Karlie

United Kingdom
Login to see last activity

Badges (3)

Photos

View all

Give the gift of Workaway

Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
Contemporary art, culture, and history; food; queer spaces
My next destination:
Japan - from May 2025 until May 2026
View all
Description
29 y/o artist from Scotland with Hong Kong Chinese heritage, fluent in English, HK Cantonese and Hakka. Currently on a career break and will be in Japan for a working holiday from late May 2025-2026.

I have lived in Glasgow, Hong Kong and London, and primarily have a background in art and culture, having held positions at various art organisations, galleries and museums. I also have experience in hospitality, teaching English, Cantonese and Art to children and adults; and I was once a furniture maker's assistant, and an architecture and heritage tour guide!

I am passionate about all things visual, from theatre and opera, to tv and film, and I make drawings and paintings whenever I can. I enjoy trying new foods (especially desserts) and love connecting with new people, especially when it comes to skill swapping and community activism.

I love sharing my Scottish background (ceilidh dancing especially!) and Cantonese culture, and enjoy learning about others' through art, food and language. I'm currently learning Japanese but have an interest in Korean and Mandarin.

I plan to explore more of East Asia in 2025, and I'm open to connecting with folk near home or abroad - so feel free to get in touch!

Workaways completed: 2
Workaways scheduled: 2

🏳️‍🌈
Interests
Videography
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Performing arts
Music
Photography
Plant care
Movies & TV
Languages
LGBTQ
Fashion or beauty
History
Events & social
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Culture
Carpentry
Charity work
Cooking & food
Art & design
Architecture
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Chinese (Others): Fluent
Chinese (Cantonese): Fluent
Japanese: Beginner
Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner
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.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Charity Work
Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
House sitting
Some knowledge of:
Teaching
Hospitality/Tourism
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Helping around the house
Able to teach about:
Art Projects
Languages
More details about your skills
Native (British) English speaker, with a light Scottish accent - I also speak Chinese Cantonese (Hong Kong accent) and Chinese Hakka at a fluent level. I am very good at learning languages, having studied some French, Mandarin and Latin during high school. Currently, I am learning Japanese and Korean in my spare time. I also have casual experience teaching English to teenagers and adults, and Cantonese to adults, along with translation experience for Hakka.

Confident driver with UK driving license of 10 years - I can drive manual and automatic cars, and small/medium vans. I will soon possess an International Driving Permit (IDP).

Detailed, organised and efficient - I have 7 years of experience working in art and culture, across the UK. My most recent role was a mid-level position at a respected contemporary art gallery, which required me to organise travel; manage publication projects, exhibitions and events (small to large-scale dinners and parties); and to work directly with artists, curators, collectors and institutions. I have also worked in museums and art organisations/charities in various departments.

Technologically proficient, with knowledge of Microsoft, Google and Adobe Suite - I am able to photoshop images well, edit videos, and possess basic HTML knowledge. I am also technically skilled in drawing and painting (oil, acrylic, watercolour etc), with experience in teaching children from 8-12 and adults.

Confident and friendly individual, with an interest in sharing my passions and experience - I was once an architecture and heritage tour guide, and offer mentoring to students at my alma mater. I also co-founded besea.n (Britain’s East and South East Asian Network), a volunteer-led organisation in 2020 that aims to empower, educate and embrace East and South East Asian (ESEA) people in the UK - our most notable achievement is the establishment of ESEA Heritage Month, which is now celebrated annually during September (similar to Pride or Black History Month), and is recognised by local councils and public figures.

Quick to adapt and enjoys a challenge - I grew up in Glasgow, and pursued an undergraduate degree in Painting and Printmaking at the Glasgow School of Art. Following this, I worked and lived in various places around Scotland, Hong Kong, and London, to develop my skills, and to diversify my experiences and connections - I was once an assistant to a furniture maker who specialised in recreating Charles Rennie Mackintosh chairs! I am always very keen to try and learn new things.

Other interests include: theatre and opera; cooking (I would like to expand from Cantonese home-cooking); tv and films (particularly historical dramas); and traditional festivals and customs.
Age
29
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  No

Website Safety

Photos

Show all photos

Friends

Feedback

8 Sep 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with cultural projects ...)

My first workaway (on this platform) and I would recommend staying with Taro for a fun and chilled cultural/creative exchange! I stayed for 3 weeks in July and Taro was very welcoming, even before I arrived, connecting me with other workawayers who were there, providing a manual of recommendations nearby, and of tasks expected during my stay.… read more Despite being abroad during my first week, he checked in regularly to make sure I arrived without issue and that I was settling in well.

During my time, I supported with renovating the unit I was staying in (painting the ceiling, prepping the walls of the kitchen with base and shikkui, and discussing possibilities for the space as it's still at the very early stages) and cleaning the small Airbnb that Taro runs in another unit within the same building. The latter is quite sporadic, I only needed to support with this 4 times during my stay. My working hours ranged from 1-4 hrs, generally Mon-Fri (unless there was Airbnb check out/in on weekends, then hours would be adjusted accordingly), and workawayers are expected to organise themselves and work independently, but there is clear guidance on what is needed. It's important to note that workawayers should be self-motivated and communicative too, with respect to others that are being hosted and the spaces shared. Taro was also very accommodating when I had adjusted my dates a few months prior to arrival, and when I requested an extra day off to see my relatives who were visiting.

As I was staying in the unit that was being renovated (most of the unit had dust covers, work equipment, and had to be accessed by others but can be locked when not working), the room was adequate for a short stay: I had a small coffee table, chair, fan and air-con, and there was a squat toilet. The kitchen, dining room and bathroom is upstairs, shared with 1-2 workawayers, Taro and 2 other tenants of the building. As I am moving around Japan, it was a blessing to have essentials provided during the stay! Taro also organised a BBQ night, inviting workawayers who had been before and those who were nearby, as well as his friends.

I spent a lot of time with Taro too, learning about the film industry in Japan, the cultural scene in Osaka (and beyond), and generally about the Japanese lifestyle and regional differences. I was also introduced to a few of his friends - filmmakers, performers, artists - and even joined him in watching a play his friend was involved in. Overall, I had a very good experience: Taro is a very friendly, generous and easy-going guy, and I plan to stay in touch to see how this project goes!

(Excellent)

To leave feedback make sure you are logged in & your account is online