Informações do perfil
Descrição
Quick Summary: Bicycling Nomad / Former High School Biology Teacher /Gamer / Photographer / Nerd who knows his height in light-nanoseconds (5.67) / Lifelong Learner
IMPORTANT: I've kept up with my COVID vaccinations, and I still mask up indoors in public and in crowded outdoor spaces. I wear a mask to protect myself and others around me not only from COVID, but from any airborne disease. Turns out not getting sick is nice! :)
You may be able to get some idea of who I am and what I think by taking a look at what I post on these networks:
- BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bioalex.bsky.social
- Warmshowers: https://www.warmshowers.org/user/183530
- LinkedIn (employment history): https://www.linkedin.com/in/bioalex/
- Photography Portfolio: https://bioalex.portfoliobox.net/
More Details About Who I Am:
I've spent a lot of my adult life as a teacher, first of ESL in countries like Japan and Morocco, and then of biology at the high school level in Thailand, but I ended that career due to burn out. Nowadays I've been doing whatever job to pay the bills and save up in order to get back to being nomadic.
Most recently, I was a warehouse clerk for a logistics company, working over night essentially doing office work in a refrigerator on the "cold side" of a local grocery warehouse in Tennessee. Prior to that, I worked as an education assistant at a charter school in Bend Oregon for a year before spending another full year bicycle touring the western United States. Prior to that, from 2007-2017, I was a high school biology teacher in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to that I was an ESL teacher in Morocco. Prior to that, I was an ESL teacher in Japan for about 5 years. Between each of those was some time spent traveling. I am originally from the United States, and so I am a US Citizen, but until I returned in 2019, the last time I'd lived in the USA was 2001.
SEE DOWN BELOW FOR MY WORKAWAY EXPERIENCE
I am generally an easy-going and easy to get along with person. I can listen, follow instructions, and learn quickly. I am adaptable, able to cope with anything from living in the city to sleeping outdoors under a mosquito net. I am not afraid to work hard. I am not afraid to get dirty. I am not afraid to pick up scrapes and bruises along the way. I'm not afraid to be away from "civilization" and rough it. I am open minded, fair minded, very progressive, increasingly anti-capitalist, and fundamentally an anarchist. I consider myself a humanist and a feminist, and I accept people for who they are. I believe everyone has the rights to equal recognition, protection, and opportunity, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexuality, and ability. I am not religious, but I get along fine with people who are; live and let live is my general philosophy here. I do my best to be honest and straightforward, without being rude; I try to take others' feelings into account at all times. In the context of Workaway, my goal is to work smoothly and successfully with my hosts, and honesty and clear understanding are fundamental to that.
As a solo bicycle traveler, I am completely comfortable with and capable of being independent and alone, and I also like be around people. I can be as social or as non-social as you want me to be, and you will not have to worry about coddling me or keeping me company if you are busy or don't feel like being social yourself. :)
I am into gaming, both video and table-top. If you happen to be Dungeons&Dragons players and are interested in adding another member to your campaign, I do have my dice bag with me, as well as a couple of characters ready to cross paths with your adventuring party. I'm a big fan of Critical Role, so if you are also a "Critter", we'll get along fine. As far as video games go, I have my Nintendo Switch with me, and if you happen to be in to Splatoon, we'll also get along fine. Or, if you happen to not care for any of these hobbies, no problem at all. :)
I don't smoke. I drink in moderation; I'm not looking to party and get drunk all the time, but will gladly have some beer, wine, or G&Ts over good conversation with good people (though I can just as easily not drink if alcohol is not available or allowed). I drink coffee. Otherwise, no drugs or addictions.
One possible drawback to me: I do not have a driver's license in any country and cannot drive. I've just never needed to learn to in my life. Maybe worth noting if driving motor vehicles is essential to your Workaway opportunity, but you did not list it as a requirement in your profile description.
I'm not sure what else to say. Feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions or want to get to know me better.
Finally, as I am currently "between jobs" as they say, I am completely able to commit to longer term opportunities. I will be surviving on my savings until I find my next employment opportunity. So, if you are looking for long-term Workawayers to help out for even months or more at a time, I may very well be your guy.
Cheers. :)
NB: My list of "traveling to" countries is places I'm thinking about traveling to, and does not indicate a set plan. I am not certain to visit those countries, nor am I limited to only visiting them. :)
Interesses
Idiomas
Música
Filmes e TV
Mascotes
Montanhas
Sustentabilidade
Política/justiça social
Culinária e comida
Trabalho beneficente
Astronomia
Animais
Velejar/navegar
Escrever
Tecnologia
Fotografia
Naturaleza
Caminhada
Ciclismo
Camping
Idiomas
Idiomas
Inglês: Fluente
Japonês: Intermediário
Espanhol: InicianteMais detalhes sobre meu interesse em idiomas
English is my first language, and I have worked teaching ESL in my early adult life. Japanese is the only other language I am conversationally fluent in, and I'm always happy to speak it with Japanese friends, as well as willing to help Japanese learners with some basics, especially about the thinking style of the language. I'm currently learning Spanish, but have not had many chances to put that learning to practice. I also speak very basic simple French, but am way out of practice.
Habilidades e conhecimento para compartilhar ou aprender
Tenho interesse em:
Jardinagem
Manutenção geral
Vida na fazenda
Trabalho beneficente
Conhecimento de:
Projetos de construção/faça você mesmo
Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras
Projetos ambientais
Ajuda a cuidar da casa
Cuidar de animais
Poso ensinar:
Idiomas
Ajuda com computadores/internet
Ensino
Quais são suas habilidades?
