Join family with 2 teenagers based in Aalter, Bellem, Belgium

Details

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  Description

  Hey People!
  
  If you want to join our family let us know! (read below)
  Have a great time visiting the world!! Have safe travels!
  *We have space for tents/campers if needed! (also for short stay)
  
  
  Hey there!
  We are a family based in Aalter, Bellem. (Near Ghent)
  We're end 30's and have 2 energetic kids.
  The girl will be 13 in September and the boy 12 in November, both in 1st grade at secondary school.
  So kids need some friendship/activities but not babysitting ;-) Teenagers :-D
  
  For workawayers younger than 25 staying for 3 to 4 weeks, we offer an unlimited train subscription to visit Belgium with our kids. (July and August period). The subscription is valid for every train station in Belgium, with unlimited stops!
  
  We (Leen and Ben) are self-employed - entrepreneurs, meaning we're quite Busy.
  We have plenty of space to host work-away travelers in exchange for help with kids and household/garden maintenance. We can host up to 2 people at the same time, but we prefer 1-2 people at once for the long term (2-4w or even longer!).
  
  Regarding kids, they don't need a babysitter or nanny anymore, but more like "friends" to play with once in a while outside, play football or Kubb, go swimming, visit a city, etc.
  
  We will ask you what you're planning for the day(s) just to determine whether you'll be around.
  If they need some help, they know they have a friend nearby. (without you babysitting all the time)
  That's also why we don't have a fixed 4-hour work schedule. We leave it freer to you and the weather conditions, so we/you can decide at the moment to just plan another group/family activity.
  We look for people who see what needs to be done and plan it a bit by themselves. (garden, house,... see below)
  If you're not capable of planning yourself, please let us know in advance, and then we will provide you with a schedule and training.
  
  Open communication about your plans for visiting cities & being away from "home", or ideas for organizing stuff in another way, please shoot! We want people to become a part of the family!
  We prefer to eat together, play board games, and watch a TV show in the evening...
  Or even do a 2-hour game battle on PS4/Xbox...
  
  We have 5000m2 of farmland, and we will ask you to help with that as well! (Keep the weeds away, water some plants, etc.)
  You´re welcome to help us build a little farm! Drive the tractor, grow vegetables, ...
  Yes, if you join our family, your hands will get a bit dirty, and yes, you will work outside (a few times a week), within your capabilities,... But next to that, you can bring your swimsuit and enjoy the jacuzzi or infra-red sauna after, enjoy the green area, go on a tour with bicycles, enjoy the little forest next door, read a book in the hammock,...
  
  We have 2 train stations nearby, (Bellem 2.5km - 20 min walk or Aalter 4km - 45 min) We mostly drop off or pick up work-away people if they are arriving, leaving, or going on a city visit while staying with us. (or they use the bicycles)
  From here, you can easily visit Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp, Ostend, and Liege in Belgium. If you plan a weekend in Amsterdam or Paris, it's also quite easy to do by train or bus (depending on your budget). If you plan to do city trips from here, please PLAN in advance or state this before arrival. So we can keep this in mind while organizing the agenda.
  
  If you want to visit our home, please send an email and add your WhatsApp so we can do a video call beforehand!
  
  We are open to eating your local food, listening to your cultural stories, and a lot more! Please be open to our way of life, too! We will happily meet you and give you a space to enjoy Belgium!
  We have many work-away people who have become friends, and that's our goal with you!
  
  
  We hope to meet you soon! Looking forward to more friends around the world!
  
  
  Leen, Ben, Axelle and Louis!
  
  
  
  ***For first-time travelers, couples, and ...***
  If you are not willing to make any "connection," please do not join our family. (We will kick you out!)
  
  If you are a couple, please consider your reason for traveling. We look for people who want to connect with our family. You're not on a "honeymoon;" you're on a cultural exchange.
  
  We see Workaway as the exchange of culture/way of living, connecting, and making friends!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You're in the middle of Ghent & Bruges.
  You can visit Antwerp, Brussels, even Amsterdam & Paris... It's all within a max 30min to 3-hour train.
  
  If you're under 25, you can buy a Go unlimited train ticket for 1 month in summer to visit unlimited cities in Belgium!
  If you bring your international driver's license, you can use a car!

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  I work in the garden, play football with kids, and cook.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  German: Beginner
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  For people who want to learn dutch, our 2 kids will teach you! If you want to learn the family: French/Eng/Spanish/... you are very welcome! We are willing to learn!
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  Accommodation

  Room with bunk bed (2p), or gypsy wagon (2p)
  private shower/bathroom.
  Free to use jacuzzi, Ir sauna, steam shower,...
  You can also use a tent, or bring your own tent if you prefer to sleep outside.

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  What else ...

  Biking, outdoor sport (20km), walking next to the canal, there is a lot to see!
  Use the car OR e-bike...

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Yes, there is plenty of space to do your online job.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Yes, there is space to put your campervan. There is even a sweet spot at the end of the street where you can watch the sun go down in the water canal. For romantic souls, it's a nice place to be.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We can, after chat.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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