Marina

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Hi, I’m Marina!
I grew up in a small Swiss mountain village, surrounded by nature. I didn’t travel much as a kid, spending summer holidays working in the local restaurant - which probably made me want to explore even more later on. So far, I’ve travelled and backpacked to 39 countries, and Canada will be the 40th! :)
I’ve also lived in other countries, including a year in Vietnam, almost five years in Australia, and seven years in Germany (Berlin).
Nowadays, I prefer to travel more slowly and really live in a place. I enjoy exploring the area, meeting locals, learning about daily life, and being part of the community. When I like a place, I usually stay for months rather than just a few days (if possible..:)).
Sometimes people ask me where my favourite place is. But it’s never about the place, it’s about the company. The right people make anywhere feel like home.

I’m a happy, positive person. I enjoy socialising but also need my alone time - not an introvert, but not quite an extrovert either. What makes me happiest: friends and good company, food, music, travel, and spending time with animals. Especially dogs; they hold a special place in my heart.
I also enjoy hiking in nature, board and card games, and evenings around a bonfire with good people and good conversation.

Here’s a quick overview of my work experience (I’ll go more into details under ‘What skills do you have?’): I studied Visual Communication and worked as a Motion Designer, but I’ve also done FIFO work on Australian mine sites (admin, logistics, bar, maintenance, and snake handling - yes, I’m a certified snake handler!:)), various hospitality jobs, farm work, and some Workaways in Asia (Taiwan and Indonesia). I’m quick to learn new things and genuinely enjoy getting my hands dirty, whether it’s cleaning, gardening, building, art projects etc..

Looking forward to new adventures, new friends, and plenty of learning along the way!

Interests

Water sports

Charity work

Farming

Movies & TV

Self development

Van life

Culture

Pets

Sustainability

Events & social

LGBTQ

Videography

Art & design

DIY & crafts

Music

Photography

Languages

Cooking & food

Drawing & painting

Animals

Adventure sports

Nature

Camping

Beach

Mountain

Sailing / Boating

Outdoor activities

Hiking

Cycling

Languages spoken

German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Italian: Intermediate

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Eco Projects

Babysitting and creative play

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Some knowledge of:  

Gardening

General Maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Helping around the house

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

Charity Work

Art Projects

DIY and building projects

House & pet sitting

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

Overall, I’m curious, flexible, and happy to help with anything - from cooking, cleaning, and gardening to building, creative projects, basic sewing, caring for animals, or helping with computer or design stuff. I enjoy being part of a community, pitching in wherever needed, and learning new skills along the way.
I’m curious about eco projects and sustainability and would love to learn more.
Helping around the house comes naturally - I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember.
I enjoy art projects, experimenting and bringing ideas to life. The same goes for DIY and building projects. I also adore being around and caring for animals, especially dogs ❤️.

Workaway:
So far my workaway experience has been in Asia, mainly Taiwan and Indonesia, and I’ve loved every second of it! I’ve helped in hostels with check-ins, activities as well as creative and construction projects: painting, plastering, constructing and airbrushing. I’ve also updated websites, taken and edited photos, and assisted with housekeeping.

Farmwork:
My grandparents had a farm, and as a child I occasionally helped with haymaking and looking after animals.
In Australia, I also picked blueberries and raspberries, and was quickly promoted to Quality Assistant thanks to my attention to detail and comfort with tech and computer systems.

Hospitality:
Done it all (pretty much)! From admin and reception to head floor waitress, FOH, housekeeping, and kitchen work in mine sites, hotels, hostels, restaurants, café, bistro, and bars of all kinds (whiskey, blues, cocktail, rooftop).

FIFO Mine Site Work in Australia:
FIFO stands for “Fly-In Fly-Out”. While living in Perth, I flew out to remote mining sites, staying on-site for weeks at a time and working 12-hour days, 7 days a week, before flying back for 1–2 weeks off. My main role was in admin, but I was really an all-rounder, helping wherever needed.
I handled administration and logistics, including check-ins and check-outs, tracking inventory and supplies, updating daily reports, coordinating orders, and training new staff. I also worked in retail and at the bar, acting as Manager on Duty. I kept communal areas clean and functional, managed waste safely, drove light vehicles, and did regular inspections to keep the village running smoothly. I also helped the housekeeping and kitchen team whenever extra hands were needed.

Creative & Technical Skills:
I studied Visual Communication at the University of the Arts in Berlin. My bachelor thesis was a short film/animation that won awards and was screened at film festivals around the world. You can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/155006863
I’ve worked as a Motion Designer in a post-production studio (mainly for advertising) and have done some freelancing. My experience includes graphic and motion design, animation, visual effects, video editing, photography, and photo editing, and I’m currently learning more about UX design and AI image and video generation. I enjoy bringing creativity into practical projects whenever possible.
I’m confident using programs like After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Figma, and I’m comfortable helping with computers, internet, and creative software. If I don’t know something, I usually find a way to figure it out anyways and enjoy the learning process.

Age

35

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