Erika

Información de viaje

Ahora estoy

Descripción

I'm an adventurous free-spirit, community-minded artist, voracious learner, open minded, hard-working, physically capable woman. I have a collection of artistic and creative skills that make sense to some folks, some interesting/sometimes bizarre work experience, and a deep curiosity and openness to seeing how others' live in this world. I get an unexplainable enjoyment out of physical work that produces joy that can be experienced by many people (food, buildings, projects, caring for people and animals, etc).

Why I joined WorkAway: I proudly turned 40 this year, got divorced a couple of years ago, just quit my job of 7.5+ years (life's too short). I've wanted to have a working gap year (open to longer) for over 20 years, and now seems to be the time. I'm taking a leap of faith in the universe. Life's too short to... work a job that doesn't appreciate its workers, be doing what is expected by a culture/family system that doesn't understand you when it doesn't fit, not to explore the world when that is what my heart and soul want to do. I also want to learn.

Passions and causes:
• Sustainability - permaculture, building techniques
• Care for the environment
• Cultural exchange (and wanderlust) - I've only been able to travel abroad via study abroad in college and graduate school - Italy, Hungary, and India - all very different experiences and amazing and life-changing in equally different ways.
• Community support - whether small groups or communities to larger villages/small towns. I like to contribute to where I live.
• All things creative
• Equity for all people

Intereses

Eventos y sociedad

Política / justicia social

LGBT+

Sostenibilidad

Autodesarrollo

Agricultura

Cultura

Bricolaje y manualidades

Historia

Cuidado de plantas

Arte y diseño

Cocina y alimentación

Jardinería

Idiomas

Fotografía

Escritura

Artes escénicas

Carpintería

Acampada

Naturaleza

Deportes de aventura

Actividades al aire libre

Playa

Montaña

Senderismo

Idiomas

Idiomas hablados
Inglés: Fluido
Español: Principiante

Más información sobre tus intereses idiomáticos
I love languages, I don't have experiencing in teaching language, but love to pick things up.

Buscar un colega de idioma

Habilidades y conocimientos que quiero compartir o aprender

Me interesa:  

Jardinería

Compañía para ancianos

Proyectos ecológicos

Trabajo de caridad

Idiomas

Proyectos artísticos

Proyectos de construcción y bricolaje

Cuidado de animales

Vida en una granja

Cocinar para toda la familia

Ayuda doméstica

Hostelería/turismo

Mantenimiento general

Cuidado de casas

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Ciertos conocimientos de:  

Enseñanza

Que habilidades tienes?

I'm an artist/creative person - primarily a sculptor (formerly trained in ceramics) but love using mixed media including combining ceramics and fibers (combustible materials), natural materials, wood, wax, metal. I have worked professionally as a metal art fabricator at a foundry using lost wax bronze casting techniques - I was a welder (furniture and sculpture) and worked in wax as well later on. I have done cold fusing methods in metal work also on small scales - etching, rivets, etc. I have wood working skills, experience in glass working (slumping and some stained glass work - NOT blown glass but I'd love to learn!). I have been a professional portrait photographer (don't currently own a camera). I'm quick to pick up new skills and techniques and have an eye for detail. I do not identify as a teacher - I'm more inclined to encourage free expression with some tips of how to use materials, but I don't enjoy showing people "how" to do something.

I have a masters degree in Art Therapy - so helping people with art is a combo passion for me for sure! I've worked with the full range of ages and many different populations: medically fragile children, residents in skilled nursing homes with cognitive and physical challenges (where I worked the last 7.5+ years), adult inpatient psychiatric crisis unit, business owners, helped develop museum programs and training docents for a dementia friendly experiences. I love grief work - it's so important and needed everywhere. I love end of life work as well; I don't know that this would be a likely in a WorkAway situation, but it tells you more about me. PSA: I would not work clinically abroad, but could have Therapeutic relationships sub-clinically - ethically speaking.

People skills/organization skills: (outside of a therapeutic focus) - planning and organizing events, activities, vendors, etc. I worked as a "Life Enrichment Coordinator" (some comparable work titles for those around the world could be event planner or activity coordinator/planner).

I'm physically strong and like working hard - love working outside. I love gardening and eradicating invasive species (I have been called the "ungardener" for this reason - not because I kill things unintentionally). I'm good at keeping things alive, but also good at getting rid of unwanted things. I also like to build.

I have a can-do attitude: I'm ready to jump in - but I can also be self-directed and self-initiating when I have clear parameters or expectations.

Curious and intelligent - good spatially, can visualize things and make them come to life.

Miscellaneous skills (I have a unique resume):
• Mold making - for ceramics, slip casting, for wax work for lost wax casting, as well as mold making for a taxidermist for a bit (I didn't work with the animal bits - just the molds for the forms). I have a thorough understanding of how to make and use molds primarily using plaster and alginate. I also know how to make resin bear noses.
• Mosaic - creative and more functional (showers/bathroom and kitchen backsplashes, could easily translate to floors or any other use one could think of. The creative work has included small detailed work as well as creating the tile, glazing, and misaiming an entire old Ford pick-up truck with multicolor flames going down the side).
• Welding - MIG, TIG and arc (would just need a refresher and be shown how to use the equipment where ever I was) - experience with bronze and aluminum and non-structural
• Woodworking, carpentry, woodworking art making - I have a fair amount of experience for a random person on the street but it's mostly been in creative endeavors. I have experience with many tools.
• Structural building techniques - some experience in wood framing types of building, some experience is straw-bale and cobb.
• Jewelry making using hand tools, wire, findings, beads (not beading though) like to make earrings primarily, necklaces to lesser degree.
• Sewing - hand sewing, experience on a sewing machine many years ago, would need a refresher on a new machine.

Edad

40

Algo más...

I really enjoy board games and most types of games - I learned to play poker as a child (not an expert) but I like games - anything for a group of people to have a good time!

I grew up on a sailboat for weeks at a time - on a lake, but I'm probably more comfortable on water than I am on land. I used to joke that I got my sea legs before my land legs!

I love animals and have always had pets, mostly dogs and cats as an adult. Grew up experiencing many kinds of animals at some point or another (bunnies, a boa constrictor named Betty, a rat named Billy Ray, hamsters, fish).

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