Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
21 Feb 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
22
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Bonjour!
We are a family of 7 including 3 humans:
- Sophie (mum) who is half English and speaks French, English, Spanish, and understands a few others,
- Gael (dad) who is French and speaks fluent English,
- Agathe (daughter, 9) who speaks to whoever will listen,
- Artemis (European cat, 5), who could provide food for the whole family if we were into birds and mice,
- Hulk (Chihuahua), who is our new baby and makes our lives sparklier,
- and Fifi & Loulou (Ducks), who live their best lives on our river and quack away at everyone.
We have been living in this amazing place for almost 8 years now. It is located in the very heart of Pays d'Auge, and we are surrounded by fields and orchards. The buildings were built between the 17th and 19th centuries and have been completely refurbished. The local area is protected, which means fresh air, no noisy neighbours and no heavy agriculture around.
The nearest large town is Lisieux (10mn away by car and 2hrs away by train from Paris St Lazare), we are 2hrs away from Paris by car, 30/45mn away from the nearest airports (Caen and Deauville) and the famous Normandy beaches, and 2km away from the village centre.
The space for workawayers is a 19th century timbered typical cottage, totally independent from our house, with bedrooms, living room, fully equipped kitchen, bathroom.
The property includes over 40 fruit trees (mainly apples, but also pears, peaches, walnuts), a vegetable garden (using permaculture technique), a little river and green pastures.
If you enjoy being outdoor most of the time, eventually spending time with an "unplugged" pre-teen, are not afraid of getting your hands (and clothes) dirty, but are clean and tidy, are independent yet friendly, like sharing food (Sophie cooks all kinds of vegetarian and vegan dishes) and cooking some, really love animals (domesticated or not) and have a sense of humour, then we would be delighted to have you around!
Sophie teaches yoga, which means you will have access to the studio (fully equipped) and may enjoy one of her classes, and Gael has a wood workshop which means you will be able to help him build stuff if this is something you might enjoy.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We both speak fluent English and French, have traveled extensively, and have lived abroad. We are happy to share our experiences and love of France in general and Normandy in particular with people from all over the planet.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for someone willing to care for our daughter when necessary as well as help around the property.
If you are fluent (or hoping to be soon) in French, have verified experience with children, are creative, patient, kind, clean, well organised, are willing to stay for a couple of weeks, then we will welcome you as family.
We offer independent accommodation, fully equipped and stocked kitchen (you will have to help us shop and cook some of your meals), access to the yoga studio and/or to a weekly class, in exchange for a few hours per day, 5 days per week.
We also need help with cutting and stocking wood, trees (trimming and care), gardening (weeding, planting, harvesting), cleaning up the surroundings (stream), doing maintenance work (painting, sanding, varnishing), caring for the animals, and any project we might be working on upon your arrival.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
The space for workawayers is a 19th century timbered Normand cottage, totally independent from our house, with double bedrooms, living room, fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and toilets.
What else ...
We have a bicycle for exploring the hills around or you can go hike on one of the many picturesque roads that surround the property. We can lend our car (automatic) if you are a responsible driver.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We now have "La Fibre" which makes remote working way more accessible.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a field with a flat area where cars can park easily, which means a van can fit in there without any problem.
Can possibly accept pets
We love animals, as long as they are trained, friendly towards our own animals and do not destroy anything.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (11)
She is kind, discreet, but also present whenever needed, she is hardworking, and she was so comfortable to be with that it felt as if she was part of our family from day one.
I could go on for hours, but the main thing is: anyone would be lucky hosting her, she is awesome!
Sophie and I developed a strong connection very quickly, and after only a few days of being there it felt as though we had know each other for much longer. We had great… read more
We were supposed to come back again after three… read more
Luis speaks great French and Joelle understands it really well (although she is too shy to speak it, I'm sure she… read more
Honestly we don't want them to leave! They are adorable, they can do anything and do it wholeheartedly. Emma has been in the garden, in the kitchen, painting… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(5.0)
She is kind, discreet, but also present whenever needed, she is hardworking, and she was so comfortable to be with that it felt as if she was part of our family from day one.
I could go on for hours, but the main thing is: anyone would be lucky hosting her, she is awesome!
Sophie and I developed a strong connection very quickly, and after only a few days of being there it felt as though we had know each other for much longer. We had great… read more
We were supposed to come back again after three… read more
Luis speaks great French and Joelle understands it really well (although she is too shy to speak it, I'm sure she… read more
Honestly we don't want them to leave! They are adorable, they can do anything and do it wholeheartedly. Emma has been in the garden, in the kitchen, painting… read more
The family is so welcoming and kind, and the accommodations are great. We were able to choose when we wanted to do the work and when we wanted our… read more
They were both amazing to be around, working hard in the garden and chilling with us as if we had known one another forever.
I think they are planning on… read more
thank you for the awesome time we spend at your gorgeous place. You were such a good companion and even if, you Sophie, spend not so much time with us because of your vacation, both of you were so welcoming. We had so many things we could do at your place that we never got bored but also had time to enjoy the atmosphere and the… read more
By the time we got back, they had accomplished so much in so little time that I had a hard time believing it! Both inside and out, from cooking for my husband every night (he was so happy!) to fixing my car (thanks so much Kathleen!), from taking care of the animals to… read more
When I settle down I already know I want to have a place as beautiful as Sophie and Gael's place...
What else can I say? I really felt like I was part of the family and I can only hope that I will come back to Normandy one day...
Also: Agathe, you have been my… read more
