Nicola

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Hello,
I am Nicola from a small village in southern Germany.
I love nature, animals, horse riding, mushing, hiking and nature photography — perhaps to balance my former occupation as an IT-Consultant that was mostly dry and logical. I think I am an energetic, open-minded, and straightforward person.

I left my job behind end of 2018 and travel a lot since. As I have more time now, I want to get to know the lifestyle and culture and not only the sights of a country. To gain an insider perspective I love to work as a volunteer, especially with animals. In the last four years I volunteered for a total of six months with three horse safari operators in Botswana and South Africa, for a total of six months at four husky kennels in Sweden and for two weeks at a private game reserve in South Africa (the last being more voluntourism). I can provide reference letters.
I would love to volunteer again with horses this year. I would be very happy if you could give me the opportunity!

As you probably already realized I am not your typical gap-year student workawayer, but I am physically fit and would bring you a lot of experience, a strong work ethic and the willingness to try whatever arises. My hosts told me I was more active and got more done then most of their young volunteers.

I have 45 years of experience in horse riding (mostly english with some classical training) and like groundwork, dressage and trail riding. I know my way around pitchfork, broom, hoof rasp and tack awl. For long years I owned a horse and cats but unfortunately not anymore because I travel too much now. I must be satisfied with sharing a horse and petting the stable cats now. I love dogs, too, although I never owned one after my teenage years.

In winter, I relish the wilderness and the pastel light of the North. I go snowshoe hiking in Nordkalotten and Laponia all alone with my camera almost every winter. I started dogsledding as a self-driving guest on several day tours and fell in love with the huskies and mushing. Since then, I volunteered during three winters as dog handler at husky kennels in Sweden. I cared for the dogs, chicken, sheep and the dog sledding guests. I learned basic mushing and riding a snowmobile/ski-doo. I am well versed on snowshoes and skis.

I am a certified volunteer guide and trainer for mountaineering and snowshoe hiking in the German Alpine Club DAV. This gives me a lot of experience organizing group trips as well as leading and teaching people on vacation. Feedback tells me that I am good at making the most out of a trip especially for the weaker members of the group.

My former job as an IT-Consultant taught me to understand a new business context very quickly, to structure a problem to facilitate a solution — and the extensive use of Microsoft Office. In case you could use some of these skills I am happy to help with your business or admin tasks.

I am a German native speaker. My English is fluent from many travels as well as business use. My French is a bit rusty but wakes up quickly as I lived in France for three years. I speak basic Spanish at the European A2-Level.

I also do a bit of Couchsurfing — in case you are a member you could also have a look at my references there: www.couchsurfing.com/people/nicola-stein

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: 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.

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Languages

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Some knowledge of:  

Life at a Farmstay

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

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Able to teach about:  

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

It seems I mixed too many skills into my description, so only bullet points of skills and characteristics that may be relevant:
— Experienced in horse care and training
— Proficient in guiding and training groups in mountaineering and snowshoe hiking and in organizing group trips
— Experience as dog handler in husky kennels and in mushing
— Microsoft Office skills, administration support
— Practical skills resulting from owning a house and garden and working in the horse barn. I know how to use hammer and screwdriver, but sorry, I am not an experienced construction worker
— I have a first aid certificate (outdoor first aid course for mountain guides)
— I have a driver's license, drive also trailers and vans
— I do not smoke
— I weight 70 kg
— I am not vegetarian or vegan and have no allergies
— I am a passionate amateur photographer

Age

59

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  No

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  Special dietary requirements
  No