Join our family and help us with everyday life, housework, decorating, gardening and fixing in Pajala, Sweden

Details

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  Description

  First of all we would like to say hello and welcome to our profile! So glad you found it and I hope you are the right workaway for us. :-)
  Please read all information below if you are interested in staying with me and my children.
  
  We are a family of six who live approximatley 40 km north of the Artic circle in Sweden.
  We value our family time and do both hard work and relaxing.
  
  (When Christmas is coming close we need help to get ready for that too.)
  
  WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? We are looking for a friendly and outgoing person. Independent Positive! Hard working. Easy going about living conditions. A person who loves children. Relaxed but focused. Someone who likes hanging with us and doesn’t mind following our daily life and routines, (rather similar.) You need a great amount of patience, as i have many children, and a sense of understanding kids. For example their needs, what is appropriate to share with them and what not. Decent language etc. Basically you need to be a good role model. Also someone who doesn’t mind a bit of moan and cry and who can deal with stress. A person who enjoys kids and can lift their spirit + make them feel good about themselves.
  No smoking please due to allergies.
  Someone independent! We need someone who can help me with renovating my home, such as wallpapering, painting, flooring, fixing furniture, gardening, working on cottage, etc. So it’s not only about childcare although that is a part. Sometimes during work kids will be around. We will also get time when they are not which is when we can get certain jobs done quicker/easier.
  
  VACCINATION: Covid 19
  Also measles, mums and rubella and, of course, not have any other (contagious) deceases.
  Preferably a good immune system, meaning a person who is not often ill.
  All this because my immun system is not as good as normal due to illness.
  
  SKILLS: Would love if your English is really good. This is because I want my children to learn the right grammar, pronouncing words correctly, etc. They all understand English well as I speak it to them daily and I am hoping they will begin to speak it more too. (Eldest speaks it.) But of course if your English is not so good we are happy to help you improve it. I can teach you and improve your English as I have spoken it all may life and I use to live in London for nearly 5 years.
  Preferable we would like you to have experience from decorating and repairing houses, if possible. Remaking funiture or other skills that could make a old house look nice would be great too. Someone who perhaps could help with organizing around the house and make practical suggestions and changes to make our everyday life easier.
  I would love to learn yoga, pilates or similar to help me with our mental exhaustion and rehab from kidney failure. Crouching is something I want to learn too. Someone who likes photography would be really good so we can get some nice family pictures to keep and so I could learn some skills as am trying to improve my photography. A musical person would be fun as music& singing is great for the children. Also me and my daughter would like to learn singing if that is a possibility. We have two pianos in our home (we can only play a little bit. Please feel free to bring your own instrument. Would really like someone who can teach us art, specially fun for the kids. If you do sowing then that is brilliant as I would like to learn.
  My kids need to learn how to swim so if you can teach them that would babe amazing!!
  Gardening skills during summertime is something we really value!! as we need to get our garden redone after digging it up due to very uneven ground. We also value building skills during summertime as we are often in our cottage during that time a year. And there’s so much to be done (repairs and improvements.) You will love our cottage. It is in the middle of nowhere surrounded by trees. No neighbours in sight. Out in the nature. I will take you there.
  
  WORK and what to expect: I am looking for volunteers with a great work attitude who can help me and my family with different stuff around the house. Mainly it will be housework such as laundry, vaccuming, tidying etc. Keeping kids happy (when I am near by of course) by teaching, palying football (outside), floorball, painting, singing, reading books, playing outside etc. Exercise and education+ outdoor time is important for me to give my children. Apart from the most important thing, love! of course. :-)
  Weekday, every other week, Monday-Friday I will need some of your help in the morning. From 7-8 am. This will include helping me to get children ready for nursery and school. But the kids are a part of the work. Other work done will be gardening, renovating, wallpapering, painting. Etc. Depending on who you are and your skills. If you wish to work more with the kids then that is fine as long as they get on with you. If you prefers to do more of other jobs needed then I’m sure that can be arranged. The main thing is that we have an open an honest communication. If you need something to improve, get better or completely change the please feel free to tell me. I want this experience to be a great one for us both.
  I do expect help with Cooking and cleaning away food+dishes as part of everyday life (not included in working hrs which will be 25 hrs a week.) It does not necessarily mean work 5 hrs each day. For example it could be work hard weekends and less during week. Or work hard during the week and have weekends completely free. We can discuss and decide together. But I need a person who likes working and who is flexible.
  
  A LITTLE ABOUT US: I (Sarah) I work as a guide me councilor at local college. I have an illness that has given me kidney failure. Due to this I value my sleep & rest+ peace and relaxing. I also train a lot (mainly running) I have experienced great stress in life so can get mentally exhausted too. A bit of brain fog at times. Due to this I need an independent workaway who can go on adventures and sightseeing on their own as well as together with us. Am looking forward to doing outings together with kids and showing you around. But I need to not do too much and to considerate how I feel day by day. “Slow but fun living”
  I am trying to get my mental exhaustion better with strict routines, balance, exercise, meditation, and healthy food etc. But it’s easier said than done. Anyhow I am a rather positive person so trying hard to have a positive outlook on life overall. Although I would like to improve on this area. So it would help to have a positive and supportive workaway. I try to go to bed at good time due to the early mornings with kids but I am a night owl. But really should get my sleeping routine in order.
  I enjoy traveling when possible, art, music, horses, crouching (I am a beginner and would love to learn more). Totally love nature!! and being in it. I am an outgoing person, social but also need my own time. Impulsive, honest, romantic, and bold are some things to describe me as a person.
  
