Author:
Wan tingyu
Short summary:
Let's get to know our new Workawayer Teresa, from Taiwan.
- Do you have a Nickname?
My name is Wan-Ting-Yu, and my parents gave me the nickname Teresa because it also starts with a "T."
- Explain to a stranger what do you do for Green Steps?
Since I am a traveler, I am only spending one month in Green Steps. My work is mainly divided into three areas: Nature Guide Training, Summer Camp, and the Ober-Grafendorf Project. During the Nature Guide Training, I learned something about local plants and animals and educational theories. In the Summer Camp, I helped preparing the materials for games and activities, and I also engaged with the kids. For the Ober-Grafendorf Project, we selected interesting local sites to introduce to people. I have assisted with mapping routes and sites and posting them on the ARK website.
- What is your daily routine? What is something you like doing and your coworkers maybe don’t know about you?
I guess my colleagues are kind of familiar with my daily routine since we often spend time together after work. Typically, I start my day at the office around 10 a.m., and in the afternoons, we sometimes go gardening. After work, we might go shopping or grab a drink together.
- Use less than 250 words to tell a story about yourself: starting from “where are you from” to the choice of joining Green Steps.
I'm from Taipei, Taiwan. During my gap year, I wanted to learn and experience a different lifestyle, so I searched on a website called Workaway. Green Steps immediately stood out to me from its introduction page—I could sense the passion of the people working there. I decided to join because I was excited to immerse myself in the local lifestyle of St. Pölten and to gain independent living skills like cooking. Since arriving, I've not only learned practical skills but also embraced the opportunity to live and grow in a new environment.
- Mention a book you read as a teenager that still tells something about you, and that you would still suggest reading.
When I was a teenager, I was really into western dystopian novels like The Giver, The Maze Runner, and Divergent. I was amazed by the authors' creativity, especially since my education didn’t provide many chances to be creative. These books, set in imagined worlds, explore themes of social justice and made me think about real-life issues. They helped me to develop skills in questioning and challenging societal problems. I would still recommend these books because they offer valuable insights and encourage you to think deeply about both fictional and real-life issues.
- How do you expect you and Green Steps to have an impact in the next years? Close with a wish for the organization.
I believe Green Steps has already made a big impact with its work with city governments, locals, and schools. In the future, I hope they can improve their marketing to reach more people and spread the word about their great team and activities. For example, it would be fantastic if we could get enough participants to extend the summer camp into a second week, since the activities are well-designed and mix ecology with fun. My wish for Green Steps is to keep growing and making a positive impact on the community for many years to come.
