Dave

Canada
Login to see last activity

Badges (4)

Profile is connected to:

Photos

View all

Give the gift of Workaway

Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Guadeloupe
View all
Description
Hi! I'm from Western Canada. I traveled around Europe for the last couple years and then made a career switch to being a sailing skipper and instructor. Currently traveling in the Caribbean with my girlfriend Ana!

I'm a passionate paraglider, and also like doing anything in mountains -- hiking, running, skiing, climbing, etc. Also am a beginner kitesurfer (and surfer) and would love to take up wingfoiling eventually.

I'm a chill, happy, friendly, patient guy and am very considerate of others. I enjoy helping out. I really enjoy learning new things and have collected a bunch of skills over the years. I'm always interested in improving them or learning new ones.

In the past I've been a tutor and mentor for kids, owned a mountain bike tour company, and been a disaster relief aid worker, but have spent most of my life as a software programmer, making software for non-profits to run their operations online.
Interests
Beach
Charity work
Art & design
Carpentry
Camping
Cycling
DIY & crafts
Mountain
Outdoor activities
Pets
Photography
Sailing / Boating
Vegetarian or vegan
Videography
Winter sports
Technology
Writing
Gardening
Hiking
Astronomy
Nature
Adventure sports
Sustainability
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Languages
Art Projects
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Able to teach about:
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Helping around the house
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
More details about your skills
I've owned my living spaces for the last 13 years, keeping them clean and tidy, and making all kinds of improvements. I've done stuff like: building outbuildings and entire additions. Framing, carpentry, painting, roofing, tiling, electrical and some plumbing work. My wood-working/carpentry skills are decent, including building a large cedar sauna, and I've built an ocean-going wooden rowboat from plans. I've done a good amount of landscaping and gardening.

I enjoy cooking, and love the amazing quality of food that is available most places I've been here in Europe

I owned and operated a mountain bike tour company for several years and so am familiar with hospitality and tourism industries, and running businesses in general

I can drive! I have 20+ years of accident-free driving experience, and hold a commercial driving license (I can drive a taxi or mini-bus at home). I've driven 15,000+kms in Europe in my big fat van, so am now well used to driving here too.

I hold a current First Aid certification with lots of experience treating and managing injuries.

I have a university degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and have worked with computers for many years. Stuff like: Programming / coding, computer science, web design, IT, networking, electronics. Also digital media, photography, photo editing, graphics, videography, video editing, and some animation.

Relating to experience with kids, I was a tutor for a "gifted student" program, and have been a guest teacher for teens in: entrepreneurship, business, and public speaking. I had a job teaching bike safety to kids. I taught English for a bit while living in China for a year. And I've helped take care of my friends' 10 year old twins at their house in France, and spent a month on a previous workaway with a neuro-atypical child and had a great time.

From my own education I've taken university-level courses in topics like: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Math, Psychology, computer science, electronics, etc. and would be comfortable teaching or tutoring these subjects as well to kids/teens/university students. I'm also currently taking a 4-course certificate in Meteorology (weather) online.

Despite (or maybe because of?) my tech background, I'm not on social media at all, and am not addicted to my phone!
Age
44
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Allergic to cats, but I usually adapt after a while!
- Special dietary requirements
  No

Website Safety

Feedback

10 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (A Caribbean eco-village in ...)

Kevin is a super warm welcoming person, and has a great group of friends who he was excited to introduce us to, and seems to know half the people on the island and is a great culutral ambassador for St. Martin. Work is varied, we had a big project so we're quite focused on that, but there's always smaller jobs that need doing, regardless of skill… read more

(Excellent )

21 Nov 2022

Left by host for Workawayer ()

We enjoyed having Dave around. He helped us out with some little projects like building a home for our (future) chickens and some dry stone wall building. He spend a lot of time playing with Kauê who picked up a lot of english. Dave is a calm and pleasant person with a positive energy. Thanks a lot for everything !

(Excellent )

20 Nov 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join our small tribe and help ...)

The most rewarding month of my trip so far, a big thank you to Emmanuel, Juliana, Kauê and Maya for allowing me into their home. I already miss this lovely family and their spectacular and very comfortable home.

The place is fairly isolated, and the nearest stores are about 20-25 minutes away by car. So it's NOT for everyone, you have to be able… read more to be happy keeping yourself busy and entertained. But for me it was perfect: lots of time to reflect, enjoy the views, and explore the nearby trails and hills while taking athletic doggo Maya for walks, or on weekend family hikes. They also have several e-bikes to use for exploring by road, and the area is a rock climbing paradise with likely close to 100 bolted routes within an easy e-bike cruise away.

They prefer two volunteers at once, but someone else cancelled, so I was solo. I felt like they were appreciative of what I was able to get done. They are very flexible in the schedule, but you need to communicate changes or plans at least a couple days before, since they have a busy schedule and need to plan ahead (note they are more active on a different travel volunteering website, they have lots of experience with volunteers). They are open and welcoming, and not only in their home: they invited me to join them on just about everything they did together.

I started out mostly doing things around the house like repairs, cleaning, cooking, and some projects outside. But as the stay went on and a couple other volunteers left, that changed to spending more of my time with Kauê. He's a kind and caring boy, and it didn't take long for us to get along. I was shocked how quickly he learned English (the 3rd language he's learning this year!), he has an incredible and unique brain that's always churning, and a great sense of humor. He has some emotional responses that are atypical for someone his age, but Juliana is extremely helpful in explaining this and how to respond, so that it ended up not being an issue at all. With some patience and understanding and an open heart, you'll share some some wonderful times with him for sure!

I'm appreciative for all the time Manu gave me in speaking about sustainability and building, his home, his work, and his philosophies on inter-connectedness and holistic perspectives of life. And for all the time Juliana gave me in explaining her views on being a parent, hand-in-hand methods, and her openness and honesty about all sorts of topics. And to Kauê for all the fun, and for teaching me the importance of treating each person you meet as a true individual, without the temptation to put people into categories. I hope I'm able to catch up with them all again, lots of love for this unique family!

(Excellent )

20 Aug 2022

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Super lovely guy smart easy y going and very skilled and good with setting out a job and can be left alone to problem solve.. Enjoyable to be around and nice to have someone older and a pilot also.. Shame we didnt get more flying in.. But we will meet again.. Recommend to any host.. As he is good online and with his building making skill win… read more

(Excellent )

16 Aug 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Learn about paragliding, help ...)

Had a great stay for just under 2 weeks, as my first workaway. Andrew has a great vision of a creative, chill green space in the yard which is/was currently the main focus-- concrete, groundworks, and building small structures from mostly reclaimed materials. But there were a wide variety of tasks and Andrew tries to assess and use each person's… read more

(Excellent )

View all