Dave & Ana

Canada & Spain
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Travel information

We are currently

Travelling

Our next destination:
Spain - from May 2026 until Aug 2027
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Description

Hi! We're Dave (from Canada) and Ana (from Spain).

We both worked in the yachting/sailing industry. Our previous careers were in computers/technology, and health / child care. We met crossing the Atlantic on a sailboat in 2024. We love working together and did a workaway in St. Martin building an outdoor kitchen from 100% recycled/reclaimed materials in 2025, and another in Fiji at an off-grid garden home in 2026.

Dave has lots of experience with construction (plumbing, electrical, off-grid), and techy things. Ana is also very handy with tools, plants and gardens, and is a skilled artist/painter. We're both very neat and tidy, love organizing things and giving new life to old things. We love the outdoors, nature, and sports/activities that get us out there into the elements.

When it comes to work, we're happy following instructions as well as self-led projects. We speak English and Spanish natively and French to a basic conversational level.

We enjoy cooking, especially vegetarian/ vegan dishes. We love animals, children, and adults alike! We're easy-going, friendly and always up for sharing stories, experiences, and adventures. We love learning new skills and teaching skills we have.
Interests

Technology

Languages

Architecture

Drawing & painting

Cooking & food

Animals

Yoga / Wellness

Water sports

Fitness

Beach

Charity work

Art & design

Carpentry

Camping

Cycling

DIY & crafts

Mountain

Outdoor activities

Pets

Photography

Sailing / Boating

Vegetarian or vegan

Videography

Winter sports

Writing

Gardening

Hiking

Nature

Adventure sports

Sustainability
Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.

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Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:

Languages

Art Projects

Eco Projects

Being an elderly companion

Some knowledge of:

Light gardening

Babysitting and creative play

Light maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

Charity Work

Teaching

House & pet sitting

Able to teach about:

Creative DIY projects

Helping around the house

Helping with Computers/ Internet
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

45 & 31
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Allergic to cats, but I usually adapt after a while!
- Special dietary requirements
  No

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15 May 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Learn about tropical plants ...)

Our stay with Andrea was such a wonderful experience. She took amazing care of us, from cooking delicious home grown meals, to sharing with us her snorkeling spots and secret paradise hiking trails. Andrea is bursting with knowledge about self sustainability, plants and Taveuni life, and will teach you everything you want to learn … read more

(Excellent )

15 May 2026

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Ana and Dave were here for a little over two weeks, and it was a great pleasure to have them.

Dave is more of the thoughtful type, and it seems there's no challenge he can't solve. Whether it's painting, woodworking, or programming, he always finds a solution. Ana is more of the extroverted type. She's bursting with ideas and isn't too proud to … read more

(Excellent )

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 )

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Communication:
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15 May 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Learn about tropical plants ...)

(Excellent)

15 May 2026

Left by host for Workawayer

(Excellent)

10 Feb 2025

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

(Excellent)

21 Nov 2022

Left by host for Workawayer

(Excellent)

20 Nov 2022

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

(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)