Oriana

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
China
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Description
Hello! My name is Oriana. I have a degree in sustainable agriculture and I’m now traveling the world trying to gain more hands-on experience and learn traditional techniques to live off the land. I like to live a peaceful life, without any technology but with lots of arts and crafts and fun in nature.

I’m particularly interested in preserving and growing rare heirloom and landrace seeds, protecting native habitats by reforesting with native wild plants, and preserving traditional crafts such as weaving and plant dyeing.

In addition to farming and crafting, I’m also a classical yoga teacher and fitness instructor, and would be happy to teach personal or group fitness or yoga classes.
Interests
Sustainability
Cooking & food
Carpentry
DIY & crafts
Culture
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Outdoor activities
Vegetarian or vegan
Self development
Plant care
Mountain
Farming
Fitness
Gardening
Dancing
Beach
Animals
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Animal Care
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Able to teach about:
Gardening
More details about your skills
I can teach a bit about the following:
- Vegetarian and vegan cooking and baking
- Bread baking
- Yoga (hatha, vinyasa, breathing and meditation, philosophy)
- Weightlifting and bodyweight fitness training
- Plant medicines and how to make them
- Aerial silks
- Crochet
- Emergency medicine
- Permaculture
Age
26
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian

Feedback

2 Mar 2024

Left by host (Help around our family ...) for Workawayer (Oriana)

We are glad to be part of Oriana's adventure around the world.
It was such a pleasure having her roaming in the farm, she cannot sit for long, she has to be working few things at a time. So determined and so energetic. For me (Manga) it was all about matching her power, executing chores after chores and still being there for all the animals and… read more the crazy kids.
Oriana would be waiting for me(Manga) every early morning, standing in the kitchen, or somewhere in the farm wearing her hat. She covered all types of work at the farm, indoor that includes dishes (really endless), sweeping, arranging things, dusting, cleaning the stove on a daily basis, And outdoor work that includes, all types of harvest, breaking coconuts, carrying banana bunches, drying many varieties of local medicinal herbs for teas. Since I taught her the banana fibre basket, she would carry whole banana trees on her shoulders and process all of it.
Oriana was so humble to the animals, she would never wait for any instructions to feed them and make their spaces clean. She was so caring hugging every single goat and dog. She did her best to make everyone comfortable. She is an extreme nature fanatic when it comes to saving the butterflies, spiders, even ants from the sugar container, and trying to be friends with the mice!
Oriana is a gastronome, she was eager in understanding Tamil cooking, and she would participate in all the food preparation. She knows how to appreciate new flavours, we had a good time experimenting fermented drinks with mango ginger, guava, pineapple.. we even made tepache, and it was delicious. During the last week, we were honoured by Oriana's exceptional cooking. She made us travel to Mediterranean land, Mexico, Poland and other countries through her authentic dishes. She is an expert in fine dining. I have to mention her impeccable Punjabi Naan and paneer butter masala. We were fed like king and queen.
Apart from all the farm chores and projects, we had so many memorable moments like the tap dance class with the kids (such a good dancer!), the crochet classes (you cannot find a better coach), the crazy customised workout sessions (very knowledgeable trainer), yoga and meditation (an acrobat!). Oriana can manage many things at a time, so effortlessly with lots of patience and focus. I could see her potential when she hosted a session with the Bees for outsiders, when we made arrangements for my daughter's birthday party and when we prepared the kids for the school skit.
To conclude, let's say that Oriana is a superhero wandering around the world, looking for places to use her superpowers. I (Manga) can actually write a book about this encounter with her. Once you have her, you cannot let her go, at least from your heart!
We are missing all the breathtaking laughing moments.
Hoping to meet her again for another adventure. Wishing her Love and Lots of craziness.
PS: cannot forget that broad smile, that cute Disney princess laugh, all the sarcasm, and the best is her priceless facial expression when she is shocked (straight out of a cartoon). You can be my Cinderella and I can be your Fairy godmother! (Manga)

(Excellent )

26 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Help around our family ...)

I spent almost two months living with Manga, Prajeeth, their two beautiful and lively daughters and their sweet baby, and I only wish it could’ve been longer! Every day here was like a dream. So peaceful, no stress, no worries, just enjoying being in nature and breathing the fresh air and listening to the sounds of all the birds. It’s the kind of… read more place that makes you want to get up early and stay awake just a bit longer because every time of day has its own beautiful charm: the misty glowing sunrises, all the buzzing bees and sleeping dogs and chickens hidden in the foliage in the afternoon, the bright pink sunsets, and the clear starry skies at night. There’s lots of beautiful wildlife to spot here, like peacocks, owls, green parrots, and so many interesting and pretty insects.

