Birgit

France
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
At home
Activities i am interested in:
M"occuper des animaux, faire du jardinage, toute sorte de bricolage et de l'entretien (propreté etc.)
Description
J'ai 63 ans, suis sportive et adore les animaux.
Mes intérêts sont éclectiques : les langues étrangères (allemand, italien, anglais, moins bien l'espagnol et le grec), les échanges, l'humour, la nature, la lecture et la musique. J'ai un intérêt pour les sciences sociales et les sciences dites dures. Je suis qqn de sobre, débrouillard et flexible. Je sais m'adapter à de nouveaux environnements. J'aime les contacts et mange la plus part du temps végétarien.

Είμαι 63 ετών, είμαι σπορ και αγαπώ τα ζώα.
Τα ενδιαφέροντά μου είναι εκλεκτικά: ξένες γλώσσες (γερμανικά, ιταλικά, αγγλικά, λιγότερο καλά ισπανικά και ελληνικά), ανταλλαγές, χιούμορ, φύση, ανάγνωση και μουσική. Ενδιαφέρομαι για τις κοινωνικές επιστήμες και τη φυσική. Είμαι νηφάλιος, πολυμήχανος και ευέλικτος άνθρωπος. Ξέρω πώς να προσαρμόζομαι σε νέα περιβάλλοντα. Μου αρέσει να συναναστρέφομαι και να τρώω χορτοφάγους τις περισσότερες φορές.
Interests
Pets
Art & design
Politics / Social justice
Plant care
Events & social
Technology
History
Hiking
Gardening
Performing arts
Charity work
Carpentry
Fitness
DIY & crafts
Books
Nature
Languages
Farming
Cycling
Animals

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Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Greek: Intermediate
Spanish: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
Le français, l'allemand sont les langues que je pourrais enseigner. Le grec, l'espagnol, l'anglais celles que je souhaite perfectionner.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Languages
Eco Projects
Life at a Farmstay
Helping around the house
General Maintenance
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Art Projects
Some knowledge of:
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
More details about your skills
J'ai un bon contact avec des animaux (les humains inclus). Je sais bricoler, faire du jardinage sur le mode d'amateur. Je sais m'adapter à des environnements différents, ai le sens de l'organisation et dispose d'une expérience d'enseignement.

Έχω καλή επαφή με τα ζώα (συμπεριλαμβανομένων των ανθρώπων). Ξέρω να μαλακώνω και να κάνω ερασιτεχνική κηπουρική. Ξέρω πώς να προσαρμόζομαι σε διαφορετικά περιβάλλοντα. Έχω οργανωτικές ικανότητες και διδακτική εμπειρία.
Age
63
What else ...
J'aime écouter des podcasts, Je chante dans une chorale et fais un peu de musique (accordéon diatonique).
Μου αρέσει να ακούω podcast, τραγουδάω σε χορωδία και κάνω λίγη μουσική (διατονικό ακορντεόν).
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  non
- Special dietary requirements
  Je mange très peu de viande. J'adore les légumes, fruits et produits laitiers. Τρώω πολύ λίγο κρέας. Λατρεύω τα λαχανικά, τα φρούτα και τα γαλακτοκομικά προϊόντα.

Feedback

10 Jan 2024

Left by host (Help us save the stray dogs ...) for Workawayer (Birgit)

Birgit is een aantal weken als WorkAwayer bij ons op de safe haven geweest.
Vooraf hebben we goede gesprekken gevoerd met beeldbellen over haar motivatie, de stichting en safe haven en zijn er afspraken gemaakt over de tijdlijn, het onderkomen en werkzaamheden. Het was fijn deze dingen vooraf goed doorgesproken te hebben. Het is keihard op de… read more

(Excellent )

8 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Birgit) for host (Help us save the stray dogs ...)

I had a great few weeks with Gianni's dogs and a few cats!
During the stay, I lived with Aristidis in Dorio, a village right next to the shelter (10 minutes on foot using the shortcut). To get there from France I took a flight to Athens and rented a car at the airport. (I recommend booking in advance to get good value for money). Allow 3 hours of… read more travel time.

