Dave

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Hi! I'm from Western Canada. I traveled around Europe last year and really enjoyed it, living out of a van and doing activities in the mountains. I've now sold my home in Canada and am currently a bit nomadic and looking for a new zone to call home.

I'm a passionate paraglider, and also like doing anything in mountains -- hiking, running, skiing, climbing, etc.

I'm a chill, happy, friendly, patient guy and am very considerate of others. I enjoy helping out. The 'normal' life doesn't appeal to me much and I really enjoy meeting and hanging out with people and families who have managed to push back against the pressure of society to do things the normal way.

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. I am starting up a new online service in the coming months to better align with my passions.

I enjoy the mountains and the outdoors, whether it's hiking around, mountain biking, or multi-day adventures in more remote areas.

Interests

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

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Some knowledge of:  

Gardening

General Maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

Charity Work

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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.

Despite (or maybe because of?) my tech background, I'm not on social media at all, and am not addicted to my phone!

Age

43

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  Allergic to cats, but I usually adapt after a while!

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  Special dietary requirements
  No