Ryan

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hello! My name is Ryan and I am a 22-year-old looking to spend the next year or so traveling and finding work abroad. I have spent my entire life living in the US outside of New York City in the tiny state of Connecticut and later moved to the even smaller state of Rhode Island to attend university. I just finished my undergraduate studies back in August of 2023 and I now have degrees in Psychology (B.A.) and Film Production.

In my free time, you will usually find me with a camera in hand, playing the piano and guitar, writing, reading, or riding on a skateboard/longboard. Both playing and listening to music are big parts of my life and I hope to continue picking up more instruments along the way. I write songs from time to time and also enjoy writing for fun whether it be journaling or creating short stories. Since a young boy, I grew up playing baseball and it's a sport I'll never put down but I'm also really into surfing.

I have aspirations to pursue work in the film industry as a cinematographer/camera operator as well as a freelance photographer (I've included some pictures from my travels in the photos section, mostly from Indonesia, Italy, and Panama). I also really enjoy working with other people, whether they be younger children and teenagers or adults and the elderly. I'm keeping my options open at the moment but filmmaking and social work are of my greatest interests.
Interests
Art & design
Writing
Videography
Van life
Plant care
Photography
Outdoor activities
Nature
Music
Movies & TV
History
Hiking
Gardening
Farming
Drawing & painting
Cycling
Cooking & food
Charity work
Camping
Books

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Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I speak fluent English having grown up in the US and am interested in picking up more languages through my travels. I am pretty determined to become fluent in Spanish and can speak it to a very basic degree. I studied the language for 6 years through general education and have retained a fair amount of what I've learned but not enough to carry genuine conversations with native speakers. (I've considered applying to workaways in Spain for this very reason)
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Charity Work
Teaching
Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Life at a Farmstay
General Maintenance
Some knowledge of:
Art Projects
Gardening
Languages
More details about your skills
I've spent time volunteering at local NPOs such as Meals on Wheels, Person-to-Person, and Senior Centers. Through these experiences, the greatest abilities I have walked away with are human understanding, patience, and compassion. These different organizations have put me in positions where I cater to people of all ages which has certainly expanded my comfort zone and capabilities.

I also spent several years of high school volunteering with an organization on the weekends that caters to disabled children. This was one of the more challenging of my pursuits and certainly, the most perspective placing. Even though my words to them were often dismissed or misunderstood, the simple act of bonding with these young kids brought such a tangible air of appreciation that I'll never forget.

I have worked in a variety of paid positions throughout my life as well, most of which relate to the service industry and customer support. I'm currently working as a waiter at a restaurant until I head abroad and have worked in the restaurant business for the past 6 or so years. I have plenty of experience taking care of and interacting with customers, communicating across the phone, and making sure everyone/everything is accounted for within the restaurant.

On the side, I also freelance in the film industry. I've mostly been working as a production assistant (PA) and within the lighting/electrical department. Working on film sets has definitely encouraged and developed my ability to collaborate and respect other people's intentions/motivations. Oftentimes, there are several departments all intersecting at the same time so it is necessary to respect and receive input from each of them in order to achieve the desired outcome.

I also worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant at a PT Office a couple of summers ago where I greeted patients, worked them through exercises, maintained the cleanliness of the workspace, and responded to the Physical Therapist's needs. One of the principal responsibilities of the job was to make sure clients felt comfortable and cared for which really went a long way in developing my character and selflessness.

I have also held positions at a garden center/florist both in the store and on-site so I have some experience with gardening, plant maintenance, and landscaping. I'm always willing to get my hands dirty and perform some manual labor.
Age
22
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Feedback

18 May 2024

Left by host (Our foundation welcomes you ...) for Workawayer (Ryan)

Dear MR Ryan,

Our heartfelt recount of your time spent in Kasese with the Foundation resonated deeply with us. It's clear that your extended stay of 2weeks was not only transformative but also deeply enriching, both for you and the community you served.

Your willingness to immerse yourself in various aspects of the school's activities, from… read more

(Excellent )

18 May 2024

Left by Workawayer (Ryan) for host (Our foundation welcomes you ...)

I was originally meant to stay for 4 or so weeks but by the time I left, I had spent a little more than 2 months in Kasese with Masika and the Foundation. It was a transformative experience both on the grounds of the school and within the community of Kasese. The school provides numerous forms of volunteer contributions but at the end of the day,… read more teaching is often the most needed and one that you will likely take part in if you are comfortable. There is always the option to choose not to and if so, there are other tasks available such as maintaining the garden, looking after/entertaining the kids (which is always a fun time), and on occasion, I would even help with preparing lunch for the school. The children are incredibly enthusiastic about volunteers and very friendly so expect nothing less than endless attention and curiosity from them haha.

I stayed at Masika’s flat and was well accommodated with evening meals most nights from the caretakers while staying in a separate room with other volunteers. The place is located above a bank and there is atleast one guard outside 24/7 so I felt I was safe and not at risk of any theft whenever I left valuables at home for longer periods of time. Masika is a hard working nurse and dedicated woman so don’t expect to find her at the school very much. You will usually see her everyday at home but for short periods of times as she may be between shifts, taking care of her baby, or busy handling business pertaining to the hospital or the foundation. That said, she is always quick to respond if you reach out to her through text or a phone call. She is very resourceful and willing to help you with any questions or concerns. She also knows plenty of people within the area and is willing to provide you with contact details or general recommendations for weekend activities. It’s also worth mentioning that just before I left, she hired a friend named Reagan (a very friendly and nice guy in his mid 20s) to be a “volunteer coordinator” who is there for you if you have any questions, need help at home or at the school, and generally, to provide volunteers with a sort of guidance and transparency from their time arrival.

The only real issue I faced was during my first weeks over the holiday break when there was no school. Sometimes I felt there was a lack of communication as Masika would be busy during the day and us volunteers were unsure of what to do without there being school. So now with a new person there to overlook the volunteers, I think this won’t do much be a problem. Also, Masika’s brother Stuart is a contributor/supporter of the foundation and he is another person you can refer to whenever you have any questions. He was often who I was reporting too once I first arrived there.

Beyond the foundation, I felt pretty safe in Kasese just expect to be the center of attention walking through town. But the locals are quite welcoming and I even felt a sense of community after 2 months of being there. There is a big vegetable market just down the street from where I stayed, little stores scattered around for basic drinks and snacks, some restaurants, and gorgeous scenery surrounding it all. There is hiking nearby, hot springs, the national park for safaris, tailors all around who can hand craft clothing for you, and a beautiful river that I spent quite a bit of time at relaxing and cooling down.

If you are interested in the program, I totally recommend it as you feel your actions are going towards a good cause and there is also plenty to be gained from a volunteer perspective as well. You receive a pretty intimate understanding of what the lifestyle involves for local Ugandans living in more of a rural environment. And I think there is plenty to be learned from their way of living and understanding of existence. I treasured my time and I will absolutely return at some point in the future.

Thank you to Masika, her family, and all involved within the school for this incredible stay!

Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions as I’m happy to answer them :)

(Excellent )