My main, practiced skills:
-- Teaching Biology (and learning and breaking down to explain various scientific concepts in biology and outside of it): this has been my job for many years, so I definitely know how to do it; my education is a BSc in Marine Biology and General Ecology, though the most use I've made of the degree is with teaching all these years
-- Teaching Math and general Teaching: I have 2 years of experience teaching pre-Algebra / Algebra / Basic Geometry level math to 6th Graders in Thailand, 6 years of teaching to people of all ages ESL in Japan and Morocco, and in general I enjoy the process and execution of breaking down complex topics I am knowledgeable about and explaining them to others.
-- Photography: I'm an amateur, but will gladly share any with you and all photos I do on your Workaway, whether as part of my Workaway duties or during my free time. I will gladly give you the original RAW files and the processed JPEGs (or your format of choice) to use how you please. If you are looking for a photographer, I'll gladly lend you my skills. Feel free to take a look at my portfolio for some examples of my work: https://bioalex.portfoliobox.net/
-- Good with Computers (both MacOS X and Windows 10) and Internet for general troubleshooting, competent beginner with Python programming to help automate boring repetitive tasks, learning Swift programming for iOS apps, looking to learn/practice video and audio editing, good with Google and finding info to learn how to do things I don't know how to do.
-- PADI certified SCUBA Diver (Open Water Advanced): probably not an in-demand skill, but if you need me to do it, I can. I'm comfortable in and on the water
-- I can write well, help with cleaning up English translations, proofread, check phrasing, etc. I also do have ESL teaching experience, so could offer help with English language skills as well.
-- DIY / Handyman work at the level of "Handyman's assistant". I picked up a decent amount of experience working with various tools both disassembling and building various things during my 3 months workaway in Cyprus, and have gained more DIY experience in my Workaways since then. I don't have the experience to always automatically know the best tool or method for the job, but I can certainly follow instructions and do what needs to be done (thus "assistant" rather than just "handyman" ;) ). I do have a healthy dose of common sense and a basic understanding of physics and engineering, so if I'm told to figure out a way to do something, I usually can, and it usually works well enough if not quite well. I can usually improvise solutions to various problems on the fly. ;)
-- Bicycle Maintenance: I recently rebuilt my bicycle, replacing the shifters, drive-train, wheels, etc. turning my 3x9 speed Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bicycle into a 2x11 speed. I know all the basics and some intermediate stuff due to having to maintain my own bicycle, so if you need some bicycle maintenance done, I can certainly lend a hand.
-- Very basic horse care work, due to working with Skyrian Horses for 2 1/2 Months: feeding, basic grooming, scooping poop, etc. I still have a LOT to learn about working with, handling, and communicating with horses, but I am enthusiastic to learn more. I also spent a month in Bulgaria helping to take care of normal sized horses which as has added to my experience with them including very basic riding (at a walk and trot).
-- basic soil preparation and sowing for the growing of microgreens
OTHERWISE...
I am a fast learner. I don't currently have a lot of experience with building, renovating, farming, gardening, sailing, maintenance, or other more manual skills, but I am ABSOLUTELY WILLING to learn them and put in good hard work. Teach me to do it, and I'll do it as much as you need, with a philosophy of "If you are going to do something, whether you like doing it or not, do it right!" If you give me the chance and guide me in the skills I need to help you, I'll give you all the hard work I can with those skills. :)
WORKAWAY EXPERIENCE
-- Prior to Workaway, I had experience doing HelpExchange for two months in France in 2006. I am still friends with my former host, and can put any potential Workaway host in touch with her, if you would like a reference.
-- Volunteering with Skyrian Horses for 2 1/2 Months (June - September 2017): https://www.workaway.info/422241361284-en.html
-- Helping with Hippopotamus conservation near Lake Sibaya, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (November, 2017): Unofficial, and strangely this Workaway has been removed from the site. My experience there was excellent, though.
-- Helping with DIY, moving, building, and microgreens cultivation for 3 months in Cyprus (December 2017 - March 2018): https://www.workaway.info/818747135417-en.html
-- Helping with DIY and gardening in Rudartsi, Bulgaria (May 2018): https://www.workaway.info/595354233511-en.html
-- Helping with horses, dogs, DIY, gardening, and whatever else needed doing in Musina, Bulgaria (May - June 2018): https://www.workaway.info/742567162882-en.html
-- Helping with building a boat, helping around the house, helping at a music festival, taking care of dogs, house-sitting through winter, etc. in Bocşa, Romania (June - August 2018, December 2018 - March 2019): https://www.workaway.info/en/host/292277799397 (NB: the nature of this Workaway has changed since I was there, but still the same wonderful hosts)
-- Helping with various DIY and land clearing during winter in Yucca Valley, California, USA (November 2021 - March 2022): https://www.workaway.info/en/host/919585648377 WOO! First USA Workaway!
Idade
46
Algo mais...
My main goal as a Workawayer with respect to my hosts: to do my absolute best and work my absolute hardest and make you extremely glad you took me on and hosted me.
My main goal as a Workawayer with respect to myself: to build up new skills, new experiences, and new memories while having a positive influence on the lives of my hosts and their goals.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Able to make long term Workaway commitments of even several months or more (length of time in any one place will depend on local immigration laws and visa duration)*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
Mais algumas informações
Fumante
Carteira de motorista
Alergias
Dietas especiais
Comentário
Fotos
Amigos
Comentário
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