Marianne

Canada
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Travel information

I am currently

Travelling
Description

Hello!
I am a woman in my 50s emerging from my mothering years with space and zest for adventure. I looooove wildlife, nature and animals in general, forests, lakes, mountains, farms... but right now I still live in the city (not for much longer). I am a psychotherapist and art therapist working with various modalities to support people connecting more deeply with themselves, getting their full sensitivity, mindfulness and the freedom of being truly themselves in the world. In my free time, I enjoy keeping up with my loved ones, going places with my amazing dog, painting, visiting friends, connecting with horses and riding, cycling, hiking, cross country skiing, swimming. I participate in various retreats and I co-faciliate some. I run groups where we danse, sing, drum, use arts and ritualisation to connect with oneself and others.

Volunteering as a workaway seems like a great way to meet good people living creatively, to learn many things, get inspired and hopefully be of significant help. When I am traveling, I like feeling the land and the people, first and foremost. Being able to ground in a single place with people and purpose is truly perfect for me. I enjoy quiet, nature, space and solitude even though I love people so i never miss the city at all.

I really enjoy physical work and I am in good shape although I no longer have the strength I had when I was 20. But please don't worry, I am solid and resourceful! I volunteer at a stable two days a week where I enjoy cleaning and mucking, moving the horses and caring for them, doing whatever needs to be done alone as I soak in the quiet energy of the horses and the sounds of natural life. I am training to get certified in equine facilitated wellness and sometimes I faciliate sessions for friends.

I am usually seen as fast and hardworking at anything I do. I am very responsable, ethical, mindful and considerate of all live beings; I have good judgment and good reflexes, I am calm when calm is needed and a good problem solver. I am known as honest, an expressive introvert, easy uncomplicated company, reliable, trustworthy, autonomous and independant. People tend to feel safe with me very fast. I like to get to know people for real and converse about things that we each care about; I'd much rather enjoy easy friendly silence than make small talk, but I connect with people easily and can build bridges with most people.

I would enjoy helping you with animal care, cleaning, gardening, cooking, being there for children and guests; I would be a happy and willing assistant for light building work (mending, fencing etc.). I own a building and I can handle powertools (I have cut through brick walls, cut and placed baseboards, done some ceramics and lambris, and changed a toilet with the help of youtube) but I just don't have enough practice at each skill to be able to lead a project alone effectively; but I am not totally useless with these things.

My goal for 2027 is to escape part of the Montreal winter for about 6 weeks and join a homestead or a horse farm where people and animals are truly loved and I can contribute to what needs to be done in a good ambiance. I like to create relationships and to be useful. I would like to be able to work at the farm for the required hours and see a couple of my clients on zoom afterwards. If there are some days or weeks where that isn't possible, it would not be a problem as long as I know it ahead of time, when we discuss my stay and I am setting up the winter schedule with my clients. It's not uncommon for clients to cancel or reschedule so I might also be more free than anticipated. I would also ideally like to be able to have some time in the saddle as I want to regain more of my riding skills. I was a secure rider (classical, jumping) when I was a teenager, I was also a trailguide for two years, very confortable with all sorts of spunky horses, but I am now not getting enough time in the saddle to get my horse body back, when riding was as natural as walking. If this setup of a rather predictable schedule sounds like something that could work for you, I would love to talk. If we have a good fit and I need to rethink how I would see my clients, I am willing to do that too. I feel grateful and excited at the meetings to come.
Interests

Charity work

Culture

Politics / Social justice

Pets

Self development

DIY & crafts

Books

Drawing & painting

Animals

Yoga / Wellness

Nature

Camping

Mountain

Outdoor activities

Hiking
Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I will happily help you practice your french if you'd like that

Find a language partner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Light gardening

Creative DIY projects

Life at a Farmstay

Animal Care

Babysitting and creative play

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Light maintenance

Hospitality/Tourism

House & pet sitting

Some knowledge of:

