Help welcome in a sustainable house in the Elqui Valley, Chile

Details

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  Description

  Updated Jan 2023
  
  We are Alejandra and Roberto, architect and hotel manager, a Chilean couple with no children. We love to enjoy life, share with friends, travelling, getting to know new places and, of course, giving ourselves the space to chill and relax.
  
  Since February 2015, we run a small , but unique bed and breakfast in the heart of this Valley, which is located 500 km north of the capital Santiago de Chile.It has just 4 rooms, with a maximum capacity of 10 guests. We also have a swimming pool, a lot of fruit trees, a organic garden, everything in 1 hectarea land.Ahh....and our mascots are 2 brown Dalmatian . With pandemia, we changed our business model to a "full equiped rented house", which makes everything easier. Guests are independent, so we just have to take care everything is working and doing well.
  
  We work hard to be a "green " b&b, so we do among others:
  
  We have solar panels for the hot water system.
  We do produce our own electricity through photovoltaic pannels.
  The "grey water" (water from showers or sinks) is separated from the "black'" water (water from toilets), using the "grey" water to irrigate garden and trees.
  The lights are LED, a technique very energy-efficient.
  We separate the waste like plastic, glass, cans and others for later recycling.
  All organic waste is used for composting and then serve as fertilizers for the garden.
  We produce during the day our own electricity through fotovoltaic solar pannels.
  
  
  
  Any suggestion or help regarding this, will be really welcome!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  First starting with the language, Spanish, would be the first benefit. Chile itself is a good option to get involved in the southamerican culture.Since we are located in the countryside, it is a good opportunity to learn more about the rural Chile, also called the Real Chile!
  Since I have been working for about 20 years in the turism industry, this could also be a chance to learn about my country,not just about geography, also economis, social, etc.

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  Help

  We look for someone responsible , organized and clean that can help us in all our daily work:
  i.e:
  -- Mainly gardening (cutting grass, irrigating trees and plants, maintenance in general of the garden, maintenance of
  fences, taking care of our organic garden)
  -- Cleaning and maintaining the swimming pool
  -- Helping to maintain facilities organized and clean. ( terrace, bodega, house )
  -- Other tasks
  
  Kindly note, that 100% of the work must be done outside, in the garden, in the land or in the bodega.
  
  We offer three meals a day, free internet access, use of our bikes, etc.
  We offer per week two full days off
  
  Things we really don´t like:
  That you are resting, while everybody else is working hard.
  People who depend 100 on tecnology, so they will never connect with the place and the enviroment and people.
  People who don´t use their common sense as much.
  People that eat, as it would be their "last meal" ever. We expect someone who eats normal.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  We offer a room that could be shared with another person in our house, sharing the facilities ( bathroom and kitchen )just with my wife and I. It is a small house with 2 rooms, right next to the rented house.

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  What else ...

  Since our business is 24/7, there is no fix agenda.
  During days off, the volunteer can use one of our bikes, to explore the valley and try one of the pisco destilleries. There is "colectivos or shared taxis that leave you very close to our house ( 1 block )
  
  Taxis are also available for a low cost. We are located 4 km from the city of Vicuña ( 30 minutes walk ) and just 1 hour from the beach ( La Serena ).
  
  
  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contact us!
  
  Warm regards,
  Roberto and Alejandra

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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 per day, 5 days a week (two full days off)

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