Caroline

United Kingdom
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Badges (3)

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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
I enjoy connecting with people from different backgrounds. I aim to tread lightly in the world and make a positive difference where I can.
I've just finished a long career regenerating rundown housing in London and creating positive neighbourhoods where people are proud to live.
I'm now taking some time for myself to travel and try different things. It's great to be able to do good, small things rather than big scary projects.
I've qualified as an English language teacher to give me a skill that I can take with me and use to contribute to other communities.
Interests
Writing
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Nature
Outdoor activities
Mountain
Languages
Fitness
Hiking
History
Dancing
Culture
Books
Camping
Charity work
Cooking & food
Adventure sports
Architecture
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
German: Beginner
Spanish: Beginner
Italian: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
Eco Projects
Art Projects
Able to teach about:
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Languages
Teaching
More details about your skills
I'm a qualified and experience teacher of English as a Second Language - I've been a volunteer teacher to refugees in the UK for over two years.
I enjoy meeting and working with all sorts of people - children, older people. I used to be a social worker with people with disabilities. I used to be involved in Scouts and was a cub scout leader so I'm used to organising activities for children.
I'm fit and healthy and enjoy outdoor activities like walking, cycling and canoeing. I don't mind roughing it or living off grid.
I've got a wide range of interests - cultural, political and historical and always want to learn more about the places I visit.
I'm a keen cook and enjoy trying new foods when I travel. I'm not vegetarian but I'm happy to eat a vegetarian/vegan diet.
I'm neutral about animals - I only like to meet the friendly, non-dangerous ones.
Age
62
What else ...
I keep bees and I'd be interested to find out about beekeeping in other cultures.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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24 Mar 2025

Left by host (Help to teach English and ...) for Workawayer ()

It was a great experience to have Caroline visiting me and my project. She spent five weeks with me and it was amazing. Caroline was an easy to go woman. She tried most Ghanaian foods. She taught English and other subjects at the school project. She was always on time for school during the week days. She brought some books, learning materials and… read more

(Excellent )

22 Mar 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help to teach English and ...)

I spent five amazing weeks staying with Isaac's family and teaching in the school. Isaac's house is very comfortable and I had my own secure room with toilet and shower (actually in the room when I was there as they hadn't finished the partitioning. There were very keen for me to try all the local delicacies but also happy to accommodate me when I… read more wanted something different.
Every school day I took the school bus out to the village and taught a class of 8 10-11 year olds (all subjects). There were textbooks for the teacher but I was given a lot of freedom on what I taught and how. The school is very basic. There's a blackboard and chalk and that's about it. The teachers were very keen to learn about British primary education. Corporal punishment is still used in almost every school in Ghana - for the most minor things. We had discussions about other ways of keeping discipline and the school has committed to phase it out - which is really progress for Ghana. The teaching methods (in all schools) are very much rote learning and the teachers were keen to learn more creative and imaginative methods. I'm not a trained primary school teacher (I've got an ESOL cert) but I knew enough to be useful. The teaching is supposed to all be in English but the local teachers are by no means fluent. I was teaching the older children who knew enough English to understand me - and they benefited by being taught by a native speaker.
Outside of school I was able to accompany Isaac to funerals and a wedding and learn about the local traditions. We had days out to the Ashante cultural centre in Kumasi and a monkey sanctuary.( Kumasi c 90 mins, monkeys 3 hrs) I could also go on visits to parisioners so visited the maternity ward etc. THere were opportunities to attend church but no pressure to go - I was interested to see try it but I really didn't like all the amplification .
Everyone was really friendly in the family and community and it felt like a very safe place for a solo female traveller.
There's not a lot to do in and around Offinso in terms of social life or tourist activities so this is really a cultural immersion trip rather than a base for tourism.
I took a selection of children's books and games picked up 2nd hand in the UK and they were popular with the children who had nothing like them before. If anyone else is going, I'm very happy for you to contact me for ideas of what to take.

(Excellent )

20 Nov 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Lend us a hand in our award ...)

I spent about a month here in 2023. My main responsibility was teaching English to the staff and other adults working in the local tourist industry. The local primary school was on the long annual holiday and I ran a holiday class every weekday morning. I also helped in the kitchen, especially with introducing some vegan dishes to the repertoire.… read more

(Excellent )

10 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (English speakers welcome for ...)

I checked in with the project about a month before it started, before I organised my flights. Ten days before I had a whatsapp just saying the course was cancelled due to 'unforeseen circumstances'. I thought this was unsatisfactory when I'd gone to the expense of booking flights and accommodation before the course (which the organiser knew). I… read more

(Host cancelled stay at the last minute)

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