Art Projects
More details about your skills

I'm a therapist so my most honed skills are understanding other people, seeing things from different perspectives, being able to ask questions and communicate clearly and generally being a safe person to be with! It doesn't sound very practical for a workaway but I suppose it can count that I am usually a good and easy person to have around. I'm crafty and I like cleaning, fixing things, organizing, cooking, doing land work outdoors, painting, gardening, carrying things, taking care of animals and their living spaces, and if I am well directed I can help build things. I bought a multiplex by myself some 15 years ago and initially I was pretty gun-ho and did a lot of stuff myself (ceramics, mouldings, cutting concrete, changing a toilet, etc.) with power tools and all, with youtube as my ally. Eventually I found it all was taking me way long and I wasn't doing such a good job so I started hiring out, but I'm not a total ditz with manual work.
Age

54
What else ...

I find pleasure in the simple things, having a mindful rythm to do my tasks, being with good people. I love making my dog happy, walking and playing ball with him. I love being with horses and riding when possible. I am hugely interested in ancestral and indigenous ways of being and knowing. I love learning practicall homesteading skills. I enjoy things so simple as doing puzzles, yoga, reading. I enjoy my own company (and need ample me time) as much as that of others. It's worth a mention that I don't like lots of mechanical noise, being with rowdy rambuctious, very loud people; nor would I be happy in a place where drinking and smoking weed are big habits. I am most confortable with gentle, friendly, sensitive or wise people. I also enjoy people that are expressive, really honest and clear, confortable in who they are. I can take in the high energy of extraverted leaders (I enjoy it), I just don't like harsh and chaotic. The healthy high energy of animals and kids dont, count, they are lovely!! Yay freedom!
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  I can only eat about 25 things which actually makes eating hugely simple. I cook for myself by batches of four days and eat sensibly the same things all the time. I can manage myself no problem. In case you are curious, I can eat gluten free oatmeal, pear

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24 Jul 2026

Left by host (Explore the great Bear ...) for Workawayer ()

Marianne was an excellent addition to our household during the time she was here. We will miss her dearly. In addition to offering to cooking meals for our family, Mariane was extremely considerate of our kids’ bedtime and morning routines. She fit right in and held space for myself, my mother in law, and the kids.
Mariane was autonomous, … read more

(Excellent )

22 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Explore the great Bear ...)

I am a solo traveler, 54 year-old mom, arriving on foot via the ferry. I stayed with Michelle, her mother-in-law Anne and the two boys, Sunny (5) and Clay (3), for 12 days, while Gord was away for work. I loved my stay. It's a beautiful family and it feels good to be with them. Michelle is an attentive, very caring and pedagogical mom so her focus … read more is always on the boys first, chores and projects coming in seconds; so any help on any front is very useful for her: if you play with the kids she can do chores, and if you do chores she can be with the kids. It all works. The boys are engaging, smart, sweet, fun, always wanting to play and having good ideas for fun; there are no little tv zombies there, they are as lively and curious as kids should be. Michelle provided a list of tasks she needed help with and that she thought I might enjoy (watering a tree, feeding the cat and the ducks, getting rid of slugs, picking berries and veggies). I ended up not being able to dig for fencing because of an injury (not related to my stay) and I played with the kids more and gardened less than anticipated but it all worked. There are tons of things that need to be done so I imagine anyone will find the place where they fit best and most naturally. Michelle was both very clear about her needs and boundaries and super flexible and accomodating. I found her not only a delight in terms of her personality but also just plain easy to get along with and work for. I stayed in the camper van out back and was given everything I needed to be confortable; there's not running water so it's a little inconvenient for some things as I didnt, want to intrude on their family time in the house at inconvenient moments , but it all still worked fine. Anne lent me her truck to get around which was very useful to run errands and to get to a few excursions. You will enjoy staying with them if you are both independant and family-minded. You need to have initiative and understand what can be helpful without MIchelle having to tell you (she's busy enough as it is), although she will set the priorities when you need clarity. You also need to be generous with your presence; some days you might be more needed than others. The property is stunning and Bella Coola has a unique vibe; it gathers adventurous, hard-working, no nonsense, free-spirited outdoors people. I loved it.

(Excellent )