Marja

Netherlands
Login to see last activity

Badges (4)

Photos

View all

Give the gift of Workaway

Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
Australia - from Mar 2024 until May 2024
View all
Description
Hello, my name is Marja and I live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For many years I used to travel through Europe on my motorbike. In 2016 I finally sold my bike and changed my way of travelling and my destination. I felt in love with Africa. I have volunteered in a small hospital for the Masai in the Ngorongoro region in Tanzania. And went twice to Madagascar for a offroad adventure on a motorbike and a quad.

In 2018 I discovered Workaway and spent 2 months on a project named Mother’s Heart Uganda just outside Mbale. In 2019 I took a 12-months leave to discover more of Africa. I have revisited Mother's Heart Uganda for the second time in 2019 for another 2 months, then I moved on to Malawai, Zambia, and Botswana where I volunteered for local community projects. I ended my year in Namibia, spent some weeks on a farm in the middle of the desert in the south of Namibia and ended my stay in on another farm just outside Otjiwarongo. All the places I stayed were Workaway hosts.

After a year in the Netherlands I felt I need to leave my home for another experience. I spent a year in 2021 on Sint Maarten, one of the Caribbean Islands where I had a job as a rehab nurse. It was a fulltime job and I had to work hard, but the ocean was only a few minutes from my house. And I love the ocean, almost everyday you could find me there to swim, snorkel, dive or go kayaking.

I came back to Amsterdam in March 2022 and start working as a district nurse, which I really liked, but I was already making plans for another Workaway experience. I am ready to take another year of in September 2023 to discover New Zealand and Australia.

From September 2023 until February 2024 I travelled in New Zealand in my campervan. What an amazing country! I did another 3 workaways. For me this is the way to learn about local live. I am almost flying to Australia for my next adventure. From March until May I will be travelling in Queensland.
Interests
Water sports
Camping
Blogging
Writing
Beach
Photography
Charity work
Sustainability
Videography
DIY & crafts
Books
Van life
Nature
Farming
Culture
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Gardening
Being an elderly companion
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Languages
Art Projects
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
More details about your skills
I am a nurse, I care for people. I also have done several kind of jobs in commercial and hospitality business. I love photography and like to make short movies. I am hands on and I easily fit in. I don't mind basic circumstances. I like the rural life and the beauty of nature. I am a good organiser. I am always open to learn new skills.
Age
60
What else ...
I enjoy being with people and always interested to hear their story's. I am positive and creative and I easily fit in.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  no
- Special dietary requirements
  no

Feedback

8 Apr 2024

Left by host (Lovely small acreage home on ...) for Workawayer (Marja)

We really appreciated and enjoyed having Marja stay with us for two weeks. Friendly, easy-going, really good communication, practical, efficient, happy to help with anything while also being able to clearly know and say what she was not able to do - which is so important. That said, she was able to help us with most things and do it well. A lovely… read more

(Excellent )

6 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Lovely small acreage home on ...)

I had a very nice stay at Drew and Maia's beautiful place. They are a very kind and welcoming couple. I really loved the company, our conversations and the chance to experience a part their daily life in Millstream. I met some of there friends, went to the movie in Malanda and was very happy to be a part of one of Maia’s sound healing events.

I… read more

(Excellent )

9 Jan 2024

Left by host (Helping out on a property in ...) for Workawayer (Marja)

I am so glad that Marja came into my life. She is a joyful person who is able to turn her hand to anything asked of her. She has a generous nature and willingly cleaned my windows, weeded gardens, dead-headed roses and joined in with our family Christmas. I love her conversation and the way she interacts with both the young and the elderly. She… read more

(Excellent )

30 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Helping out on a property in ...)