Manga and Prajeeth are the most fun and down to earth people around and they immediately became my true friends. They are so knowledgeable, so patient and happy to teach you and guide you how to do whatever it is you want to learn. They are also very easygoing and don’t micromanage at all, so if you’re happy to work independently and try some things on your own then this is also great.

I feel that I never did any work at all for the whole two months, since the work schedule was extremely flexible and I was only doing whatever I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I really felt just like an honored guest in their home, being so well taken care of! Manga is an amazing cook and her food is even better than restaurants. The volunteer room is also so beautiful with huge windows overlooking the farm. I had the time of my life enjoying eating so much delicious south Indian food and learning so much about Tamil culture and about the plants here (I’ll never forget about those jackfruit seeds!!)

But, although it doesn’t feel like work there’s lots of daily things to do and lots of ongoing projects to contribute to! Every day we can feed the animals, take the goats out for grazing, collect eggs from the chickens, and contribute to the household by helping with cleaning, cooking and playing with the kids. I also did various projects like: splitting beehives, collecting herbs to make into teas and tooth powders, planting seeds, preparing garden beds for planting, making paths for water, harvesting fresh vegetables and roots, pruning guava trees and picking so many ripe yummy guavas, making guava jam (and guava cider ;) ), harvesting banana trees and using the whole tree for weaving, paper making and cooking, making baskets from various plants growing on the property, transplanting cuttings of woody plants, making coconut milk from freshly harvested coconuts, restoring and repainting the floor, made a simple chicken nesting coop, the list goes on and on. We also put on a birthday party and worked with some cute school children to perform a skit about protecting nature.

There is so much to do here, all of it very fun and easy. I can’t wait to return here!! <3

(Excellent )

28 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Natural building, syntropic ...)

Wonderful experience with a beautiful family in the most stunningly gorgeous place. This is a place where you'll come for a week and want to stay for months or years. Truly even more breathtaking than the pictures can ever capture! I stayed for about two months and worked on some building projects, garden projects, having fun making art with the… read more

(Excellent )

2 Jan 2023

Left by host (Enjoy nature in a ...) for Workawayer (Oriana)

Oriana, Workaway of the year 2022!
She started as an exception, we don’t usually host young women on their own without transport, especially over socially busy holiday times. And great that we did! Oriana is easy going, smiley, respectful, listens well, does her very best, is strong as an ox, perseverant, stronger than most guys. A picture of… read more

(Excellent )

2 Jan 2023

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Enjoy nature in a ...)

I highly recommend this workaway. I stayed for 3 weeks and easily could've stayed all year. Francoise and Dada are both extremely warm, welcoming, genuine and interesting people with tons of stories and wisdom to give. They are very flexible with the work schedule and do not micromanage at all. I basically made my own work schedule and worked on… read more

(Excellent )

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2 Mar 2024

Left by host (Help around our family ...) for Workawayer (Oriana)

(Excellent )

26 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Help around our family ...)

(Excellent )

28 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Natural building, syntropic ...)

(Excellent )

2 Jan 2023

Left by host (Enjoy nature in a ...) for Workawayer (Oriana)

(Excellent )

2 Jan 2023

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Enjoy nature in a ...)

(Excellent )

25 Dec 2021

Left by host (Experience volunteering in ...) for Workawayer (Oriana)

Oriana was a really lovely person to host and she gave us a huge help with our website and our presence online.

She were always able to make us smile in order to share nice moments together.

She is a really kind girl and I totally recommend her as a workawayer.

Shukran Oriana :)

(Excellent )

23 Dec 2021

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Experience volunteering in ...)

I spent a lovely 3 weeks with Zead. Would recommend this workaway.

Here is the info for future workawayers:

We live in the Wadi Rum village and usually stay in Zead's common room, although if you're female you can also be arranged a room in the house; male or female can also choose to stay over at a brother's house whenever you like. We usually… read more

(Excellent )

5 Jul 2021

Left by host (Gorgeous eco farm, retreat ...) for Workawayer (Oriana)

wow ! What a beautiful words

Thank you, Oriana, for your good energy and all the love you give and share with us and our project. We really appreciate that
It was a pleasure having you in our home.
We highly recommend you to other hosts for being a hard worker, fast learner and responsible person
mucha suerte y sigue disfrutando mucho ! :)

(Excellent )

30 Jun 2021

Left by Workawayer (Oriana) for host (Gorgeous eco farm, retreat ...)

This is the best workaway experience possible. I spent five weeks here and would have easily preferred to spend 5+ years!! I recommend spending at least a month on this workaway, it will be the best month of your trip. :) This farm has been a highlight of my life so far!! I highly recommend this workaway to everybody. The hosts are extremely… read more

(Excellent )

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