Sam

United Kingdom
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Colombia - from Feb 2024 until May 2024
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Description
Hello! I'm Sam and I am currently taking a few years out to travel before (hopefully) going back to university to study psychology. I'm an endlessly curious and friendly person, always looking for new experiences. I love meeting new people from different walks of life, sharing stories and having a laugh! I'm a really firm believer that life is much better shared, and talking with and helping others brings real meaning and joy to my life.
Interests
Writing
Winter sports
Water sports
Vegetarian or vegan
Politics / Social justice
Self development
Sustainability
Team sports
Performing arts
Outdoor activities
Music
Nature
Mountain
Languages
Hitchhiking
Gardening
History
Events & social
Culture
Charity work

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Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
I have a TEFL certificate and experience teaching in France, Peru and Ecuador, therefore I am confident and knowledgeable with regards to teaching English. I can also help with French, which I speak to a high level and was part of my undergraduate degree. I also have a postgraduate diploma in Linguistics, which helps with language teaching and phonetics.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Charity Work
Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
Able to teach about:
Languages
Teaching
Hospitality/Tourism
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
I am a fantastic communicator and this means I can learn new skills very quickly. I have had a variety of jobs in my time including working in restaurants, cafés, warehouses, as well as landscaping and gardening jobs. I have also spent time working as an English teacher in France, Peru and Ecuador. I love languages and language exchange, and I speak English and French fluently (my undergraduate was in English Literature and French, and I did a postgraduate in Linguistics). My Spanish is not perfect but I can communicate very effectively and I am learning very fast! I am a real people person, working well in a team and also in jobs where customer service is at the forefront, and I am more than happy getting involved in harder physical work.
Age
24
What else ...
I am an avid reader, having completed a degree in English Literature, and I love talking about books, giving and receiving recommendations. I also love music: I play the guitar and I'm always interested in listening to new genres. I love football, playing and watching, and I have also completed a football coaching scholarship from the English FA, as well as other sports like surfing and snowboarding.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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27 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sam) for host (Discover the local culture ...)

SUMMARY: Really rewarding, excellent cultural and social experience, perfect for travelling, great adventures.

I had such a great time in Cáqueza with Johann, Luzma and Kylian! Originally I was only going to stay for one week, but it only took me one day to extend my stay for the maximum time before I had to move onto another workaway - I wanted… read more to stay even longer! They're all so genuinely passionate and ambitious about the project, and it's really nice to be a part of, and it's a fun cultural experience staying with the family and in the town.

The family and the other regular volunteers for the foundation are some of the best people you can ever meet, dedicating all their time to helping others and always doing so with a smile and having a laugh. I felt really welcome instantly: the family, their housemates, the volunteers and the people of Cáqueza were all so friendly and interested to talk with me. We also had a great night out dancing on Saturday, where it seemed the whole village turned out. My first day I was invited up to a stranger's balcony and ended up spending the whole day with them and trying their mum's chicken soup!

Johann knows Colombia like the back of his hand and was so full of great recommendations - this is the perfect workaway to do if you are beginning your trip in Colombia, since the town is really safe and welcoming and Johann will tell you all the best places to go in Colombia. Luzma and Johann are also great cooks, and they are really keen on showing off Colombian cuisine and teaching how to make it. It's a great cultural experience all round, and really good for practising Spanish - most people don't speak English, but Johann speaks it quite well (better than he shows I think!) and Luzma and Kylian seem to be making great progress. The little boy Kylian is full of great energy and fun to play and chat with - along with the kids of the other volunteers in the foundation. Not to mention the little kitten they have!

The work is really relaxed, with frequent coffee breaks and a generous lunch, and it's so rewarding. When I was there I was lucky enough to be involved in a project delivering 52 bags of clothes to people who needed it in a nearby village - I was even interviewed for national TV! The English lessons are really fun too: there's no pressure like teaching for exams or anything like that, its more about sharing language and culture and playing games with the kids and (equally competitive) adults. I really enjoyed the classes and I hope everyone who came did too.

