 2016, initially because I wanted to volunteer in hostels on the Camino de Santiago route in Spain, after walking the Camino several times myself. I spent two months working in two different hostels, loved it and loved the WorkAway experience too. Between 2016-2019, I did a number of volunteer placements that included work in a Women's Holistic Health Retreat; helping a Spanish woman develop her vegetable garden on her small Finca; working with children in an orphanage in the Far East; helping a couple maintain their Casa Rural and small orchard; and, finally, working as English Tutor to a family on the small Canary island of El Hierro.

I fell in love with El HIerro, decided to put down roots there for a year and to take a break from WorkAway, and now I'm ready and enthusiastic to find some more new placements and new experiences. So I've just renewed my membership once again (February 2020).

I love travelling and learning new things, enjoy spending time with other people and also balancing this with time on my own, to think and reflect. I'm easy-going, optimistic, hard-working and I'm told that I'm a calm person to be around. I believe that every day gives us new opportunities to learn, to grow and to enjoy life to the full and that's the attitude I adopt with my WorkAway experiences. I'm fit, healthy and active and I love nature, the outdoors and being able to walk and hike when I can. Being close to trees, mountains, rivers and/or the sea helps me to stay connected to my heart and soul.

I worked in the business world for many years and as a voluntary counsellor in my spare time for two years but now I'm interested in living a simpler life that reflects the things I value most. Those are health; well-being; nature; working with positive people and sharing thoughts and ideas with them; learning new things; doing things that help others; finding time for contemplation and inner peace.

I believe that we live in a beautiful world, that we are all basically the same at heart, that we all want to be respected and loved and to live lives that feel worthwhile. I've learned that people will generally be open, honest, helpful and respectful, if I behave in the same way towards them.

I love sunshine, fresh air, windy days, good food, reading and writing poetry and prose, a wide range of music, cooking wholesome food, doing small tasks well and the company of people who have a sense of humour and are kind and tolerant towards others. I think the keys to happiness are learning to take the highs and lows in our stride, to avoid drama and gossip whenever possible, to help others when we can and to laugh off the daily frustrations of life.

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

Light gardening

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

Charity Work

Languages

Art Projects

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

I’m a CELTA-qualified Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (and a native English speaker)
I'm well organised
I’m familiar with computers, Microsoft software programs and social media
I'm a good communicator, friendly & open with people
I'm responsible, reliable & can work in a team or alone
I ran my own small business for 17 years, so understand accounts, marketing etc.
Previous WorkAway hosts have taken holidays while I was with them, leaving me to look after their businesses (hostels) in their absence and I fully appreciated and respected that trust in me.
I'm happy to cook, clean, work with people, shop, garden, do computer/admin work etc (ie: I’m flexible, adaptable and willing to learn new things).

Age

62

What else ...

I'm interested in learning about other cultures and approaches to health, well-being and spirituality. I practice yoga regularly and I'm also interested in Tai chi and other 'movement practices' that encourage balance, strength and flexibility through the practice and in life generally.

I’ve walked a number of Caminos to Santiago in Spain, have trekked in Nepal, and have hiked across Israel to Jerusalem. I’ve also been lucky enough to visit a number of other countries around the world including Africa and Australia.

Some more information

• 

  Smoker

• 

  Driver's licence

• 

  Allergies

• 

  Special dietary requirements