Join our international family in ski resort, Val d'Isère, France

Details

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  Description

  We are an international family - Murray from New Zealand, Christina from Germany and our son Léon was born in France.
  
  We are now starting to look for our next workawayer for winter season 2024/25. The ideal candidate should be able to stay for the full season from end of November 2024 until early May 2025.
  
  We live in Val d'Isère, one of Europe's most famous ski resorts. We live here year-round and are mainly looking for someone to help with Léon (born August 2017) when we are busy with work. Léon is deaf but can hear with cochlear implants. He's a very energetic child and never stops, so being energetic yourself but with a calm presence will make the task a lot more enjoyable! :-)
  
  We won't expect more than 20 hours a week on average, although there might be weeks with a few more hours (up to 30 during school holidays) and weeks with less hours (often only as little as 12 hours on school weeks - we'll make sure it'll balance out!) You'll eat meals either with us or we'll make sure there is something available for you (although lunch may only be a sandwich). Unfortunately, there are no cooking facilities for you to prepare your own food in our "winter quarters".
  
  There will be plenty of time for you to explore the mountains in summer or go skiing in winter.
  
  Our winter helpers should ideally be able to join us for the whole season (late November until end of April), mostly so they can make the most of their ski pass which costs a big chunk of money and is not transferable to another person.
  
  If we have a helper in summer, we can do shorter stays, depending on when we actually are around as we tend to go visit our families during summer holidays too.
  
  Very happy to answer any other questions!
  
  Oh yes, I (Christina) have done a fair bit of wwoofing myself, so hope to understand and meet a traveler's needs! :-)
  
  Hope to hear from you! :-)

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We're a very international family, between us we speak 3 languages (and some French sign language). Murray is a chef with over 25 years experience. We run an online cookery school in summer and help to manage a small hotel for a British tour operator in the winter. So you will not only meet us, but also about 45 other staff members in winter - usually in their early twenties.

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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

  Mostly looking after Léon when he is not at school and we're working; very occasionally help in the house (like maybe hanging up laundry, tidying up after playtime etc, but won't expect actual cleaning).
  
  Down to the task of looking after Léon who is pretty impulsive (basically like a puppy running after butterflies), it is preferable if you have experience with young children and are slightly more mature yourself. You don't need to be a special needs teacher in their 40s, but we feel someone as young as 18 could easily get carried away by the temptations of a ski resort and then struggle to find a good balance between the fun bits and the tasks at hand.
  
  It helps if you are a keen, good and responsible skier as we'd be happy for you to spend time on the slopes with Léon on his days off school which makes the whole experience more fun for you.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Your own room in the attic of our small apartment (no proper door!), and shared bath room. Meals with us during staff dinner or provided - lunches may only be a sandwich. There are no cooking facilities in our winter home.

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  What else ...

  Val d'isere is one of the best ski resorts in the world and in summer it's an amazing place for hiking, cycling, mountain biking etc. They say people come for the winters and stay for the summers, and that's exactly what happened for us.
  
  Winter seasons are a definite highlight with hundreds of kilometers of slopes to explore! Just a heads up: ski pass prices aren't cheap, currently at 60€ a day or just under 1000€ for a seasonal pass. Just something to consider when you're budgeting your trip! ;-)

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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

  about 20 hours a week on average. This will balance out over the time you're staying with us. Definitely 2 days off, sometimes more!