Profile information
Description
Hi everyone!
I'm new here. Italian by origin, European at heart. I've lived in 6 EU countries over the past 8 years, Belgium being the last one. I work in Brussels on ocean protection, specifically biodiversity loss in the Mediterranean Sea. Currently going through a life restructuring, I decided to take some time away from my job to "touch some grass" and reconnect with nature. Considering my love for dogs, my dream is to move away from the office life and become a dog trainer for traumatised dogs, one day. Coming from the Italian central mountains, I have always been surrounded by animals and have dog trainers in my family, and even in the busy Brussels I managed to spend time with dogs, by dog-sitting and volunteering at a local dog shelter. Finally, after many years living and working in the "EU bubble", I feel now the need to connect with other human beings on a more sincere and humane basis, away from dry networking and sterile small talks. Having worked for so many years in politics, I realised the only solution we are left with is building communities based on care and respect rather than individualism and opportunism. Overall, I have been volunteering my whole life since high school. My main driver has always been to bring positive impact in the world, which resulted in several volunteering experiences touching upon animal welfare, migration, and political activism.
Interests
Self development
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Pets
LGBTQ
Carpentry
Culture
Charity work
Writing
Plant care
Photography
Performing arts
Music
Languages
History
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Books
Astronomy
Animals
Team sports
Water sports
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Dancing
Cycling
Adventure sports
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: BeginnerMore details about my language interests
I would like to go back to my old level of Spanish (almost native) and improve my current beginner/intermediate level of French. I have taught English to asylum seekers and refugees both in Finland and Belgium as a volunteer and am always available to do it again!
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Life at a Farmstay
Some knowledge of:
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Animal Care
House & pet sitting
Able to teach about:
Charity Work
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
Above all, I think I'm good with people. I'm an extremely curious listener, I tend to ask many questions to people to find something interesting that I can learn about them, and love to create long-lasting positive bonds. I want to walk away from years-long training I received in Brussels, all focused on influencing the other, and get closer to real connection based on curiosity and authenticity.
I'm also a good organiser. I was trained as a project manager and can solve problems creatively, task different members when appropriate, and organise the activities at hand.
My special interest is animal welfare and nature, particularly dogs. I have studied different books on dog training and want to make it my profession, one day. Specifically, I think that the cognitive school in dog training created by Turid Rugaas is the one that changed my perspective on dogs and that I want to embrace in my future practice. I dog-sitted and cared for many different kinds of dogs as a voluteer, ranging in sizes, breeds, personalities, and life experiences. At the moment, I really want to increase my experience, especially with traumatised and rescued dogs.
I am an extrovert at heart so I love spending time with different people, which is where I get my energy from. I have always played all sports and especially love team sports.
As a big stand-up comedy lover, I also have a great sense of humour: I have always found irony the necessary key for everything in life (especially when exhaustion arrives).
I am flexible, creative, and adaptable, and love taking in new challenges. I crave for (and currently miss) variety in what I do on a weekly basis, and am driven by creating an actual impact that I can see and experience.
Finally, I am also very reliable. I do what I promise, and have an extremely high sense of work ethics, integrity and loyalty when I feel bonded to a group and a cause.
Age
32
What else ...
I love playing any kind of sport (even the ones I am awful at, such as skating and pool), my favourite being volleyball, racket sports (squash, ping pong, tennis, padel), hiking, water sports (kayaking), etc.
I love stand-up comedy, I feel like my life is a Netflix comedy show, and I live it as such.
I have been writing since I was 4 years old: books, short stories, poems, songs, theatre monologues, etc. Love going to slam poetry shows, and managed to overcome my fear and grab the mic to perform a couple of poems a month ago at a show.
I love dogs (did I mention that?) and animals in general (except for spiders).
One of my hobbies is eating well, and some would say I can cook a few things nicely (my carbonara is famous).
I love board and card games but never had the chance to play many, and night-long big talks: basically any kind of mental stimulation is welcome!
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Special dietary requirements
Photos
