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Descripción
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SHORT VERSION
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Hi, I’m Neil, a 23-year-old from Belgium with a passion for adventure and travelling. I speak German, French, and English and hold a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. I love being active, whether it’s through sports, physical work, or exploring new places. I’m a social and outgoing person who thrives on being around others. I love meeting new people, making friends, and exploring different cultures. I like having animals around and spending time in nature. I’m an optimistic guy with a positive mindset. I would call myself reliable and pretty good with both my hands and my head.
What I’m looking for on WorkAway: I’m seeking opportunities that allow me to contribute my skills, meet interesting people, and explore new places. Whether it’s farm work, construction, bartending, or something entirely new, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and dive in. If you’re looking for someone who’s hardworking, adventurous, and always up for a challenge, I’d love to connect!
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LONG VERSION
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I grew up on a farm in the German-speaking region of the Belgian countryside. We were surrounded by dogs, cats, and plenty of cows, so I’ve always felt comfortable around animals. Farm life taught me the value of hard work from an early age, with days often starting at 5 a.m. to milk the cows before heading off to school. I spent a lot of time working alongside my dad and uncle, who passed down valuable skills that I still rely on today. By the time I was eight, I was driving tractors, and by twelve, I was handling a chainsaw. My uncle owned a pub, and once I was old enough, I started bartending there on Friday nights.
At fifteen, I got my first job in construction, doing all kinds of tasks but mainly focusing on groundwork and concrete work. This became a regular part of my summers and weekends. In later years, this offered a refreshing break from student life, allowing me to spend time outdoors and engage in hands-on work, earning some extra money for the beers I consumed during my student years. Over the years, I've accumulated around 2,000-3,000 hours of experience in this field.
My dad passed on his passion for travel and adventure to me. At fourteen, I spent a few weeks in Switzerland, working on a mountain making cheese and improving my French. Over the following years, I returned and also helped with harvesting and working the vineyards, forming close bonds with the locals. Once my friends and I got our driver’s licenses, we started road-tripping across Europe for a couple of weeks every summer break. These experiences deepened my love for foreign cultures and fuelled my eagerness to explore even more.
After high school, I pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Liège, in the French-speaking part of Belgium. I thoroughly enjoyed my student life and was actively involved in multiple student organizations, one of which focused on helping exchange students make the most of their time in Belgium by organizing parties and trips. I loved meeting people from all over the world, forging new connections, and exploring different cultural backgrounds. Despite my active social life, I remained disciplined and dedicated to my studies, never failing an exam.
I completed a master’s degree specializing in the design of ships and offshore structures. One of the best aspects of this program was its international focus, allowing me to study alongside people from various cultural backgrounds. In my second year, I spent half my time at the University of Madrid and the other half interning at an offshore company in Rotterdam.
Beyond the technical skills in math, science, programming, and engineering, my studies taught me essential skills like organization, time management, and how to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. I also gained some experience in teaching as a private tutor and as an assistant in a university course.
Although I enjoyed my internship and was offered several job opportunities, I decided to seek work closer to home to give myself time to reflect on what I truly wanted to do with my life. I began working for a Luxembourg-based company specializing in automated heavy load systems as a PLC technician. Although this job didn’t exactly align with my university background, I found it appealing because it allowed me to spend most of my time on construction sites rather than in an office, getting hands-on with the machines and witnessing the setup of a production plant from the ground up. In addition to PLC programming, I learned many new skills in this role, often taking on the tasks of an industrial electrician, such as wiring, adjusting machines, and fine-tuning sensors or other components. While diving into an entirely new field might seem daunting to some, I saw it as an exciting challenge and an opportunity to expand my skillset.
Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the company’s culture. I felt that motivation and enthusiasm was lacking and I had the feeling that a lot of my colleagues were only working there because the job paid well and not because they enjoyed doing it. A new idea began to form in my mind - I wanted to pursue my long-held dream of adventure, exploring the world, meeting new people with similar interests and finding out what life had to offer. After informing my supervisor, I spent another four months with the company, mainly on a construction site in Germany, where I began planning my trip. Australia became my starting point, with its welcoming backpacking culture and vast, unexplored landscapes that had always attracted me and awakened my thirst for adventure.