Overall this workaway gave me everything I look for when I'm travelling, and I really recommend it!

Thank you so much for a great two weeks, I'll be back in July!

(Excellent )

1 Apr 2024

Left by host (Nature preservation project ...) for Workawayer (Sam)

Sam....
Gracias demostraste de que estas hecho,
espero esta experiencia autentica te llene de paz y felicidad.
Un abfrazo inmenso.
Buen Camino...
Gracias por tu aporte

(Excellent )

28 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sam) for host (Nature preservation project ...)

I spent a week and a bit here, and I had a great time and learned a lot! The work was varied and quite relaxed, Hector is in charge of the tasks (the rest of the family live in nearby towns and occasionally come back to visit) and gives you things to do when you ask. It's between getting the property ready to be rented and help on the farm. He… read more

(Excellent )

9 Feb 2024

Left by host (Live a multicultural ...) for Workawayer (Sam)

Dear Sam,
You're a very friendly and positive person, with many interesting and fun stories to share. You're humble and adapt easily to life's different situations. We miss you so much.
At home, Sam always had a very positive personality and transmitted great energy. He's someone you can always rely on, a truly good friend. Sam proved to be a… read more responsible person, always completing the tasks assigned at home. He's a great cook too, and he approaches all activities with joy, accompanied by his good music. Sam is also a skilled athlete, excelling in soccer, basketball, and volleyball. He's always active and eager to join in any group activity.
At school, Sam was an excellent teacher. He enjoys spending time with children and always seeks activities that serve them and aid in their learning. Thank you for being so responsible; your students appreciate and consider you their friend. They will surely miss you a lot, my friend. Thank you for all the time and material you created to teach your students; it will be very useful for the new teachers in the future.
An important part of life is accepting that there are different stages and cycles that come to an end. It's difficult to accept, especially when you've had very good relationships, but that's life. Surely new experiences await you, which you will enjoy greatly, and we wish you all the best. You're a wonderful person, dear friend. Remember that you can always come back to our home; you will always be welcome. We miss you.

Saludos y bendiciones,
Paula and Antonio

Querido Sam,
Eres una persona muy amigable y positiva, con muchas historias interesantes y divertidas por contar, eres muy humilde y te adaptas fácilmente a las diferentes situaciones de la vida. Te queremos y extrañamos mucho.
Dentro del hogar, Sam siempre tuvo una personalidad muy positiva, y trasmitía muy buena energía. El es el de las personas con las que siempre puedes contar, es un muy buen amigo. Sam demostró ser una persona responsable, siempre cumplió con las tareas asignadas en la casa, el es un buen cocinero, y todas las actividades la realiza de una forma alegre, acompañado de su buena música. Sam es un buen deportista, es muy bueno jugando futbol, basketball, y volleyball, el siempre esta activo y dispuesto a sumarse al grupo en cualquier tipo de actividad.
En la escuela, Sam fue muy buen profesor, el disfruta mucho el pasar tiempo con los niños, y siempre busca actividades que a ellos les sirven y le ayudan en el aprendizaje, gracias por ser muy responsable, tus estudiantes te aprecian mucho y te consideran su amigo, de seguro te van a extrañar muchísimo amigo. Gracias por todo el tiempo y material que tu creaste para enseñarles a tus estudiantes, todo será muy útil para los nuevos profesores.
Parte importante de la vida es aceptar que existen diferentes etapas y ciclos que se acaban, es difícil aceptarlo y mas aun cuando se tuvo relaciones muy buenas, pero la vida es así, de seguro se vienen nuevas experiencias que disfrutaras mucho y te deseamos todo lo mejor, eres una persona maravillosa querido amigo, recuerda que siempre podrás regresar a nuestra casa, siempre serás bienvenido. Te extrañamos amigoooooooo

Saludos y bendiciones
Paula y Antonio

(Excellent )

9 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sam) for host (Live a multicultural ...)

