Hagar

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hello! My name is Hagar and I have recently quit my job in Biotechnology to travel full-time! I come from a family of avid travelers, so I would say it's in my blood. I absolutely love immersing myself in new cultures and pushing myself to have unique experiences- that is why I think Workaway is a perfect opportunity.
Some of my interests include sustainability, cooking, reading, teaching, volunteer work, and running! I have also been on a journey to become fluent in French, which I am hoping to work towards during this trip!
Interests
Plant care
Beach
Pets
Politics / Social justice
Nature
Farming
Camping
Animals
Gardening
Technology
Charity work
Movies & TV
Sustainability
Languages
History
Hiking
Culture
Events & social
Cooking & food
Books
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 I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Gardening
Life at a Farmstay
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Teaching
Helping around the house
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Able to teach about:
Languages
More details about your skills
I am fluent in both English and Spanish, so I would be thrilled to work in a language exchange. I've studied abroad in Strasbourg and helped teach English from A1 to C1 at L'Université de Strasbourg.

Although I do not have any of my own, I absolutely love kids. I have experience in babysitting, but child care is not what I work in professionally. I'm also willing to help with any cooking, gardening, or general cleaning during my stay.

Lastly, my interest in sustainability has really expanded my curiosity to so many other things. I've come to appreciate the outdoors, and am very keen to learn more about gardening, DIY work, food production, and and eco-living. While I may not be perfectly well-versed in these areas, I'm incredibly willing to immerse myself in any of these experiences.
Age
26
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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9 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (Enthusiastic native English ...)

This was my first Workaway experience and words cannot express how grateful I am to have spent it with such an incredible family. And I do feel like “incredible” is quite an understatement. I was in Villard-de-Lans for a month, but would have happily stayed longer if my travel plans had allowed it!

I’d like to just begin by saying that Margaux… read more and Christophe are genuine, warm-hearted people as well as amazing parents. They’ve cultivated such a welcoming environment within their home, which I was immensely appreciative for. During my time there, I always felt comfortable asking questions, sharing stories, and joining in on their family plans. Margaux also generously pushed me to practice my broken French whenever she could. She took note of how much I wanted to improve, but was also well-aware of how shy I was with my speaking. Therefore, she graciously spoke to me in French so I could practice my listening, answered any questions I had, and patiently repeated words like “écureuil” at least 20 times until I sort-of (not really) got the hang of the “r” sound. She really is an amazing woman!

Given how great Margaux and Christophe both are, it’s no surprise that Claris and Garance are absolutely wonderful as well! They’re full of personality and character, funny, and incredibly sweet. You’ll see that within the first few minutes of meeting them. We spent a lot of time playing card games, coloring, building toy farm houses, jumping on the trampoline, or simply reading books. They each have distinct personalities, but are both tremendously intelligent and emotionally mature for their age. They’re very curious about the world around them and therefore love to learn new things. They also approach everything with an open and accepting mind, which is quite impressive. Lastly, they each have hearts of gold. When I lost a really sentimental ring while on a run, the girls willingly joined me to look for it as soon as I told them. They were as upset as me, holding my hand and comforting me throughout. When I wanted to give up, the girls insisted we keep looking. Then, when we finally found it, we all jumped and cheered for ages out of sheer joy. Claris and Garance were ecstatic knowing that I was no longer sad- they even hugged the ring and held it close to their chest multiple times. That level of empathy is just beautiful to see in such young girls. It’s a testament to how well their parents have done at raising them. That being said, it was a pleasure to look after them.

In terms of the workload, it was all very straight-forward and easy. While the tasks varied from day-to-day, Margaux was always communicative about what may be expected for the upcoming week. This sometimes included getting the girls ready for school, picking them up at the bus stop, or looking after them in afternoons/evenings. Some light cooking or tidying may also be expected here and there, but it was always very manageable. Having said that, I also had a lot of free time to explore the area. Villard-de-Lans is absolutely stunning! While it has an extremely outdoorsy atmosphere, it’s also just a very scenic and peaceful place to be. I mainly stuck to hiking and road running, but there are also opportunities for mountain biking, trail running, and skiing if you’re interested. Grenoble is a great city just 45 minutes from Villard-de-Lans and easily-accessible, if you’re ever in the mood for a change of pace. Both Christophe and Margaux are always happy to give recommendations and help accommodate you in any way they can!

As I write this review now, which is truthfully a bit late, I still miss them as much as I did when I left. I think back to the memories I made with such contentment. I miss sharing funny stories/experiences with them over dinner, watching Christophe's family videos, teaching the girls Spanish phrases, and jumping on the trampoline until I ran out of breath. I miss talking with Margaux in the mornings and watching the cows in the nearby field from the back window. Although some months have past, I continue to have so much love and appreciation for the family. As I've continued on with my travels, I still carry the keychain Claris gifted me everywhere I go! I think about you guys often and truly hope to see you again!!

(Excellent )

9 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (Learn about local culture ...)

Before arriving to Phayao, I remember feeling slightly wary about being one of the first volunteers at the school. Although the profile had no prior reviews, something about the description drove me to apply anyway. Within the first 10 minutes of meeting Ta (the co-founder of the foundation), I knew I was in good hands. From there, my entire… read more experience was so wonderful, I struggle to find adequate words to express what I'm feeling right now. Every person I met was incredibly welcoming, genuine, generous, and kind-hearted. From Hani (the co-founder), to the school director, to the teachers, and OF COURSE the students-- I will not forget any of them. They managed to make a small, rural town in northern Thailand- a whopping 13,318 km away from my house- feel like home.

The work itself was very rewarding. Being the first volunteers, Lauren and I got to watch firsthand as the kids became more confident talking to us in English, asking questions, and slowly understanding more each day. Some classes gave us free rein to teach, while others allowed us to provide supplemental help. In either case, teachers were very open to any suggestions we had and really allowed us to interact with the students as much as possible. The school is small enough that the people you work alongside truly become your friends. Oh, and the students are absolutely hilarious. There is no language barrier big enough to hide that fact.

The volunteer set-up was very comfortable as well! The house is located right on campus and incredibly spacious. Each volunteer has their own personal side and bathroom. There's also a dining table, TV, air-conditioning, fans, a mini fridge, a kettle, dishes, etc. All three meals are provided and they were always delicious. I promise you will NEVER go hungry!

Lastly, the city of Phayao is small but lovely. It's situated on a stunning lake that never gets old. You can visit the quaint side near the school or rent bikes and ride into the main city. Although Phayao is small, there are several markets to see, cute cafes, and some gorgeous temples. The director and teachers always made sure we got out of the house, so we were fortunate to explore quite a bit. Hani and Ta also showed us around on the weekend and always made themselves available if we needed anything.

Long story short, I cannot recommend this experience enough. I will miss eating home-cooked meals with the teachers every morning before class. I will miss the older students teaching me Thai words and laughing at my horrible pronunciation, but cheering me on anyway. I will miss sweaty kindergartners mobbing me with hugs. I will miss laughing at Ta and Hani's impeccable banter. My heart is truly full knowing I was fortunate enough to have crossed paths with such beautiful people. I cried as I said my goodbyes, but I feel content knowing it is not an actual goodbye, it's a see you later. 10/10! Love you guys!!!

(Excellent )

6 Dec 2023

Left by host (Learn about local culture ...) for Workawayer ()

Hagar!
We can’t thank you enough for bringing your teaching experience, your language expertise, and your valuable advice, to share with the students and teachers at our school. Your dedication and drive to helping our students learn English are truly remarkable. We all loved all the wonderful moments we had with you, and will cherish them for… read more

(Excellent )

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