I loved my stay with Leah. She is a amazing lady, always positive, very open minded and full of energy. She has so much experience in life. She is also a great storyteller. We were a good match and had such interesting conversations. She invited me to stay over for Christmas which I really appreciated. Thank you so much Leah, you are a wonderful… read more

(Excellent )

10 Dec 2023

Left by host (Pioneers for people living ...) for Workawayer (Marja)

So good to have had Marja here for 2 months! It took us a long time to get her here but it was worth the waiting.
Marja is not only a colleague nurse but also Dutch, meaning: no nonsense. Speaking the same language and getting the feedback from an experienced nurse was great. Marja became our dear friend and we miss her right hands, her insight in… read more

(Excellent )

1 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Pioneers for people living ...)

Dear Jan and Marian

Thank you for the wonderful time ! You both make so many people happy, including me.
Besides helping in and around the house I had the chance, as a nurse with a background in elderly care, to be a part of the team that works a community-based day-care facility for people in their early stages of Dementia.

It was such a joy to… read more

(Excellent )

View all

Friends

Photos

Show all photos

Feedback

8 Apr 2024

Left by host (Lovely small acreage home on ...) for Workawayer (Marja)

(Excellent )

6 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Lovely small acreage home on ...)

(Excellent )

9 Jan 2024

Left by host (Helping out on a property in ...) for Workawayer (Marja)

(Excellent )

30 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Helping out on a property in ...)

(Excellent )

10 Dec 2023

Left by host (Pioneers for people living ...) for Workawayer (Marja)

(Excellent )

1 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Pioneers for people living ...)

(Excellent )

1 Mar 2020

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Experience Malawi's Beauty: ...)

Dear Kay, so sorry for my late feedback. I stayed for 4 weeks in September 2019. I had a wonderful time at your lodge. What a beautiful place, the lake, the view, the sunsets. You are a very special lady and I loved our talks and laughs. I have met a lot of great people with inspiring stories along the way. Thanks for all your enthusiasm and the… read more

(Excellent )

1 Mar 2020

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Explore Slow-Living and ...)

I spent 3 weeks on the farm. It is a very remote place, the farm is a little green oasis in a very dry landscape. The years of drought has changed the environment totally.
I have seen the new moon coming up, which is breathtaking. Seen beautiful sunsets. And finally, it rained, what a joy! We made a game drive after the rain had come which was… read more

(Excellent )

20 Jan 2020

Left by host (Come enjoy Zambia and help us ...) for Workawayer (Marja)

We really enjoyed having Marja with us at the resort! We miss her! She is friendly, helpful, and warm-hearted. Marja helped us with the huge task of end of year stock take. She is an organized, efficient person and did the job so well! Marja also helped with admin and Christmas décor, and did a great job. We wish her all the best for her travels!!

(Excellent )

15 Jan 2020

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Come enjoy Zambia and help us ...)

I had a wonderful 4 weeks in December with Tom, Joanna and the boys. I felt really part of their warm family. I helped with making an inventory of the whole resort, did some administration, Christmas decorations and learned a lot about running a lodge in Zambia. The area of the resort is beautiful at the shores of Lake Kariba and I made some… read more

(Excellent )

11 Nov 2019

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (A community centre is looking ...)

I am staying for 4 weeks at the Community Centre and I am having a wonderful time. First of all Elke, the director of the centre is a very nice lady, who lives here for almost 20 years now. She has so much knowledge of African country’s and especially Zambia. She is also a very good storyteller, it is a joy to listen to her. I have learned so much… read more

(Excellent )

29 Oct 2019

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Help with youth and social ...)

My stay in Nchalo with Francis and Cecilia was wonderful. First of all, they are so kind and warm-hearted people. I felt very welcome at their home and they took very good care of me.
The work that Francis, Cecilia and the team is doing has made a big impression on me. How they try to improve the lives of the vulnerable youth of their community… read more

(Excellent )

16 Jul 2018

Left by Workawayer (Marja) for host (Help at our non-profit ...)

If you are thinking about going to Africa, Uganda is the best choice you can make. It is a beautiful country and Ugandan people are the most welcoming and kind people I have ever met.
I have been so lucky, out of all the Workaway hosts in Uganda I choose this one. I had a wonderful two month with Jeremiah and his wife Kate and there 2 little boys… read more

(Excellent )

To leave feedback make sure you are logged in & your account is online