Throughout all this time, sports have always been a significant part of my life. My basic training includes weightlifting and general fitness like running and swimming. I fell in love with boxing at fourteen and have continued practicing it ever since, sometimes more intensively than others. I’ve also tried other martial arts, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Thai boxing, but my favourite remains classic English boxing due to its balanced combination of physicality, coordination, and the control of both body and mind. I also enjoy team sports and am always eager to try new activities. I’m a decent skier and snowboarder, and while in Australia, I definitely plan to take up surfing, meditation and maybe give rugby a try.
My future plans for the next two to four years are as follows: At the beginning of my trip, I want to explore Australia, get to know the people and culture, do simple jobs in construction, on farms, in bars or restaurants and live the “backpacker adventure”. If I find a job in engineering, I could even imagine staying in one place for a longer period of time. If not, I would like to continue traveling. Both North and South America have always fascinated me, so maybe my next stop will be somewhere over there.
After these years of traveling, I would like to settle down somewhere. It is still very likely that I will return to my hometown in Belgium, but at the moment everything is wide open.
Intereses
Yoga / bienestar
Deportes acuáticos
Deportes de invierno
Deportes de equipo
Autodesarrollo
Actividades al aire libre
Naturaleza
Montaña
Agricultura
Fitness
Senderismo
Eventos y sociedad
Bricolaje y manualidades
Cultura
Animales
Deportes de aventura
Idiomas
Idiomas hablados
Alemán: Fluido
Inglés: Fluido
Francés: FluidoMás información sobre tus intereses idiomáticos
I am fluent in German, French and English. German being my mother tongue, I would feel comfortable helping someone learn or improve it. In the near future I would like to learn Spanish, and eventually I would also like to learn some Dutch.
Habilidades y conocimientos que quiero compartir o aprender
Me interesa:
Jardinería básica
Mantenimiento básico
Ayuda doméstica
Hostelería/turismo
Idiomas
Trabajo de caridad
Ciertos conocimientos de:
Vida en una granja
Cuidado de animales
Proyectos creativos DIY «hazlo tú mismo»
Puedo enseñar:
Enseñanza
Que habilidades tienes?
- Farm Work: Growing up on a dairy farm, I’ve been hands-on with animals, especially cows, from a young age. I’m familiar with daily farm routines and have a driver’s license for tractors up to 40 tonnes. I’m quite skilled at working with my hands in general, making me adaptable to a variety of tasks.
- Construction: I have significant experience in construction through a long-term student job. I’m skilled in concrete and groundwork and have a basic understanding of masonry.
- Bartending/Vending: Having spent a lot of time behind the bar at my uncle’s pub, I’m comfortable serving customers and engaging in social interactions. I’m a naturally social person and enjoy talking to people. I could see myself taking on other roles in the service industry, such as working in a restaurant or a store.
- Forest Work/Gardening: Growing up surrounded by forests, and with some family-owned woodlands, I’ve learned how to use a chainsaw from a young age. I know how to maintain a healthy forest, and I’m comfortable with general gardening and land maintenance tasks.
- Tutoring/Teaching: With a master’s degree in engineering, I have a solid understanding of math, physics, and chemistry. I’ve tutored high school students, helping them pass exams.
Edad
25
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When it comes to food, I’m pretty easygoing - I haven’t come across much I wouldn’t eat, though I do enjoy having a nice dinner every now and then.
I often play card games with friends and am a decent player of Skat and Couillon. With my family, we frequently played board games in the evenings or on Sunday afternoons. And a quick game of Uno is always a fun way to break the ice with new people.
I have a motorcycle license for bikes up to 37kW. I’m not into speed, but I love the feeling of freedom riding brings. I see myself more on a naked bike or a chopper rather than a sports bike.
I’m good with kids and really enjoy their curious and open-minded approach to the world. I love how they ask just about anything, without the filters and barriers that grown-ups often have.
I'm always open to trying new things, whether it's cooking, art, or any new experiences that come my way!
Más información
Fumador
Permiso de conducir
Alergia
Dieta especial
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