Sarah & Abby

United States
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Travel information
We are currently
Travelling
Description
Hello everyone!
Our names are Sarah and Abby and we hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am 22 years old and stepping away from my job managing an acupuncture clinic to pursue a year of travel and work before returning to University. My sister Abby (18) recently graduated from High School and is taking a gap year before deciding to further her education. We are just two girls who feel stuck on our current life paths and want to challenge ourselves to explore new trades, skills, and experiences to push us in a new direction. Our shared life philosophy can be summed up as "follow wherever the breadcrumbs fall" as we have gotten ourselves where we are today by being curious, adaptable, and embracing opportunity wherever it leads us.

At the ages of 22 and 18, we both had the enriching opportunity to explore a handful of countries, from the humid jungles of Costa Rica to the brisk Baltic coast of Denmark. Our different experiences have given us a small taste of the world's beauty and diversity. However, while we have gained valuable travel experiences, we consider ourselves fairly new to the adventure of global exploration and are excited to embark on this journey together.

We share an unquenchable curiosity for the natural world around us. We find profound joy in the simple, uncomplicated moments, whether it's watching the trees sway in the breeze, feeling the sun on our faces, or listening to the crunch of our boots in the snow on a still winter day. As lifelong city dwellers, we also possess an immense appreciation for the unobvious and hidden beauty of the city and discovering nature in an urban context.
Interests
Writing
Cooking & food
Events & social
History
Music
Movies & TV
Photography
Hiking
Drawing & painting
Astronomy
Sustainability
Gardening
Dancing
Carpentry
Videography
Self development
Languages
Fitness
DIY & crafts
Camping

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Languages
Languages spoken
Bulgarian: Beginner
German: 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.
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Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Art Projects
Languages
Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Life at a Farmstay
General Maintenance
Teaching
Some knowledge of:
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Able to teach about:
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
More details about your skills
Sarah:
A lot of my skills are related to my professional experience in healthcare management which includes customer service, staff management, business management, insurance contracting, inventory/supply chain management, problem-solving, communication, decision-making, event planning, and herbal dispensary management. I studied German in school but have lost it over the years so I am interested in regaining proficiency :) I have a sister with Down Syndrome so I have extensive experience providing care for her, as well as providing aid to other young people with disabilities in the classroom and at home. My sister and I worked at a hostel in Berat, Albania for 1 month where our responsibilities included cleaning, laundry, preparing rooms for guests, checking guests in and out, preparing breakfast, providing information about the city, and of course making friends! We also worked with a family in Plovdiv, Bulgaria for one month caring for their 8 horses so we gained skills in feeding, launching, cleaning, and building/handy work. Most recently, we worked at a dog rescue shelter in Kostenbrod, Bulgaria where we learned about ethical practices for running a dog shelter, the training and socializing of the dogs, and the adoption process. We learned the importance and difference in dog behavior and how to feed them and walk them. We asssited in administration of medicine and bandage wrapping. We cleaned the yards and quarantine rooms. We assisted with maintenance (fixing door knobs, building pallets along the dog yard fences, etc.) And we fell in love with the dogs! Additionally, I have experience with heavy lifting/manual labor and childcare. Other personal skills/interests of mine are film photography, drawing, jazz vocals, soccer(futball ;)), and cooking.

Abby:
Throughout high school, I worked at coffee shops and boba tea shops so my current professional skills and experience are in customer service, tea and coffee drink preparation, multi-tasking, and conflict resolution. Like Sarah, I also have experience with childcare and personal care assistance for individuals with disabilities. I also have experience with farm work including horse care, other livestock care, gardening, and cleaning.
Age
22 & 18
What else ...
We are deeply passionate about all music, especially soul, blues, and jazz, and are excited to share that love with others and discover new music from across the globe.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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14 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sarah & Abby) for host (Family of horse lovers needs ...)

