Profile information
Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
I call Colorado Springs and New York City home, but I've been working, volunteering, and traveling in Europe, the Middle East, South and Central America, and Mexico for the past two and a half years. I love new adventures, learning from and/or teaching people of all ages and cultures, art and music, nature, animals, history, and current events. I'm fascinated by other languages, different cultures, and hearing stories from other people. I'm happy to be of excellent health. In 2022, I finished my BA at the University of Minnesota: a triple major in Humanities, Communications, and Teaching English as a Second Language; minor in Linguistics. My most recent full-time jobs were as an English teacher and prior to that, an event and performance photographer for ten years. I have a wonderful 26-year old son.
I'm fully vaccinated as recommended by the US CDC. I have excellent references on airbnb and trustedhousesitters. Hope to hear from you soon! :)Interests
Outdoor activitiesNatureMovies & TVArt & designVideographySustainabilityPolitics / Social justicePlant carePhotographyPetsMusicLanguagesHistoryGardeningEvents & socialCultureCharity workCooking & foodBooksBeachAnimalsAstronomyLanguages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
Japanese: Beginner
Polish: Beginner
Portuguese: BeginnerMore details about my language interests
I am a native English speaker born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota (north-central US). I have nearly 3 years of experience teaching English to children and adults. I have fun using language apps like Duolingo and watching foreign films, but nothing surpasses learning from native speakers.Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Life at a Farmstay
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Some knowledge of:
Babysitting and creative play
Being an elderly companion
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Charity Work
Able to teach about:
Languages
Teaching
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
Education: Over the years, I majored in many subjects: English, chemistry, music, philosophy, speech at Columbia University and NYU. In 2022, I finally completed my degree in 2022 by adding a third major to my bachelor's degree: TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language). I love school and graduated with straight As.
Work Experience: My careers have been diverse and varied.
When I was 19 I moved from Minnesota to New York City to work as a fashion show model. It was fun, but not what I was looking for in work. So I went back to college, and worked as a medical and legal assistant. There, I learned a lot about computers and writing.
I've been teaching English, photography, music, bible study, and academic subjects to both children and adults for a long time. I recently taught English full time to children and adults in Poland for two years. I still write and make language videos for my Polish students.
I also went to art school and worked for years doing event and studio photography, and some videography.
I studied harp In New York City. I played professionally and taught harp online and as a children's summer camp counselor
For a long time, I was a volunteer ski patrol. Skiing helped me stay fit. I learned first aid, CPR, and how to drive an ATV.
For many years I assisted doctors providing elder care at a nursing home. My therapy cat also provided companionship to the patients with me.
I've also worked as a receptionist. I have no tattoos or piercings - it's just not my thing. Neither have I had any interest in alcohol or recreational drugs.
Cleaning: I learned to clean from my best friend's mom, who cleaned hotel rooms for Marriott Hotels. One work-exchange host told me, "If all my volunteers cleaned the way you do, I'd be a happy man. You do an amazing job." Owning a house and raising a child added to my experience.
Gardening: I've gardened all my life. Even in New York City, I found a way to garden. I planted a rose garden on the abandoned land beside I-95 and starting an annual community flower garden surrounding the Eleanor Roosevelt statue in Riverside Park in front of my apartment.
When I owned a house, I had to clear space for gardens. I cut down trees, brought in soil, and created huge fruit, vegetable, and flower gardens on my yards in the city. I also had a never-ending composting project! It was all a rewarding experience and to this day, gardening is my favorite way to find exercise.
My father was an entomologist (he studied insects), so as a child I learned to take good care of our garden and keep the plants healthy so they wouldn't give way to insects and disease.
Child Care: I adopted my son, Timothy, from Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia when he was one year old in 1998. Being a mother was the most wonderful thing I've done in my life. Having my son and his friends with me provided some of the best times of my life. I was a single parent at the time, which was not easy.
My son attended a Spanish immersion school. I frequently volunteered to help in the classroom and on field trips.
Pet care: As I grew up in Minnesota, I followed my passion: I rode and took care of horses for more than a decade. I learned to train young horses with respect and won trophies and ribbons in horsemanship and jumping classes.
Dogs, cats, parrots, and even reptiles have been my pets throughout my life. I speak to them in their language and mine. Animals hold a sacred spirituality for me and I love them very much.
I've undergone extensive background checks in order to perform teaching, child care, elder care, pet sitting, and housesitting. I'm a registered as a trusted house and pet sitter on TrustedHousesitters.com. Even an FBI check in order to adopt from Russia!
I'm lucky to have good health and my loving family & friends. I keep in good shape and people are surprised to learn my age, usually guessing 20 - sometimes 30 - years younger! I love the freedom that comes with age! I'm no longer tied down to any particular job, so I can enjoy long travels and learning new things!
The words I live by are simple: Learning new things keeps you young!Age
73
What else ...
I do need to be able to have internet access, because the only way I can connect to my friends and relatives is through the internet.
When I travel, I typically stay in hostels. I like them, because I enjoy meeting people from all over the world. My favorite was in San Diego, California where we sat around chatting at breakfast, and watched movies together in the evenings. Every night was movie night. The Pacific Ocean was right outside our front door. It was so cool!Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
No allergiesSpecial dietary requirements
No. I'm non-vegetarian but can respect and accept vegetarian or vegan choices
Feedback
I stayed 2 weeks and helped with the gardening, lots of deep cleaning in the kitchens, got a start on the living room, and helped at the market. The market is an all-day event.
At this moment, Sandra really needs help at the market, although I know she has helpers booked for… read more
I stayed one month. I can barely begin to describe in this short space all the things we did and the warm, familial welcome I experienced with Todd, Veronica, Chelo, the neighbors, and the kids.
You must be self-motivated. No one… read more
You are there as a "speaking practice" partner, not a teacher of grammar, etc., per se, although you give gentle assists… read more
Photos
Friends
Feedback
I stayed 2 weeks and helped with the gardening, lots of deep cleaning in the kitchens, got a start on the living room, and helped at the market. The market is an all-day event.
At this moment, Sandra really needs help at the market, although I know she has helpers booked for… read more
I stayed one month. I can barely begin to describe in this short space all the things we did and the warm, familial welcome I experienced with Todd, Veronica, Chelo, the neighbors, and the kids.
You must be self-motivated. No one… read more
You are there as a "speaking practice" partner, not a teacher of grammar, etc., per se, although you give gentle assists… read more
I spent two weeks at the pousada.… read more
Lucas was a warm, responsive host who speaks very good English, yet is still interested in learning more from us native speakers. Working there did not feel like work.… read more
I must admit, when I read, ""MUST LOVE DOGS AND CATS" I wondered, "Is there something about these guys that makes loving them a challenge? But no, not at all, they are all four - the coolest!
Roman, the German… read more
As others have mentioned, they treated me like a member of the family right away, yet they were always attentive wo that I might need and asking me if I needed anything else.
Once Ana showed me what needed to be done - cleaning, loading the dishwasher and… read more