Esther & Michael

Travel information

We are currently

Description

Hi there!
We are Esther and Michael, a couple in our mid-twenties from Edinburgh, Scotland, and are so grateful for the opportunity to travel, meet wonderful people from other cultural backgrounds, and explore the world :)
We are motivated by curiosity, and always looking for ways we can connect with and learn from other people, and from the natural environment. We love to spend time outside in nature, and to enjoy the company of others in whatever form that may come. We are hard-working and open-minded people, and happy to adapt to the needs of our hosts.
We are both creative people and are happy for any opportunity to share our skills. I (Esther) love to paint the places I visit and people and animals that I see, as well as sewing clothes and making jewellery. Michael can play just about any musical instrument he puts his mind to, and will happily jam with anyone no matter their ability.

Interests

Sustainability

Politics / Social justice

Pets

Farming

Events & social

Culture

Charity work

Writing

Plant care

Photography

Music

Languages

History

Gardening

Drawing & painting

DIY & crafts

Cooking & food

Carpentry

Books

Art & design

Animals

Team sports

Yoga / Wellness

Outdoor activities

Nature

Mountain

Hiking

Dancing

Cycling

Beach

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner

More details about my language interests
We both studied English at University, and have TEFL certifications to teach English as a foreign language. I (Esther) have been learning to speak and understand Chinese (Mandarin) for the past year. I am still only a beginner, but I am keen to improve my Chinese if the opportunity arises. We are also both interested in languages more broadly, and will always endeavour to learn some of the local language when we are travelling in a country.

Find a language partner

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

Some knowledge of:  

Charity Work

Art Projects

Eco Projects

Light gardening

Creative DIY projects

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Babysitting and creative play

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Light maintenance

House & pet sitting

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Teaching

More details about your skills

We are both TEFL certified and have English Literature degrees. Happy to help with English language skills and cultural exchange in formal or casual settings.

Esther:
I worked as a chef for a while (mostly in a vegan restaurant) and I come from a large family who I often cook meals for so I am very happy to cook and cater for others. I can cook tasty dishes from many different cuisines (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), but I particularly enjoy making Chinese, Indian, and Mediterranean inspired food. I have some experience training others in the kitchen, and am happy to share cooking techniques and learn new ones from others :)

I am also a very creative person, and put a lot of time and energy into making beautiful things. Over the past 6 months or so I have been doing a lot of watercolour painting, and have a travel sized set that I bring with me wherever I go. I am also an aspiring photographer, and have some experience photographing events for social media etc. I can also sew and make clothes, and happy to help with mending/making things by hand or with a sewing machine. Basically, if you have a creative project that you're looking for support with, I'm here to help!

I also love gardening and have been growing and propagating plants for many years. We are limited in what we can grow in Scotland due to cold weather and lack of sunlight, so I love to work with plants that can grow in warmer climates.

Michael:

I have substantial experience working with children, young people, and adults from a variety of backgrounds--my 5 years as a charity & support worker have exposed me to a wide range of perspectives. I find tremedous satisfaction in motivating and learning from others, and building meaningful relationships.

This involved working therapeutically outdoors -- walking, fieldwork, and music therapy. I am passionate about music, particularly playing the guitar. I hope to expose myself to as much music culture as possible, and am more than happy to teach others. I love living and working outdoors, and would like to learn from those who are knowledgable or have lived experience of sustainable practice.

Like Esther, I also come from a large family. I love to cook, and am used to preparing for large groups. I particularly love to bake bread, and am hoping to pick up on some new recipes as we travel! :)

Age

25 & 25

What else ...

We both enjoy playing games with others; Esther particularly likes board and card games and loves to learn new ones, Michael likes physical games like pool and ping-pong. We both enjoy some friendly competition, and are happy to take part in games of any kind (+karaoke!).
We also like to hike, cycle, and swim in lakes and rivers, and just generally enjoy spending time out in nature. The weather where we come from in Scotland is damp and cold most of the year, so getting to spend time out in the sun, and enjoying warm evenings is a real highlight for us when travelling.
We also love animals and are happy to help in taking care of them. Esther really loves cats and will likely befriend any that are around, whilst Michael is great with dogs.

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements
  Lactose/dairy intolerant