  It’s meant for me and my ex partner to have the kids every other week. But it’s not always working that way. Sometimes I have the children for months on my own. The weeks when I don’t have them I am away a few nights. So good if workaway can do own things then. :-)
  
  Our children like football, role games, art and craft, singing, music. pottering, baking, ice hockey, snow play, board games, dancing, cooking, screen time, bathing, etc.
  The four children are between 5-14 so games, interests and activities vary a lot. I also have an adult son, 19years, who sometimes stay.
  
  We are against drugs!
  But I can enjoy a drink when kids are in bed or if I go out for the evening.
  
  IMPORTANT: NO PEANUTS please as one of my children is extremely!!! allergic to peanuts. This means no peanuts in the house or around us. Nothing containing peanuts such as snickers etc. I Thai food in the house or meals that can contain.
  (He is also allergic to hassle and cashew in food.)
  Two other kids have milk allergy so our food is dairy free.
  
  I would appreciate if you do not eat sweets, cakes and other unhealthy stuff in front of our children (or so they can see this) as we only give them treats on Friday or at special times/occasions. I want to give them good heath and teach healthy living habits. Of course you can eat whatever you want when they can not see or in your own place. :-)
  I do hope you understand.
  
  EXTRA INFO:
  You might be staying in hallway (up stairs) or cellar which is laundry. Or wherever I can fit you in. :-)
  I would preferable like to have one vouunteer at the time as this is what I can manage at the moment.
  Although I may take two volunteers if that is what I need (depending on project.), Couples are ok if you don’t mind working on your own doing different things. I could choose two volunteers from different places if I need to. If that is the case then this means you need to be okay with sharing a space with this other new person.
  
  WINTER TIME, We really live in winter wonderland, there is lots of snow! and it’s beautiful lying on the trees. Prepare for cold weather, it can get up to -40 celcius and we have experienced extreem cold, -1999 when it reached -50 celcius. End of December, but specially January and beginning of Febuary can be cold months, usually round -30. We still go outside but not for too long. Although the last few years it has not reached those temperatures and the weather is sadly really changing to milder.
  As we are north of the artic circle it is dark most of the time. It can be cool to try the darkness for those who has never been north of aric circle. If weather allows you can get to see the beautiful northern lights moving across the winter sky. It’s an experience that you will never forget!
  In the winter you can also enjoy skiing, build a snow cave, go sleighing, or ice skating. Help us indoors during colder times but also to shovel snow outsider etc. when needed.
  
  SUMMER TIME: You can experience lovely summers nights that never end as the midnight sun stays up all night.
  However I try to go to bed a decent time cause of the early mornings with kids.
  You can enjoy bike rides in our village, approximatley 6000 people live in our borough so it is a very quiert place.
  I enjoy staying at home or traveling when I am not at work.
  Summertime skills: We need someone who is good at gardening! also building.
  Summertime work: Work in the garden. Also work in our cottage with fixing it and getting it into better shape. Building, scraping and painting the cottage etc. This in addition to the normal housework etc.
  
  Take a walk in the beautiful forest and appreciate some quiet time to yourself. Great possibility to meditate and admire the nature. If you’re lucky you might see wild animals of the north, such as moose, reindeer, squirrel, hare and maybe even a bear but then you need to be very lucky and to be in the forest.
  This place is ideal for a person who needs or likes a peaceful and tranquil stay.
  
  Looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully also meeting YOU here in the magical north of Sweden.
  With love from /Sarah and family.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I speak fluent english at home with the children so they will learn too. Due to the kids I am sure it will be easier to pic up the Swedish language and learn a few words or even many sentences if you are a language interested person.
  You will experience the beautiful outside here in the north. We live north of the artic circle which means midnight sun summertime (light all night) and northen lights during winter time (dark a lot). Wild animals. Lots of forest. Beautiful nature. In winter lots of snow.

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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 am looking for hardworking volunteers with a great work attitude who can help me with different stuff around the house. Mainly it will be housework: laundry, vaccuming, tidying, organizing, food shopping etc. Driving license would be good (food shopping.)
  Keeping kids happy and busy (when I am near by of course) by teaching, outdoor play, reading books, exercising etc.
  
  Help with relaxing would be great if the workaway has the knowledge. It could be by yoga, Pilates, mindfulness, meditation, training etc.
  
  Weekdays Monday-Friday we will need some of your help in the morning. From 7-8 am. This will include getting kids ready for nursery and school.
  I expect help with Cooking and cleaning away food+dishes. I do not count that as the workaway hours which will be 25 hrs a week. It does not necessarily mean work 5 hrs each day. It could for example be hard work a weekend and less during coming week. This means I need flexibility from the workaway.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Swedish: Fluent
  French: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  You need to be relaxed with your sleeping conditions. I will place a mattress or bed/sofa wherever we can fit you in. It could be in the laundry or hallway upstairs. You need to be open person who likes spending family time and be like part of family with everyday routines and life.

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  What else ...

  See the midnight sun (during summer) is something that you get to experience in this part of the world. It’s beautiful!
  To watch the northern lights on the winter sky (winter time) is absolutely magical.
  Also beautiful forest around.
  We live close to Torne river. Kengis rapids are only 15 min away by car.
  
  We will take you (summertime) to Vassikkavuoma which is the largest mowing mire in the north of Europe, one of our favourit places for a barbeque.
  
  Pajala is a small village with friendly people. We live central in a big house.
  
  Summertime: Take a bike ride through the village or a walk in the forest. Have a sauna. Take a swim in the river.
  
  Wintertime: IF you wish we can arrange for you to go ice skating or skiing (depending on your shoe size.) Look for northern lights. Take a warm sauna.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  Hours expected

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week.

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