Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
6 May 2026
Reply rate
90.9 %
Usually responds within 24 days
Feedback
70
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Details
Description
Micheal and I are a retired American couple living in Quillan, France, the town most people call "A Little Bit of Heaven." Our household consists of myself (74) and my husband, Micheal (76) and a recently adopted 6 yo cat named Castor, which is very sweet. Micheal and I are "young at heart" and manage to stay busy much of the time, though we also enjoy sitting and talking on our front porch or by the fireplace in the living room. I love to garden and try to grow some my own vegetables. Cooking is another favorite activity, and wine is my preferred beverage. Micheal is an avid reader and an artist. He is a former petroleum landman and art teacher and sometimes dabbles with 3-dimensional art. We both love music and enjoy dancing.. We have taken our workawayers to a wide variety of places and activities in this area, which is rife with natural amenities and historic sights.
Micheal and I have traveled extensively in Europe since 2005. We love the cultures and slower lifestyle of many European countries, which is one reason we make France our home for most of the year. We have enjoyed having workawayers from all over the globe both in Texas and at our home in SW France. We are still friends with many of them and have even had a reunion with several workawayers who were at our house together.
For accommodations we offer two options: a room with a trundle bed, which works well for 2 singles or a room with a double bed for a couple. Both bedrooms have access to a full bath. Our common areas consist of a living room with fireplace , kitchen and dining area, the covered front porch and a terrace overlooking the Aude River. Plus we have a large garden.
Since retiring, we are not early risers (9ish) and enjoy a pretty relaxed schedule. We have flexibility about the work hours for workawayers , unless something requires coordinating with a helper. We are not big breakfast or lunch eaters so we provide an array of breakfast and lunch options for our workawayers to make those meals when they are ready to eat them. Normally we eat the evening meal together. We love to have workawayers prepare a meal that is representative of their home country or area.
Quillan is home to many artists from many genres, retirees, and lots of people escaping the large cities. The community is friendly and welcoming. The town often has festivals, live music and swimming in the local river or lake. Spring and autumn have their own magic with flowers popping out everywhere or gorgeous fall leaves across the hilly landscape.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House & pet sitting
Interests
Self development
Movies & TV
Sustainability
Culture
Events & social
Performing arts
Plant care
Music
Languages
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
Gardening
History
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Architecture
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Mountain
Dancing
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Quillan has much to offer without the tourist crowds. The center of town is a stroll through numerous shops, cafe's and restaurants. The natural amenities include the Aude River for fishing, swimming or rafting, hiking and biking trails. Carcassonne, Perpignan and Toulouse are close enough to make day trips.
Quillan has a public, 1€ bus (the Llio line) for transporation to larger cities. We also can help you get to public transportation, if you don't have your own vehicle. Whenever possible, we take our workawayers to various sights of interest, as we enjoying acquainting them with our part of France.
Help
French language practice would be great, and we can help if you need English practice. Currently we could use some help catching up with household chores, including ironing some sheets, pillow cases and clothes, plus some organizational assistance. We may need help with some gardening, like weeding, and depending upon when you are here, we might need help with canning/freezing some vegetables/fruits. We also greatly appreciate having dinners prepared.
It's really helpful to have workawayers who understand how to do general daily chores without being asked, like taking out the trash, sweeping the floor, or setting the table. We like to interact with our workawayers at dinner when we aren't working because that's when we really get to know them and to learn about their lives and culture. Certainly we expect them to have hours off for privacy, too. Wherever you are from, there's something interesting about where you live that we haven't experienced.
I like to think of workaway as an investment in the future - future understanding of other cultures for both the homeowner and the workawayer. I have hosted approximately 100 workawayers, both in Texas and in France, plus Micheal and I have been workawayers in Germany and Austria. Thus, we can appreciate what it's like to come into someone's home, try to get settled and establish a working relationship in a relatively brief period of time. We have made many friends worldwide through this program. In fact, we have had "workaway exchanges" where a workawayer has come to our house and then we have been workawayers at theirs. That was a truly great experience for all parties. We hope you will feel the same about your experience as a workawayer in our home and that you will encourage others to try this magical way of getting to know the world and people from other cultures.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
English, French (intermediate)
Accommodation
We have two different guest rooms: one has a trundle bed, which can hold 2 single individuals, and the other has a double bed, which works for couples. If we have more than one workawayer, they usually share that bathroom, which has a large, walk-in shower, toilet and sink. There is a covered front porch, and a side terrace overlooking the Aude River. Those are great places for having morning coffee, al fresco dining, or an evening apero. The garden is another peaceful space for relaxing and enjoying nature.
What else ...
This is a fantastic area to explore and to relax. So, this is an interesting place to spend some time - not touristy. Instead, experience the genuine small town French life. Having a car would be a great benefit, though not required.
If you let us know where you are coming from, we can offer some help with transportation options.
Overall you will find us to be very flexible, considerate, helpful, friendly and accommodating. We ask that you keep your space reasonably tidy, and that you leave it orderly upon your departure. We have a washer and dryer available to wash your clothes, sheets and towels when needed. We have fast internet so working from here is an option. Just let us know what you need, and we will strive to make it work for you.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have high-speed internet, and a work space. I have a printer/scanner/copier with WIFI connections. The workawayer bedroom is upstairs from the common areas so it's quiet and private.
Space for parking camper vans
There is some parking for cars or campervans in our driveway.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Castor (5 years)
Sweet and friendly long haired cat who loves to have his back scratched and neck rubbed. He is both indoors and outdoors.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Debi and Micheal are passionate… read more
The house, set in a quiet neighborhood, is large, beautiful and comfortable and it has been a pleasure for me to look after it!
Debi’s kind and helpful nature has made my stay memorable and I can only highly… read more
There was another workaway family with two kids and Debi made sure everyday to make everyone confortable and was very clear about… read more
Thank you Debi.
The work was renovating an apartment and gardening. We also had the opportunity to host a B&B guest (for our first time ever) and welcome other Workawayers while Debi and Michael were taking a… read more
Also, fair warning, if you have difficulty deciding which serving of delicious dinner, piece of chocolate or slice of pie… read more
There was enough time to explore the region, and Debi made a point of having their workawayers explore as much of the… read more
Southern hospitality is alive & well in the south of France.
Debi is working hard on this wonderful property & it is showing the results of some TLC.
It was very easy to become part of the household and everyone just gets in & gets results.
I don't know if you will… read more
I was very lucky to be able to stay with them on short notice, when my other plans fell through. 'Workaway couple' Gail and Peter picked me up from the station and I immediately felt relaxed. At the house I was welcomed by Debi and another workawayer… read more
Adrian
