Sam

  • United Kingdom
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Profile information

  • Travel information

    I am currently

    At home

    Activities i am interested in:

    Wandering

    My next destination:

    Lithuania - from May 2025 until Jun 2025
    View all
  • Description

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

    In September 2021 I left my job as a teacher and writer 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.

    My current interest is working in the hospitality, travel and tourism sector, especially in sustainable tourism. Three years spent travelling the world gives you a lot of insight into best travel practices.

    I've now worked on 16 amazing projects - some via Workaway others by word-of-mouth - and I'd like to continue exploring this wonderful world.

    In the travel and tourism sector, work has included teaching English to motorbike riders who carry Europeans around north Vietnam, organising itineraries for holidays in Bolivia, managing all aspects of a holiday cottage from initial marketing, contacting customers to cleaning and prepping for guest changeovers, and writing website content for a travel company in Peru,

    In Summer 2023 , I worked in a vegan community on Skye, Scotland, helping them to deliver a summer writing workshop, explore sustainable travel, obtain a camping license and write lots and lots of content for their website and social media platforms. I also helped to develop beneficial relationships with historians and environmentalists.

    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 also 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. Should I mention that I have a horticulture diploma? 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 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. I've helped lots of businesses with marketing activities, exploring avenues for reaching new target audiences as well as strengthening relationships with existing contacts.

    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! a travelling. I hope we can connect further and I look forward to hearing from you.

    If you have read this far I thank you for taking the time to learn more about what motivates me. Basically, I am trying to live a rich and fulfilling life by surrounding myself with interesting, like-minded people who like to take on new projects.

    Thank you,
    Sam

  • Interests

    Astronomy
    Writing
    Yoga / Wellness
    Van life
    Technology
    Sustainability
    Self development
    Politics / Social justice
    Nature
    Outdoor activities
    Plant care
    Photography
    Mountain
    Languages
    Music
    History
    Hiking
    Gardening
    Fitness
    Culture
    DIY & crafts
    Dancing
    Drawing & painting
    Cooking & food
    Charity work
    Carpentry
    Books
    Blogging
    Art & design
    Architecture
  • 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

    50

  • 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.

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