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Visit our large family and get a true Canadian experience in the countryside between Montreal and Ottawa, Canada

  • Favourited 332 times
  • Last activity: 19 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a large family with lots of adult children living nearby as well as 32 young grandchildren. The head of the household is handicapped. We love people. We are protestant (Reformed Presbyterian) and have a dog, a cat and a couple canary birds . We are located half way between Montreal and Ottawa. We travel to the two cities regularly. English is spoken in the house with French and Dutch also understood. My children like to sing, play soccer, hike, swim, Canoeing, dance, brush horses and play board games and snow board. We also enjoy various kinds of music and have a piano and organ. Our house is located in the country side but within 10 minutes drive of the town of Lancaster. There are walking and bike trails close by our house.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Welcome to Canada, where we are all made up from immigrants that have settled here. Our family background is Canadian-born but with Dutch heritage. We have 9 adult children each one married to a different ethnic group like: Bolivian/Irish, British/Dutch , Native indian/French-Canadian, Scots and German .We enjoy discussions around the table about philosophy and theology and enjoy learning about other cultures and meeting new people. We have been told that we have excellent spoken English and have been very helpful in teaching new skills and in explaining the English language. We like showing our local heritage sites and love going to museums, nature walks and adventure activities like: hiking up mountains, visiting water parks, paintball, snow boarding/ skiing, brushing horses, canoeing...When people come, we ask what kinds of activities and sites they would like to see and do, and then we plan our week accordingly.
    So when you come you must try local specialties like: beaver tail pastries, smoke meat on rye bread, bagels with cream cheese, our local Lancaster perch ( fish) and poutine, as well as some different meals from all over the world. A true Canadian experience.

  • Help

    Help

    We are still finishing our home so there are lots of jobs to do like: finishing our basement, painting jobs, finishing a bathroom, trim and molding to put up, building and repairs... Robert was a aircraft mechanic so, if you are mechanically inclined, you will really enjoy the lessons he can teach you in mechanics and material science as well as the hands on experience in machine repairs and maintenance ( tractor, back hoe, riding lawn mowers, whipper snipper, wood splitter, chain saws ...) . Lia is a gardener, who used to have her own business and has lots of knowledge and tips to share about gardening and cooking. The large garden needs weeding, hauling wheel barrels of wood chips, help with harvesting, processing the vegetables and fruits for our large family. Learn to drive a tractor. There is always house work to do as well like: vacuuming , dusting, washing floors, painting....In the winter there is always some snow to shovel, fire wood to stack and haul... We have lots of grandchildren coming to visit who love to have people read them stories and help bake cookies.

  • Languages

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

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have both individual and shared room accommodations. We all share 2 bathrooms until the next bathroom is finished. The bedrooms are large and we have a spacious kitchen. We provide towels, face cloths, soap, bed and mattress and linen, pillows, blankets.... you bring your own personal toiletries. Our house is air conditioned in summer. We heat mostly by solar and fire wood during the winter. Our family enjoys movies, music and like lounging around or reading in the large, bright, open living room upstairs or hanging out to watch the sunset on the porch. We have an organ and piano. Our extensive home library is open to all who want to read.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Be prepared to get dirty working and also there is some construction so bring good closed shoes/boots and bring clothes that can get paint on them. Bring slippers for wearing inside. Most people prefer working in jeans and t-shirts and sun hat/cap for the summer and lots of layers like sweaters and thermal underwear for the winter. If you need to purchase any these items... we love going shopping! Let us introduce you to thrifting.
    We take amateurs and will train you.
    We love people and are open to different points of view and cultural differences but we won't tolerate rudeness or disrespect towards anyone and would have to ask people to leave if they are disrespectful/rude .
    A few rules: clean up after yourself, please don't leave toiletries and clothing items lying around. Help with the clean up of dishes please, and no girls in boys rooms and no boys in girls rooms, (unless married couples get their own room). Let us be considerate of each other and call/share if there are changes of plans or going to be late. On Sundays we go to church and hope you'd like to come with us or if you would like we can drop you off at a train station and you can visit Montreal for the day. It costs about $12 for the train and metro/bus pass for the day. Several days of the week someone goes to Ottawa where we could drop you off at a bus for the day.
    We have a large extended family. There is always something going on, join in the fun and commotion and be prepared to be flexible.
    Welcome to our home we're honored to have you visit us.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We have unlimited fast internet.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Lots of parking space.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    We have a dog that is allowed inside but not allowed on the furniture.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    up to 5 hours/day, with Sunday and Mondays off. This can be negotiated as opportunities arises for activities.

Host ref number: 762719372787

Feedback (43)



Feedback

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Accuracy of profile: (4.9)

Cultural exchange: (5.0)

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