This family was truly our family away from home. From the moment my sister and I arrived, Aleks, his wife, and 2 younger daughters treated us like family and made sure we were comfortable and taken care of for our entire 3-week stay. The girls became like our little sisters and we still miss them to this day. The eldest daughter Yoanna is who we… read more corresponded with about working and staying with them and she is an absolute gem, such a beautiful soul. Aleks claims his English is no good but he will surely talk to you about anything and everything if you'll listen, he gave me a lot of traditional Bulgarian music recommendations and is very passionate about sharing the history of Bulgaria. He also provided us with cash whenever we needed to go to the local market or make a day trip to Plovdiv. A day would never pass without him checking to make sure we had everything we needed. His wife Mimi was also a delight, with such a caring heart, and made us feel so safe. They both regularly brought home-cooked meals and delicious Burek from the local bakery and even invited us to their house for a Christmas day celebration with their family. This gesture was very special to us because we could not be with our own family for the holidays but they included us as their own and it was such a fun day. Our accommodations were in a small furnished trailer right by the horse paddocks. The trailer was fully furnished and had heating and a small kitchen with a fridge, freezer, electric burner, Italian coffee press, and various cooking utensils. The water was accessed through large bottles bought from the store, so typically we would go out to the bathroom to wash dishes. The bathroom is very close so it is fine once you get used to it. The only thing that kind of sucks but you get used to is the shower being in the hotel which is also right behind the trailer across from the main horse arena. The hotel might I add, is a cool place with a yummy restaurant and wifi so we spent a good amount of time there since there is no wifi in the trailer. The work with the horses was very simple and not super labor intensive. We were lucky that there was another volunteer, Luna, who was so amazing, one of the coolest people I have ever met (and her sweet dog Joy) and she has a special touch with the horses. She taught us everything and guided us with such grace and kindness. We would go out at 8 am to start preparing the food for the horses (5 horses at the time). there were two very young horses Casablanca and Columbia who were a bit feisty, especially when it came to feeding, but Luna was so confident and courageous with them and always helped us. During feeding, we would also give them their morning hay and alfalfa and check their waters. Breakfast tasks would usually end at around 9-9:30 where you can then enjoy the rest of your morning until 11 am where we would then take the horses that the girls ride for competitions out from their stables and into the outdoor paddocks to get some exercise. Then free time again and after a few hours we take them back into the stables. around 4-5 pm we start the dinner feeding routine which is similar to the morning feeding but the food mix is a little different. Then you have the rest of the evening free. I loved living so close to the horses and having so much free time to spend with them, we also had a few opportunities to ride as well and sometimes took them on walks into the fields. You technically do not have any days off since the horses need to be cared for daily, but if you give Aleks enough notice you can arrange to take a weekend trip. There is not a lot to do in the area since Tsarasovo is essentially a suburb of Plovdiv, so if you are going to work here you should either come with a friend or be able to entertain yourself since there isn't a lot going on in town. They also provide a car for you to use, so you can also use that to explore Plovdiv and the surrounding areas. In my free time I enjoyed brushing the horses, journaling, going on walks, learning Bulgarian, and hanging out with the younger daughters (they reminded me so much of me and my sisters when we were young). By the end of our 3-week stay, we learned so much about Bulgaria, the Bulgarian language, local ways of life, food, music, horses/horse care, the world of competitive riding and jumping, how to build a barn door, and so much more! This experience was more than we could have asked for, and we would be blessed to come back someday. There is no better way to experience Bulgaria then with a Bulgarian family. Thank you to this family and to Luna, we wish you all the best in this lifetime and the next! Hope to see you soon.

(Excellent )

14 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sarah & Abby) for host (Stay and help out in our ...)

The Hostel marked the start of my sister and I's year-long travel journey, and we would not have done it differently! Our experience was nothing short of amazing. We were welcomed by the other volunteers with open arms and all became close friends very quickly. Miri, the hostel owner, is super kind, witty, and fun, and really knows how to make a… read more

(Excellent )

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