Profile information
Travel information
I am currently
At home
My next destination:
Bologna, Italy - from May 2025 until May 2025 View all
Description
March, 2025: At the moment, my ability to travel is limited but if my profile interests you please do message me and let's discuss what you're looking for. If your need is ongoing or not immediate, I'd love to get to know you and plan for when I have more travel flexibility.
I'm brand new here so no feedback or history but I have tons of references and I'm happy to provide them.
There are so many countries, cultures, and interesting humans in this world, it would be a great tragedy to not try to experience them all, right?
The most influential person in my life was my grandmother, an Italian immigrant who lived a life of curiosity that she filled with art, music, voracious reading, history, culture, the thrill of learning, the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and (of course) travel. And, as the first grandchild, I was privileged to be the only grandchild for a number of years and then the first grandchild to experience everything she wanted to show us.
After spending my younger adult years living a traditional life of work and child-rearing, I decided it was time to finally exercise all the lessons I learned from my grandmother. An interesting thing happens when your children leave home - you suddenly have a lot of time on your hands! So, taking advantage of the changes provided by a global pandemic (remote work is actually viable now) as well as a late mid-life crisis (but is it a "crisis" if you're actually getting something amazing out of it?) I sold my house and everything in it - except for my artwork and books of course... sooo many books. sooo much art! - and I hit the road. I've been traveling as much as possible since July 2023 and I've decided to expand my opportunities by joining travel-related platforms like this one. I particularly like workaway because it's not just a place to stay but a place to "live", even if just for a few weeks. What value is there in being in a new place if all you see are the tourist sites that are on the postcards?
My perception is that workaway is quite geared for younger travelers (ie: au pairs, strong bodied folks) but I hope you'll see the value in an experienced human who has a boatload of skills, tons of enthusiasm, and a whole lot to offer the right home.
PS: I'm highly literate, would sell my soul to be an instant polyglot, I adore curious children and animals more than anything, and I love to both teach and learn. :)
Interests
Yoga / Wellness
Writing
Technology
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Plant care
Pets
Performing arts
Outdoor activities
Nature
Music
Movies & TV
Mountain
Languages
LGBTQ
History
Hiking
Gardening
Farming
Events & social
Drawing & painting
Culture
Cooking & food
Camping
Books
Astronomy
Art & design
Architecture
Animals
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner
Italian: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Languages
Art Projects
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
More details about your skills
My career has been in marketing - everything from copywriting to strategic planning to brand creation/evolution to stadium event management and more. Ask me and I'll probably tell you more than you ever wanted to know on the subject. I'm currently doing digital marketing, content creation, project management, social media management, copywriting, editing (my FAVORITE thing to do), and mentoring. Additionally, I spent 20 years in the service industry as a young adult and subsequently spent another 20 years as a landlord and short-term rental (AirBnB) host.
What I love to do, and I'm quite good at, is tutoring while caring for children. Here is a list of subjects in which I'm skilled/educated enough to teach a willing kiddo:
- beginner to advanced English. I'm a hobby linguist and a self-proclaimed word nerd. I use reading as a means to expand understanding of the language and I read with the child, either concurrently or as a "book club" of two. The book club version (usually for older kids) is particularly good for also teaching critical thinking, nuance, interpretation, and context.
- humanities (history; literature; philosophy; comparative world religions; art and art history; performing arts; media and culture)
- civics of either your country or other countries (I may also be learning as we go which means I'll also be teaching research skills.)
- life skills that often are not taught in schools such as basic financial literacy; cooking; planning meals and shopping; how to correctly store foods; washing clothes; cleaning; basic handicrafts such as mending/sewing; time management; organization; etc.
- soft skills such as confident decision making; how to communicate effectively; stress management; embracing failure as a tool to learn and grow.
My philosophy and approach is to help children develop their critical thinking, communication, creativity, and empathy through day to day activities and some slightly structured learning time (depending on the child, of course). And, when it's all said and done, the easiest way to get a kid to learn something is to wrap it up in something they already love. LEGOS? I'm your gal. While I'm a terrible video-game player, I can hold my own in discussions about most popular games, the history of video gaming, and current releases (it's a long story). I play D&D and I'm a pretty great DM, if I do say so myself. I worked for many years in the board game industry and will rarely turn down an opportunity to play a great game. I love a good tea party, dress up and makeup session, and I can make Barbie clothes. And just so you don't think I'm Mary Poppins, you should know that I fail at sports, maths, and most sciences. However, if your kid is into those things, I'll be THEIR willing student and will be enthusiastic about learning new things. Demonstrating the joy of learning is so powerful and I've found that there's an opportunity to build a kid's confidence when they're allowed to be better at something than an adult.
I'm a recovering OCD person so while I don't really like cleaning this is your guarantee that the spaces I interact with will, at least, be very tidy and likely quite clean. I fancy myself a pretty great cook and love to cook for more than one person. I garden (from houseplants to backyard puttering to sustainable gardening like permaculture). I was a beekeeper for 7 years and miss it always. I love animals more than most humans and can never get enough time with them. I'm also quite handy with small to medium sized things that need to be fixed around the house - I know how to use tools and enjoy that kind of work. Oh... and if all that isn't enough, I actually have a degree in interior design so... you know... I can help you decorate your house. LOL
Whew!! It's weird putting all these things into writing! That's probably the most I've thought about my own ability/skills/likes/dislikes ever. Ask me anything. I'm an open book and take no offense to questions.
Age
63
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Seasonal allergies - pollen, etc. Nothing major and generally controlled by taking local bee pollen.Special dietary requirements
I'm an omnivore that rarely eats meat but sometimes really needs that kind of protein. Happy to eat and cook any preferred diet - I have some great vegan recipes! But really, what is life without cheese? ;)
