Raphaël

Travel information

I am currently

Description

I am a 24 year-old energetic and cheerful Frenchie born in Toulouse (France). I am naturally curious, dedicated, enthusiastic, resourceful and I love meeting and working with new people. I am a huge sports fan (rugby and basketball in particular) and have practiced tennis, badminton, basketball, rock-climbing, swimming, skiing, mountain-biking and hiking until now. Some of my hobbies are photography, cooking, cinema, reading and in general spending time outdoors.
Above all, I love engaging in new activities and learning about them. Ever since I was able to work, I discovered both through internships and seasonal jobs many professions and I am always eager to learn and discover more. Some of my professional experiences include:

- environmental NGO (6-months internship at Surfrider Foundation Europe in both the scientific and legal expertise and lobby/political advocacy divisions)
- temp agencies (construction sites supply, house moving, weight carrying, furnitures delivery and montage, acoustic barrier installation in offices, drywaller, helping to repair and clean roofs as well as to treat framework; hotel valet; logistics agent for sport events)
- restaurants (commis chef and dishwasher)
- bookshoop (cashier)
- accounting firm (archiving and document scanning)

I lived in Toulouse with my parents and older brother until I turned 19, when I moved to Sweden for 2 years for the end of my Bachelor’s degree and the start of my Master’s degree. After taking a gap year to work and travel, I lived in the French Basque Country for a year, in the city of Bidart by the ocean, while completeing my Master's degree.

I started my studies with a degree in international bilingual history in France, during which I studied for a year in Sweden as an Erasmus student. I fell in love with Sweden, its unique culture, the warmth of its people and the amazing sceneries it offers. However, I felt that history was not what I was truly passionate about and decided to shift to environmental sciences studies. Growing up near the ocean and the mountains in the South-West of France, I felt from an early age a strong bond with the natural environment and biodiversity and have always had a personal interest about environmental issues. I was lucky to be able to continue studying in Sweden and started a Master's degree in marine sciences at the University of Gothenburg to widen my knowledge of the environment, and more particularly the oceans. I graduated from this programme in June 2023.

From my earliest years, I was lucky to travel the world through holidays, studies or humanitarian missions. I quickly developed a taste for travelling, meeting new people and learning about the cultures and history of the countries I visited. I did my first Workaway in March 2022 in the city of Tagounite (Morocco). There, I lived in the house of a man named Saïd and helped him with the renovation of his house and various projects like building bricks from mud, digging and filling water reserves and doing all kinds of renovations works. It was a unique experience that allowed me to meet incredible people, to discover and experience a simple way of living and to engage in activities I had never done before. It only strengthened my desire to have more experiences like this one.

Now that I have finished my studies, I am taking some time to travel, live new experiences and discover new places and cultures.

After volunteering in a widlife sanctuary in the city of Limbe (Cameroon) in November and December 2023, I am travelling around New Zealand, where I will stay for a year on a Working Holiday Visa from January 2024.

I am currently living and working in Waiheke Island as a gardener/landscaper in vineyards, olive groves and properties around the island. I will stay in Waiheke until the end of April and plan after that to move to the south island and slowly make my way back up to the north of the country.

I'm looking forward to meet you!

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Swedish: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I am fluent in both French (my native language) and English (I lived several years abroad and grew up learning and talking English with my mother). I am very interested in learning any language I do not know.

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Eco Projects

DIY and building projects

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Art Projects

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Some knowledge of:  

Charity Work

Gardening

Helping around the house

Creating/ Cooking family meals

General Maintenance

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Teaching

More details about your skills

I was lucky to discover many professions since I started working after I turned 18, which allowed me to learn many skills.
Regarding practical skills, I can give a hand for buidling and renovation, cooking, gardening, farming, housekeeping and many other things. Photography can be added too as I started recently. Regarding theoretical skills, I am a good writer and speaker (both in French and English), I can teach certain subjects and much more.

In general, I learn very quickly and can adapt to any work and any conditions. My natural curiosity has a lot do do with it. :)

Age

24

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