SUMMARY: I couldn't recommend staying and working with Antonio and Paula enough! My stay in Canar coincided with the state of emergency in Ecuador, but we always felt very safe and reassured. The town even lifted restrictions not long after they had been called as it is deemed no-risk. If you're looking for somewhere safe, fun, rewarding and… read more well-organised - and a unique cultural experience - this will be perfect!

I spent 6 weeks in Canar, and I really enjoyed every aspect of it. Initially I thought six weeks would be too long for me, but in the end I did not want to leave. First and foremost, Antonio and Paula are both really genuinely wonderful people, and they form the basis of the whole programme. They are super welcoming, and made me feel at home immediately in their house. They are also really genuinely passionate and knowledgeable about the work they are doing here, and you can see how this passion and knowledge makes the school what it is. It is also very infectious: meeting them and talking about the project really gives you a sense of purpose, and a desire to do your best for the students and the community. It is also excellent for learning Spanish: there is always somebody who speaks English and Spanish on hand to help, and of course Antonio and Paula are great teachers!

The work is good in the sense that you can get out what you put in: they have lesson plans already and will give you as much help as you need, but there is also a lot of space to be creative and teach in the way that you see best. Antonio and Paula are also very receptive to new ideas, and show genuine interest in and support for whatever the other volunteers and I planned to do. It is worth mentioning too that this was by far the best organised school I have worked in in Latin America, and this again is a credit to Antonio and Paula. The workload is also very manageable, with plenty of time to plan lessons without getting in the way of exploring Canar and Cuenca, the nearest big city.

In terms of the living arrangement, it is the most comfortable I have been so far in my travels. The house is very clean and everything is well organised, and you get your own room! We have meals together, talking, laughing and sharing cultures, and occasionally we would have parties where we can have a drink and dance together (I learned lots of great new dances from Palestine, Greece and Scotland as well as the Ecuadorean ones!). We also play lots of sport, including volleyball, basketball and football. The sport was a real highlight of this experience for bonding with the other volunteers!

Canar is a quiet and beautiful town with a big indigenous community. Staying here gives you access to a unique cultural experience: there are hardly any tourists around and there is lots to learn and experience. The locals are really friendly and proud of their town, they often stopped me in the street to ask where I'm from and give me recommendations! The students are fantastic as well, really eager to learn and fun to talk to. It broke my heart to say goodbye to them in particular.

The nearest town, Cuenca, is less than two hours away, and many of the volunteers and I would go every weekend. It's a really cool city to visit, very safe and with great food and architecture. Its really nice to be staying in Canar, but having the option of visiting a lively city when you want a bit more city life to counterpoint the tranquil countryside.

This is a really unique and rewarding opportunity and I couldn't recommend it enough. I can't possibly do justice to the experience I had the privilege of having here in a few paragraphs!

Thank you so much for everything Antonio and Paula!

(Excellent )

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27 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sam) for host (Discover the local culture ...)

(Excellent )

1 Apr 2024

Left by host (Nature preservation project ...) for Workawayer (Sam)

Sam....
Gracias demostraste de que estas hecho,
espero esta experiencia autentica te llene de paz y felicidad.
Un abfrazo inmenso.
Buen Camino...
Gracias por tu aporte

(Excellent )

28 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sam) for host (Nature preservation project ...)

(Excellent )

9 Feb 2024

Left by host (Live a multicultural ...) for Workawayer (Sam)

(Excellent )

9 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sam) for host (Live a multicultural ...)

(Excellent )

8 Jan 2024

Left by host (Help to empower local ...) for Workawayer (Sam)

Sam stayed a month with us and he brought so much light and good energy with him . He was great with the kids, teaching english and he also opened an english group for adults. He always helped in the house and was a great friend to the other volunteers.

(Excellent )

8 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sam) for host (Help to empower local ...)

I originally planned to stay here for two weeks, but I had such a great time that I kept extending my stay and ended up staying for over a month! It is difficult to put into words how incredible this organisation is and how wonderful everyone involved are. The host family are the nicest and most welcoming people you will ever meet, and the… read more

(Excellent )

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