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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Dec 2024
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Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
We have lived on our half acre ocean view property for 47 years. We raised two daughters here, and have worked with Rotary sharing our home with exchange youth and business program participants. Kees is retired from the finance industry and now works in fine woodworking. Audrey is a retired elementary school teacher and tutor. We travelled to Europe, Japan, and across N.America and enjoy entertaining guests from around the world in our home.
Types of help and learning opportunities
GardeningHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceHelp with Computers/ InternetCultural exchange and learning opportunities
We represent a Canadian point of view influenced by a background of Kees having lived on other continents and Audrey being a fifth generation Canadian. We enjoy international travel and interactions.
Our career backgrounds are finance, and education. Hobbies include woodworking, quilting, knitting and crocheting as well as gardening, and many guests have shown interest in sharing their skills or learning some while here.
We have encouraged guests to interact with our friends, family and community to experience diversity in ‘what is Canadian’, and/or to explore their interests and careers from a Canadian viewpoint. Participation in cooking, conversation, walks in nature, exploring local points of interest, and community events have been a part of our guests’ interactions.
Basically, what you will learn here is a Canadian family lifestyle..family, friends, free time,
What we will learn is your point of view, skills, and sense of adventure.
We look forward to meeting youProjects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Assist us in the garden with pruning, weeding, and general clean up. Before gardening is in full swing, some spring cleaning assistance in the home is appreciated.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: FluentThis 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
Our home has one guest room with double bed suitable for single or established couple visitor(s). Accommodation would include stay (bed and meals) for help. This would be booked as one to two weeks at a time maximum on line, but depending on other commitments could be extended while here. We enjoy showing the island to visitors, and if time allows, would extend a daytrip to another area of Vancouver Island. We are within walking distance to Nanoose Bay-Lantzville beach, walking trails through the woods, and to bus routes that take you to the city of Nanaimo. Lantzville/Nanaimo is central on Vancouver Island.. 2-3 hours by car away from Victoria to the south and Long Beach to the West. We are connected to Vancouver / mainland BC by regular BC ferry services. Our home has an indoor-outdoor cat. We are non-smokers and will only accept non-smokers.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (32)
We were able to have some interesting conversations on differences in lifestyles and habits as well as educational opportunities between Canada and Germany.… read more
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We were able to have some interesting conversations on differences in lifestyles and habits as well as educational opportunities between Canada and Germany.… read more
thanks a lot for letting me stay in your home for the last 2 weeks. Being in Canada the first time it was very helpful for me to live together with you just at the beginning . I could ask you all my questions about the way of life in Canada and you weren’t sick to answer and explain to me.
Working together with you, Audrey,… read more
Hope we can stay in touch…you are welcome back at any time!
We thoroughly enjoyed hosting her. She quickly became a friend helping us Spring clean and organize our entire kitchen. Her ability to do without being asked, pitching in with daily routines was also very comfortably achieved. She is a good cook, and shared her recipes with… read more
i have a expressive story about their caring. one day we had a plan to visit their friend. before visiting them, Kees told me about… read more
Leo worked extensively in my gardens transplanting, weeding and bark mulching.… read more
From the first day, I became part of their family - I met their family, friends, and neighbors and had meals together. Also, we volunteered together serving people in need, did the garden work, went for walks, and went hiking. They… read more
I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations over coffee, I wish I could hear more of your stories. Also for taking me on a tours around and including me in all the activities during my stay, from visiting the newborn kitten to setting up stall for the exhibition.
Thanks Audrey, you… read more
The two week visit, her excellent English, and time to interact gave us a much clearer understanding of Japan. Nozomi helped us with garden and housework and cooked a wonderful Japanese dinner. We are looking forward to meeting her in Japan in October.
We recommend her as a mature, conscientious addition,… read more
We realy… read more
It was wonderful to get to know you two. You really do whistle / sing while you work. You moved a mountain, weeded, cooked, helped on your truck, visited Victoria, and were great company during your stay with us. We enjoyed our conversations and learned more about your area of Spain. We would not hesitate to recommend you to any… read more
Hope the rest of your Canadian holiday is full of new adventures and fun. Let us know...
You are very welcome to come visit me in Weimar.… read more
In the two weeks Alex stayed with us, we were able to get some early spring yard work completed with his help.. and took time to show him some highlights of the area. Alex also fit in three days to go with friends to Tofino/Long Beach. We hope he has good memories of these times.
We… read more
We hope his future travels are the experiences he is looking forward to and have no hesitation recommending him for hosting.
Looking forward to seeing you… read more
they are very kind and open. I really enjoyed gardening and woodworking. they teach me many things. I hope never forget this two weeks. Thank you very much. I'm looking forward to meeting again!!
She was willing, able, and cheerful about all chores we did, including discussions social, cultural and political. Easy to be with, fitting in with our lifestyle, and seeing what needs doing without being asked.
Jacqui will be a gift to anyone taking her into their… read more
She is thoughtful and quiet, but is able to take initiative and be self directed as well as working cooperatively with myself and Kees. As well,… read more
Kees… read more
I was part of the family from the first day on and they integrated me in everything that was going on. Shopping with their granddaughter or a cup of tea with their friends. I was always invited to join them.
I learned a lot from these wise people during our interesting conversations while sitting… read more
Thanks… read more
They travelled to lots of places and are very interested in all the little cultural differences.
They showed me around on the Island and took me to many places I couldn´t have reached without them. We shared an affection for British crime series + coffee and cake and it was nice to meet some of… read more
They are very knowledgeable about their surrounding area and Vancouver Island in general and… read more
They are very polite, super organized, careful and full of knowledge. We visited downtown of Nanaimo, met some neighbors and their family. We… read more
We really appreciated your calm enthusiasm and great work ethic. You were willing to pitch in doing house, shop, and garden work, and did all of it so competently - based on weather conditions. Loved our conversations about Brazil and your lifestyle there. We may never get to see your country, but feel that… read more
The work I had to do didn't acutally feel like work at all, and I kept trying to convince them to make their volunteers work more.:)
I got to see a great deal (more) of the surroundings, of… read more
We loved having you stay with us and hope we will see you again. You were a great help in the yard, and you fit into our lifestyle so comfortably...We will remember the perogies dinner for a long time, and now that our grandchildren know how to do them will we continue the tradition. We would not hesitate to recommend you as… read more