Sam

Travel information

I am currently

Activities i am interested in:

Wandering

Description

Hello and thank you for taking the time to open my profile.

In September 2021 I left the UK and began solo travelling around the world. My only son had left home and I had a wonderful opportunity to live my life in an entirely new way.

I've now worked on 14 amazing projects - some via Workaway others by word-of-mouth - and I'd like to keep on seeing this wonderful world by connecting with people here on this platform.

As a professional teacher, I've helped dozens of people improve their English, from the CEO of an organic Olive oil farm in Turkey (thanks Melike) who needed a specialist business approach to a Polish teenager who was finding her new high school English very difficult (hello Julia). So if you're looking for help with English and can offer me a wonderful cultural experience please get in touch.

But I'm not just a nomadic volunteer English teacher! I have many interests and I'm always looking to try something new. In Romania, I worked as an organic beekeeper's assistant and also worked on the land, weeding and planting hundreds of vegetables and fruits. Several times, in Spain and France, I've been a carer and elderly companion, providing an extra pair of hands and calming spirit. I have also worked on a campsite, cleaning accommodations and helping out guests. In spring, I lamb at the same farm for a month and I've looked after farms and small-holdings for owners on a short-term basis.

In my first career, I was a PR Consultant and specialist copywriter in London so I've also provided website content for a new eco-project in the Middle East. On the Isle of Skye, I delivered a workshop on writing and nature-connection and wrote a lot of content for the permaculture community.

Why I like travelling and meeting new people?

I have always loved travelling and being a single parent didn't stop me either! For 2 wonderful years, my son and I couchsurfed around the world. The joy of travelling and meeting new people was simply amazing. I homeschooled using our travel experiences to explore history, culture, language, science, environmental issues, geography, social concerns and finance. He won a scholarship at a prestigious independent school at age 11 and I put this down to travelling and nurturing a sense of curiosity in learning rather than sitting in a school and being told what to learn. Now he's training to be a lawyer so I think we can safely say that travelling has had a positive effect!

How would I describe myself? Well, I am happiest when I am not confined by other people asserting restrictions on me. I produce far better outcomes when I am free to explore and learn. I am curious about everything and this leads to some great adventures.

If you have read this far, then I hope that you feel my enthusiasm for travelling and volunteering. I hope we can connect further and I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,
Sam

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
German: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner

More details about my language interests
English for Spanish in Granada Jan-April 2024 - anyone?

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Babysitting and creative play

Being an elderly companion

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Charity Work

Art Projects

Teaching

---

Some knowledge of:  

Hospitality/Tourism

---

Able to teach about:  

Gardening

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Languages

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

- Teaching English to children and adults (including professional English for finance, law and medicine/nursing)
- Supporting children and adults with special needs with a range of educational subjects
- Supporting adults with early dementia
-Providing physical activities for adults with brain injuries (stroke etc)
- Journalism and publicity
-Creative writing
-Homeschooling/unschooling
-Marketing businesses/sales generation
-Writing publicity/promotional material (copywriting)
-Lavender farms
- Organic vegetable growing
-Healthy cooking (reducing cholesterol and supporting children's brains with better foods)
- Able to use a sewing machine
- Reading aloud (this has been a big part of my teaching too)
-Organising budget travel trips around the world!



I have over a decade of teaching experience, specialising in English Language teaching. Over the last 2 years I have been teaching a large number of children with special needs, such as autism, non-verbal children, and children with social and emotional health needs as well as a wide range of mental health needs such as anxiety, depression, gender issues. I have become an avid user of Montessori teaching techniques. This has also led to an interest in dementia in elderly people as there are similarities in supporting their learning (relearning). I have also made a terms worth of Youtube videos to support children (stroke/dementia sufferers) with motor control, hand-eye coordination, muscle strength, dressing skills, verbal communication, focus and so on. At the other end of the spectrum, I have also supported children and young people with high IQ's.

Prior to teaching I ran my own Public Relations agency in London. My clients were in the technology and emerging social media field. I therefore have strong journalistic skills, writing articles, news items, customers testimonials, product reviews, photography and all the skills needed to promote small and large sized companies. In my work with university students I also support them with social media promotions (Instagram, facebook etc)

I also have an interest in horticulture and 5 years ago I converted my garden into a lavender farm to grow and sell organic lavender products (just for fun!). This extends to jam making with lavender and making my own cleaning products with natural ingredients.

I am also a keen sewer and make a lot of my own clothes and bespoke items for the house and travel.

Age

49

What else ...

I'm really easy going and I have never met a person who I can't find something to talk about with. My friends say I am also the bravest person they have ever met!

Some more information

• 

  Smoker

• 

  Driver's licence

• 

  Allergies

• 

  Special dietary requirements
  No, but I am used to cooking gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and minus eggs.