Nicola

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Hello! :)
My name is Nicola and I come from a village in the countryside of northern Italy, not far from the border with Slovenia.
Over the past couple of years, I got a degree in library sciences and worked in a few small local libraries both in Venice and in my area, then in 2025 I resigned to leave for a long trip from home to China (quite an adventure). I came back a little bit transformed and with a bit less pressure to figure out exacty who I am and what I will be doing long term :)
So I got a temporary job as a primary school teacher, which ended in June, and after that I have been focusing on looking after the farmhouse where me and my mum live, and hosting lots of people (friends, volunteers, couchsurfers and all sorts of guests).

Now my plan is to take a second round of primary school teaching in January (since I quite enjoyed it after all), but before that I feel like leaving again for a bit, so the idea is to spend the coming autumn months travelling and helping at some place that feel right somewhere in the Balkans, an area I want to keep exploring!

My first time volunteering was in 2014, in a farm in Ireland, and since then it's something that has always been sitting in a corner of my mind, as a way of travelling and in general of "being" that is just waiting for the next occasion to happen! I was always lucky and I always had very good experiences, always felt welcomed and at ease and enjoyed the work that needed to be done. By now I can say I am a somehow experienced helper, I know what it means to come as a guest, to be there to help, to share someone's space and life.

I don't think it's needed to say that I hope to be an enough open-minded, curious and tolerant person. I'm interested in history and geography, traditions, literature, and always love to learn about new stories and cultures.
I really eat everything, and usually love it (I must warn you that I have a big appetite especially after working :D. I'm eating less meat without being strict about it, so I will enjoy any kind of diet from vegetarian to traditional.
I don't smoke but I'm not bothered about it, and I enjoy a drink in good company.
Also, growing up in a farm in the countryside I'm used to quiet and remote places, and I rarely suffer from boredom or lack of socializing. When there's a book to read or a trail to walk I will be happy.

The kind of jobs I enjoy the most are usually the physical and outside ones, be it for farming, gardening or restoring, althought I can't say I really have any super advenced skill to offer. I grew up in a farm, and I'm familiar with animals and most things involved. And when I'm not already skilled at something, I like to understaind it and I'm usually quick at grasping it. At least it has always been so! :) I can say I can fit in most working environments and I like to do a good job.
About indoor things, I don't mind cleaning and I enjoy cooking. And I'm a librarian so I love organizing things! :D
Really, I think I can make myself useful at most jobs!

Interests

Plant care

Yoga / Wellness

Writing

Sustainability

Outdoor activities

Nature

Mountain

History

Hiking

Gardening

Farming

Drawing & painting

DIY & crafts

Cycling

Culture

Cooking & food

Carpentry

Camping

Books

Architecture

Animals

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Catalan: Beginner

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.

Find a language partner

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Being an elderly companion

Eco Projects

Hospitality/Tourism

Languages

Charity Work

---

Some knowledge of:  

Light gardening

Creative DIY projects

Light maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Helping around the house

Animal Care

More details about your skills

I'm a practical guy when it comes to it, I like to solve problems, fix things, find solutions to situations, and I'm quite good in that. I managed my family's farm for one year (before understanding that was not my path), and before that I was always giving an hand at the farm anyways, and also volunteered in farms and different places around Europe now and then.
I'm also quite good in cooking, I really enjoy that, especially when using good fresh ingredients: I'm the one preparing meals for everyone at my shared apartment, and they seem to appreciate ahaha

Age

33

Some more information

• 

  Smoker

• 

  Driver's licence

• 

  Allergies
  Nope

• 

  Special dietary requirements
  I'm not vegetarian, but I try to avoid eating too much meat from industrial producers, if I can