Sydney

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hi! My name is Sydney

I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or "the land of enchantment" as we call it, which was an ideal place to develop a deep appreciation of nature, art, and cultural crossroads. I also recently graduated off-cycle (in January 2023) from Williams College, where I pursued a degree in psychology and Arabic studies. I'm fascinated by human behavior and communication, and in my next steps after graduating, I'm eager to explore and work with people from across the world, and to get a glimpse of different ways of living, cultural upbringings, and perspectives on what community means.

I find that I'm most joyful, curious, and passionate through opportunities to experience cultural immersions and exchanges. I love getting to know people from all corners of the world and having the chance to connect through a shared love of exploration and the chance to contribute to different global communities. Through Workaway, I'm most eager to gain skills in farming, permaculture practices, carpentry/building, and am excited to do so while learning about the places and people with which I'm working.

In my free time, I am drawn to anything and everything outdoors, daily walks/hikes, yoga and pilates, meditation and journaling, learning new practical skills, as well as language & cultural learning.

I'm thrilled to have found this platform and to whatever Workaway exchange I pursue, I will bring my enthusiasm, an open mind, and motivation to work efficiently and collaboratively. I can't wait to see who I meet and what I learn :)
Interests
Plant care
Animals
Adventure sports
Yoga / Wellness
Writing
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Team sports
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Performing arts
Outdoor activities
Nature
Movies & TV
Mountain
Languages
Hiking
Gardening
Fitness
Farming

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Languages
Languages spoken
Arabic: Intermediate
Spanish: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
I love learning languages! Wherever I end up through Workaway, being able to communicate with locals is very important to me. I would be more than open to teaching English in any capacity and learning the local language in my free time.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Life at a Farmstay
Hospitality/Tourism
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Babysitting and creative play
Helping around the house
Able to teach about:
Languages
More details about your skills
- I have worked extensively in the nonprofit space, with experience in writing content for websites and newsletters, event management, administrative tasks, community outreach, and overseeing social media
- I worked as an Arabic TA and tour guide at my college
- Grew up helping my parents with gardening and maintenance projects, so I have familiarity using basic tools and equipment
- Since my grandmother lives on a ranch, I have experience working with and caring for horses, goats, pigs, and cattle
- Led backpacking trips for the first-years' orientation at my college, with training in wilderness first aid
- Experience working with kids, babysitting, tutoring
- I love learning new things! I'm very coachable and always enjoy a challenge and taking on new projects :)
Age
23
What else ...
I absolutely love being outside -- hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or just taking long walks each day. I also enjoy staying active in different ways, through pilates and yoga, running and walking, weightlifting, etc. I was a member of my college's step dance team and am always happy to teach others! I love learning new forms of dance wherever I go :)

Other hobbies are meditating, painting, collaging, and watching movies/documentaries! My mom is a filmmaker, so I absolutely love all things film-related.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  I don't eat red meat

Feedback

28 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer (Sydney) for host (Come and help at our ...)

Simply put, this place is a monumental gift. A gift to the land, to all the life forms lucky enough to call this place home, and to anyone who has the opportunity to cross its path.

This was a place where I felt my mind expand every single day. The people here are brilliant and hold so much knowledge about the natural world that some days I… read more couldn't wrap my head around it all. They can name all the plants and herbs in the garden, or even on the side of the road, by heart, and also tell you their medicinal and health-boosting properties. They helped me recover from covid using entirely natural remedies. Their genuine compassion and respect for every facet of life, from a seed to the milk provided by the dairy cows to the needs of the cows themselves, was infectious. There is something deeply soul-satisfying to see people light up when they talk about the world working its everyday magic, and those are exactly the type of people you will find here.

The work is so varied that there is never a dull moment! A morning in the garden never quite looks the same, but it was always the best part of my day. Especially when the sun comes up over the valley and warms everyone up (sidenote: I came here during winter and didn't realize how cold it gets at night! Don't forget your layers if you're coming during those months). You will also have the chance to learn how to care for the two herds of cows here, what bush regeneration entails, how to fix and enhance the farm with the maintenance team, and how to use what the farm generates to make so many incredible recipes and ferments during cooking creations. Rotating tasks each day means rotating who you're working with, and that makes this Workaway incredibly unique and exciting.

The community that’s been built here is something special. You can feel it in the air from the first night you’re here when everyone gathers for dinner. The room is infused with laughter and stories and learning about different cultures and life experiences. The farm is such a wonderful mix of people who live here, those who commute during the week, and the wwoofers who come from all over. My stay was honestly the happiest and most fulfilled I’ve felt in a while. It was so easy to feel like a kid again, asking a million questions about how the natural world works, putting my feet in dirt, and eating countless slices of cake :) I hardly knew anything about gardening, absolutely nothing about permaculture, and very little about cooking before coming here, but without fail, everyone answered all of my questions with enthusiasm and walked me through different skills, like cooking, with impressive patience.

In our free time, there were plenty of adventures, whether on the farm -- experimenting with recipes, arts and crafts, puzzles, reading, long walks, hanging out by the river. Or adventures away from the farm on weekends – trips to the beach, hikes, or helping out at the farmer’s market and crop swap, which were definitely some of the highlights of my stay.

The hardest part of living there was leaving it. If I could have stayed longer, I would have – in a heartbeat. If you feel a similar curiosity and pull towards sustainable living and working with the land, even if you know nothing about that sort of lifestyle, you will absolutely find a home there and plenty of opportunity to learn from the people here (plus the abundant library)! This place will genuinely leave you better than it found you. I miss everyone terribly and hope to return soon :)

(Excellent )

16 Jun 2023

Left by host (Come and help at our ...) for Workawayer (Sydney)

Sydney stayed with us for 6 weeks and was such an uplifting, engaged and enjoyable presence on the farm. She always had a smile on her face and was very attentive and enthusiastic. She was a great worker - Always keen to learn new skills and followed through with every task that was delegated. She was a great cook and made some delicious… read more

(Excellent )

28 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer (Sydney) for host (Volunteer at our place ...)

Lynley and Mike are the type of people you meet and instantly feel at ease around. For my first workaway, I was carrying an immense amount of nerves, but as soon as Mike picked me up at the dock, and when I met Lynley in the kitchen as she was making pizzas, they were both so warm and easy to talk to that I felt as if they were old friends. They… read more

(Excellent )

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