Rudy

Ireland
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
At home
Activities i am interested in:
Currently in West Cork, available for potential workaways.
Description
Hi! Let me know how I can help you...

I'm hoping to take my time, energy and experience, provide as much help as needed, meet new people, learn new things, and make new memories. I hike and swim, enjoy camping, and being outdoors, enjoying the sea, forests, beautiful skies.

I'm a 58 year old father of three grown children, in good health. My career has been in IT, but I'm also a musician and photographer, and these have been life-long passions for me.

I've experienced a variety of living situations, and consider myself pretty adaptable. I tend to learn and take on new things pretty quickly. I like being social and meeting new people, but as well, I'm good on my own, and put aside important time to recharge.

I try to operate by the idea of CCR that I taught my kids - Courtesy, Consideration, and Respect. CCR for every person, regardless of orientation or background, and it is a two-way street.

The older generations of my family in California have been farm workers, and I learned a strong work ethic from early on. I've always had some sort of job since I was 13, and I have firsthand knowledge of being up a ladder, in 40C heat, picking fruit.

I've had a number of adventures, as a teenager, working jobs, then making a plan into reality to travel the US with a friend, in a campervan; as a musician, working on music for professional skate videos, playing in bands and playing at clubs in San Francisco and at Skywalker Ranch; and spontaneously answering a corkboard advert for a rideshare to Mardi Gras. Which is all to say, my life has been charted, and deeply affected, by the travels I've embarked on, and the various people I've been fortunate to be connected with.

I want to use my knowledge, experience and time to help and contribute however I can, to hosts all over. I'm really excited for new adventures and experiences, big and small. I'm looking forward to discovering different places, and meeting new people.
Interests
Cooking & food
Movies & TV
Gardening
Self development
Performing arts
Books
Sailing / Boating
Van life
Beach
Outdoor activities
Nature
LGBTQ
Hitchhiking
Writing
Technology
Photography
Music
Art & design
Languages
Languages spoken
Spanish: Beginner
Dutch: 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:
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Being an elderly companion
Eco Projects
Hospitality/Tourism
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Helping around the house
Art Projects
Teaching
Able to teach about:
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
- Raising 3 children, I've had experience with the accompanying challenges, including time management, dealing with different personalities, and juggling priorities - which also have translated well to a professional setting.
- I've worked in IT for a good while, which keeps me up on my problem solving skills, as well as working with technology.
- I can help with photography and music related projects.
- I like cooking, and making nightly dinners for kids is great practice for imagination and ingenuity.
- The last place I lived at had 1/3 of an acre of garden, which required mowing, weeding, pruning, general maintenance and tree cleanup. I enjoyed the garden, working outdoors was therapeutic, and I had a number of years tending that garden.
- I've built some furniture, out of necessity but no training; things like desks, shelves, storage. So I can be somewhat handy.
Age
58
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  pollen, hayfever
- Special dietary requirements

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15 Nov 2022

Left by host (Help us minimalize the house ...) for Workawayer ()

Rudy lived with us twice for 3 months, each period. My life completely changed because of him and his help, insights and support, and this is all within one year of meeting and hosting him!

First of all, my house (and gardens) went from an untidy hoarded mess to an amazing comfortable home where every item has it´s place and function. I can’t… read more tell you how much effect this has had on our quality of life! The results are liberating.
In times of working together, where I felt ready to give up the project because I was too overwhelmed by the tasks at hand, Rudy always went the extra mile and showed me that it was all worth it. He comforted me that we can just do one square meter per day, and I still use that technique to try and make babysteps in other situations. Eventually, despite my anxiety, and even though I am the worst starter ever haha, we raced through it all and met all the deadlines!! If it wasn´t for him, I wouldn´t have progressed so quickly. I still wonder how he can work so efficiently fast, yet never vibing a feeling of rush.

Second, very personal but also very important, my son Jake, aged 6 at the time of Rudy’s arrival, was at risk of dropping out of the Dutch educational system. This was the main reason for us to start searching for help outside of ‘the system’. My son was ‘unmanageable’ for teachers and even at special education they didn’t know what to do with all his energy, demands and curiosities. Well, it turned out that he just needed Rudy.
My son had severe tantrums, attention problems and night terrors and I am not going to lie, our situation wasn’t pretty. But. Within a month of Rudy’s arrival, school saw a significant change in his behaviour. He opened up again, lost the tantrums, was able to respond healthily and was welcome to stay in class. Jake finally had someone to play with, to talk to, to go fight dinosaurs and meet his imaginary friends with. Rudy was so connected and present with him, he went from a closed resentful little boy, to an emotionally balanced and cheerful one, in almost no time. If a liberated feeling in the house is worth a lot, well, then, to see my authentic little boy again after years of hardship, that was truly priceless …

Lastly, I have called people friends before, but never experienced such companionship as with Rudy. He is a genuine good listener, has an outstanding sharp sense of good humour and good solid advise, and he even knows how to combine those two in the most hilarious way. As if the changed house and recovering son weren’t enough to be grateful for, the many evenings just chatting and laughing with loads of cups of tea were the cherry on top. Rudy makes you feel accepted, valued, heard, seen, and supported. You will not regret hosting him. When he says ‘easy-going’, that’s precisely what you’ll experience.

Lastly, especially for being a woman, getting a strange man in the house, it’s just always a bit anxious, and always makes you wonder if you did a sensible thing. Rudy doesn’t only make you feel safe, he’s got your back. It’s more than safe, you feel protected.

(Excellent )

14 Nov 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help us minimalize the house ...)

This was my first workaway, and it was an amazing experience. I was nervous at the beginning, and Shanti put me at ease, telling me "Be yourself". We looked at the tasks, and had a good few projects to work on. Once we started, we made great progress with them. We were able to work together easily, and it was exciting and energising to see how… read more

(Excellent )

14 Nov 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Offer your company and ...)

My workaway experience here worked out well. We started with an initial trial period of a few weeks, and I stayed over 3 months. Elsbeth and Ad were welcoming and made me feel at home from the start. The work was varied, and I often had the opportunity to focus on things I liked doing, and my room was spacious and comfortable. Groningen is a short… read more

(Excellent )

6 Nov 2022

Left by host (Offer your company and ...) for Workawayer ()

Rudy is a very pleasant person to have around in the house. He works very independently and enjoyed working in the garden. He was with us during spring and autumn and our garden has never been more beautiful and well looked after. I like his humour. He connected to each of us in a way that was personal and nice- we talked a lot, and did a lot of… read more

(Excellent )

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