Who am I?
Like every living being, I am a product of my life’s experiences. Each of us is a priceless unique bespoke gem, multi-faceted, reflecting and refracting everything we touch or are touched by in life, good or bad. We are sons and daughters, sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, significant others, parents and grandparents. We are friends, acquaintances, co-workers, neighbours and strangers. All at the same time.
We are creative, resourceful, skilled, talented, knowledgeable, compassionate and caring. We are the product of our life’s experiences.
I have had the great fortune to have been able to study with very excellent professionals in a number of fields, during five decades of my life.
I have agricultural certifications and diplomas from Guelph University in Ontario, Olds College in Alberta, NAIT, The University of Alberta, the American Ferrier’s Association and the BC Standardbred Association. I studied at Oxford University in England, and am a British Carriage Driving Society certified Instructor.
Together with two friends, I helped establish the Goat Milk Dairy Certification program in Canada, am comfortable around milking animals, Caprine or Bovine, and I was key in the implementation of egg candling in several small family poultry operations in Alberta.
I have certifications as a medical office administrator/manager, certified personal trainer, recreational massage therapist, yoga instructor, organizational consultant, graduated from Le Cordon Bleu as a fully trained chef, am a historical costume designer and creator for film, TV, theatre and cosplay. I speak English and Greek fluently and have enough French to be understood (if laughed at) and to struggle to understand.
I am a level 2 Parelli Method Natural Horse trainer. I have extensive livestock and poultry experience. I have hosted almost 200 English as a Second Language students from all over the world, been a nanny, a house cleaner, a crisis intervention councillor, a horse&carriage tour guide, a caterer, an artist and art teacher, a help desk technician for AT&T and AOL, and professional researcher.
I was privileged to learn cob construction (similar to Adobe earth building) on Mayne Island, and taught a cob oven building course in Washington to a medieval studies group combining my book knowledge of historic 16th century cob structure and my hard earned experience of hands-on (and feet on) labour cob building on Mayne Island and Salt Spring Island. Almost two decades before that I helped friends in the Ottawa valley build a straw bale barn.
It was a challenge, but I built my own 300 sq.ft., 40’x8 1/2’ Tiny Home on Wheels in 2020, by myself, with no help because of Covid. It is built using over 90% reclaimed and recycled materials. It is modelled after the traditional Romani Vardo wagons. It’s a *she* and she is named The Dragons Nest.
Every time opportunity knocked, I opened the door and ran with the experience.
Who am I?
Someone who is the product of my experiences, SOME of which I liked, but the SUM of which I love, appreciate and value.
I am filled with gratitude for every experience that has brought me so far and continues to take me places.
Who am I?
I’m just Carol. Pleased to know you!
Proud Builder, Owner & Resident of The Dragons Nest
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