I helped during the week (on average 6 hours/day beginning at 9-10 a.m.) and took advantage of the weekends to go sightseeing. My tasks consisted first of all of giving water and food to the dogs and cats spread across around twenty kennels, but also to those who live "freely moving" inside the shelter. The water tour was a special moment to greet individually the dogs and pet them (those who liked). Then it was time to distribute the food, a moment they were looking forward to! I was often accompanied by one or other of those dogs living freely inside the shelter. They went around with me, either out of curiosity or to grab extra lumps of food even though they had their own bowls well filled! But they behave like a bunch of children. They fight, get jealous, argue, reconcile. By the way, we always had to be careful that “no one” escaped by opening the kennel doors, because it’s not that easy to catch them and get them back to their home.
After the very first days, the dogs began to recognize me, and vice versa. Little by little friendly relationships were established, at least with some of them which is the most direct and soothing reward you can have ! Many of them appreciated the brushing that I had the opportunity to offer them once or twice.

Regarding the cleaning of the kennels, it was Niko, Gianni's son, who took care of it. Niko lives in a nearby village. Since he doesn't have a driver's license and his father wasn't always available to pick him up and drop him off at the end of the day, I did it quite regularly. It was also an opportunity to buy food for the animals, medicines, etc. As for Gianni, he lives on site inside the shelter in his caravan. Five, six dogs have the privilege of sharing this residence with him (Marc, Grullo, Milena, Olivia, Jess, etc.). Still others live directly around the caravan. Gianni's own dogs sometimes take car trips with him. I had the opportunity to accompany him once or twice on a visit to the vet and, of course, part of the gang was with us in the car.

Another important part of the help was building dog houses – mainly from reclaimed wood. I did this with Frankie, a Canadian who lives nearby and who regularly comes to the shelter to lend a valuable helping hand. She is also the one who brings the DIY tools (saw, drills, etc.). Other things on the program: f. ex. to take pictures of the animals, the activites in the shelter etc. or or to provide information to Petra as she, as well as the other members of the association, lives in the Netherlands and has to manage everything remotely.
As we do not help in a clean environment, at the end of the day the clothes wear their marks! I had old shoes and gloves that I left at the shelter and wore a windbreaker and waterproof pants, both easy to rinse in the evening and dry again the next day to be put back on (type of clothing perhaps less practical to wear in summertime, but as I was there in winter, it was suitable).

Gianni is a very friendly person who takes things with good humor and philosophy. Unfortunately, his state of health is not the best. Niko, his son, is less sociable than his dad. Niko comes by every day to carry out vital tasks (watering, feeding, cleaning, taking care of his father). I could appreciate Gianni's cooking skills once. But by my own choice, I preferred to eat outside the shelter for reasons of hygiene and tranquility. Indeed, it is not easy to find a place inaccessible to our dog friends indoors!

There were the means to cook in Ari's house where I lived on the first floor. Sometimes I had a meal in the village, too. (You can find here all types of stores, cafes, bistros, etc.). The apartment provided is spacious but rudimentary (but the shower is hot, nice in cold evenings!) The walls would certainly require refreshing and other amendments could make the space more comfortable, things which will certainly be implemented for the next workawayer since I was the first to experience the place.
Ari, my host, is a friendly guy. He is happy to welcome you downstairs to share coffee or tea with him. He himself has three large dogs (Eli, Bruno and Panther) who guard the house. To avoid fighting, the two males are often chained, but not Eli. You should therefore be careful that it does not escape when you enter the yard, the direct access to the first floor.
This trip was my very first experience as a workawayer (although I'm already quite advanced in age) – and it won't be my last!! It's really gratifying to be of service during a specific period, to establish links with animals and men, and possibly also to create links which last beyond the stay. So, don’t hesitate to come to Dorio!

(Very good )