Sophie

United Kingdom
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Liverpool, United Kingdom - from Apr 2024 until Jun 2024
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Description
update:
I'm at 'home' in Liverpool, uk for a short while and would be interested to meet up or make friends with fellow travellers. my old friend circle from pre-travelling days don't quite understand me in the same way anymore because I've changed a lot. I miss the friends I make when I'm travelling - the mindset and general outlook and attitude to life seems to resonate a bit differently to my home friends...it's a bit more 'me'. so if anyone wants to grab a tea or coffee or do any sightseeing or something, let me know!

I am quite adventurous and like to push myself to be out of my comfort zone. I love to be in peaceful, natural surroundings, where I can connect to myself and the world around me without the chaos of hustle and bustle of a city. I love to be active, either walking/hiking, yoga, horse riding, swimming outdoors, or outdoor activities such as gardening or caring for animals. I took a break from my desk job in Liverpool, UK and have spent the past 15 months travelling to wherever feels right to be. So far I have spent time in Europe, the Middle East, and recently Asia. I love to draw and paint, and have completed murals for some families I have stayed with so far, and gifted smaller paintings to those around me. I like to spend more time in a place and learn about the culture and daily life. Learning new languages doesn't come easily to me but I like to try! I like time alone to meditate or just 'be', taking in the sights and sound of the world around me, and I love to balance that with spending time with kind and honest people, hearing about their experiences and sharing my own.
Interests
Camping
Books
Languages
Photography
Plant care
Architecture
Cooking & food
Van life
Yoga / Wellness
Self development
Nature
Outdoor activities
Pets
Music
Mountain
Blogging
Fitness
History
Hiking
Gardening

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Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Arabic: Beginner
French: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I'd like to develop my arabic and french because I already have a basis in those. I am also interested in learning any new language. I am fluent in English (it is my native language) and I am happy to help others practice/learn.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Charity Work
Life at a Farmstay
General Maintenance
Some knowledge of:
Being an elderly companion
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Babysitting and creative play
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Able to teach about:
Languages
Art Projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
More details about your skills
Previous volunteering experience includes helping with housekeeping duties at a desert camp in Jordan: this involved looking after tourists, helping in the kitchen with food preparation and traditional cooking, cleaning bathrooms and sleeping/living areas, collecting firewood, lighting the fire each morning and evening, looking after camels! I painted a mural for a new hot air balloon office in the local village, and a couple of other painting jobs too. I spent time with members of the family, getting to know the dynamics and learning about the culture and how to be respectful when visiting or greeting the men and women of the families.
I helped to look after horses at another nearby camp in the desert - riding, grooming, feeding, and mucking out.
I have helped with basic housekeeping and taking care of guests at a few hostels that i've stayed at.
I have helped to write accommodation descriptions for properties I have stayed at, to help improve their earning potential (for example on air bnb or booking com sites). I have helped with setting up new accounts too.
I am qualified in some holistic therapies and (when appropriate) have offered/given treatments if I feel the person may benefit.
Most recently, in India, I have completed a number of indoor and outdoor murals at a newly-opened hostel, which has helped to promote their business and gain local attention. At the same time I helped to welcome new guests if they arrived when the owner was away.
I have computer skills, and although it is not my favourite thing to do, I am happy to help out a little here and there.
I have personal experience of looking after a home, cooking, caring for animals, driving, gardening, basic DIY, painting and decorating.
I have given fitness and yoga sessions to local groups over the past few years.
I have organised and provided art therapy sessions with basic materials and techniques, but always with successful outcomes.
Age
39
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  gluten, fish
- Special dietary requirements
  i have coeliac disease so must eat a gluten free diet

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20 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Sophie) for host (Welcome to our farmhouse and ...)

John and Mamata's home offers a wonderful experience! It was a little confusing to find but both John and Mamata were very good at communicating via whatsapp and phone call, to make it as easy as possible to travel from Bhaktapur to Chanauli by bus (it seemed there were 3 different Chanaulis every time I looked on google maps, but it really is… read more only around 30min local bus ride from Bhaktapur), before being collected by Mamata who was really friendly and welcoming from the moment we met.

I was a little poorly when I arrived, and Mamata was very kind - making me local remedies and offering me as much rest as I needed even if that meant I didn't help out with any tasks. We made a loose plan for me to create some artwork on the outside wall, but unfortunately I couldn't stay long enough to do that. We did clean and repaint the front wall and metal fence though, in front of the home. If I ever return I will paint a safari scene on it Mamata, I promise! We completed around 3 hours 'work' each morning then Mamata was quite insistent that we would do no more, although sometimes we did if we felt happy to since it was such a happy place to be.

The most important thing to Mamata was that we (myself and the other workawayers) felt as comfortable and happy as if we were in our own home. There was plenty of cultural exchange, as we were included in the family - in fact we were welcomed in as part of their family really - even being invited to join the extended family on a couple of local safaris if we wanted to. Mamata was really helpful wen it came to organising anything such as going on safari, booking a seat on the local bus to Kathmandu when it was time to leave, letting us borrow a bicycle if we wanted to, giving us lifts to the local area if we needed etc.

The area itself is really lovely, very relaxing and enjoyable to go for walks to the local village (around 20min walk) or nearby Chanauli (around 40min walk) for any food or ATM etc.

I ended up staying one extra night because I really felt like I was part of a lovely environment and group of people.

Thank you Mamata and John (though we didn't meet in person since John was away while I was there, but each time he spoke with Mamata on the phone he was interested in how we all were and if we were comfortable/happy.

Overall this was a really really wholesome experience. Though there is mention of the family's religious faith on the profile, it is in no way a dominating part of the day to day life. Their values of kindness shine through and that's the most important part :)

(Excellent )

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