Join our fun, bilingual family and explore Padova, Italy

Details

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  Description

  ⭐**Our daughters dream of having an older-sister figure to play with, laugh with, and practice English with every day** ⭐
  
  We are a warm and welcoming family living in Padova, a lively university city with a great nightlife and plenty of activities for young people. We're also in a fantastic location for exploring the Veneto region: we're very close to Venice, Vicenza and Verona, to the region's beautiful walled cities, and to the historic WWI areas such as Asiago and the Asiago Plateau.
  
  We are a family of four with two cats. Mum works mainly out of town, and dad works shifts (morning/afternoon), alternating weekly, so having a trustworthy person at home is very valuable to us — not just as practical help, but as a genuine cultural and personal exchange.
  
  **Our girls love:**
  all kinds of creative crafts and drawing, and one of them loves doing manicures — on herself and on anyone willing to sit still long enough! The younger one is very lively, loves sports, and gets bored easily, so she really appreciates someone who's up for being active with her.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Culture

  

  Self development

  

  Pets

  

  Plant care

  

  Languages

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Animals

  

  Mountain

  

  Winter sports

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Beach

  

  Water sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We love including our guests in family life and everyday moments: shared meals, day trips to nearby cities, and simply chatting together in the evening. Since we are a multicultural family — mum is from Italy,   dad is from Morocco, and we all lived in China for several years — we speak Italian, English, French, Arabic, Chinese, and a bit of Russian, and we genuinely enjoy connecting with people from different backgrounds. We're happy to share what we know about Italian, Moroccan and Chinese culture, cooking, and languages, and we love introducing guests to the flavors and traditions we've picked up along the way. In return, we hope to learn about our Workawayer's own country, language, and way of life — for us and for our daughters, every guest is a chance to open a small window onto another culture, right from our kitchen table.

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  Au Pair Help

  Further details can be found here

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  Help

  Our main goal is to find an **English native-speaking girl** (or someone with an excellent level of English) who can become something like a big sister to our two daughters, aged 13 (middle school, third year) and 10 (primary school, fifth year), so they can practice English in a natural and fun way — not as a school subject, but through games, conversations and everyday family life.
  
  **How the household is organized:**
  - Dad works on a rotating weekly schedule, alternating between morning and afternoon shifts
  - Mum works mainly out of town
  - During dad's afternoon-shift weeks: help is needed with the morning routine (getting one of the girls to school, etc.)
  - During dad's morning-shift weeks: help is needed with the girls' afternoon routine from 4:30 p.m. onward and with dinner, in coordination with the grandparents
  - Weekends and long holidays are off, as Mum is back and can take care of everything.
  
  **What we're looking for:**
  - A girl who speaks English fluently
  - Who can drive (her own car is a plus, but she can also use ours)
  - Availability to take one of the girls to school in the morning (6 km, by car) when needed, and to manage afternoon pick-ups/activities and dinner as described above
  - Willingness to play with the girls and involve them in activities in English, especially during afternoon shifts
  - We prefer minimum stay of at least 1 month (more i preferred)
  
  We are mainly looking for native English speakers, but we would also welcome native Spanish speakers, always giving priority to English.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Arabic: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Chinese (Mandarin): Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  Russian: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  Anyone can practice his Italian with us and the kids!
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  Accommodation

  **What we offer:**
  a private room with a private bathroom, the chance to explore the Veneto region in your free time — from art cities to the mountains — and a warm family environment.

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  What else ...

  Suggestions on how to enjoy your stay:
  
  Padova is very well connected: the train station has frequent direct connections to Venice (about 25 minutes), Vicenza, and Verona, making day trips easy and affordable. The historic center itself is compact and easily explored on foot or by bike — we're happy to lend a bike for getting around. For weekend adventures, the Asiago Plateau and the Dolomites are within reach by car, offering hiking in summer and skiing in winter, along with historic WWI sites. Padova's university atmosphere also means plenty of bars, live music, and events, especially in the areas near the university and Prato della Valle.
  
  House rules:
  We are a relaxed, multicultural family and we'd like our guest to feel at home while respecting a few important house rules:
  
  No pork is eaten in our home
  No alcohol is consumed in the house
  No smoking inside the house (but it's allowed on the balconies and in the garden)
  We have two indoor cats, so guests should be comfortable living with pets
  Laundry should only be run with a full load
  Please turn off the lights when leaving the house or whenever you're not in the room

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  We have reliable WiFi throughout the house, and a quiet space where you can work or study during the day. Since our help is mainly needed in the mornings or afternoons (depending on dad's shift schedule) and in the early evening for dinner and homework time with the girls, there's a good stretch of free time during the day that works well for remote work, study, or personal projects. We're happy to be flexible and find a routine together that fits both our family's needs and your own schedule.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Pina and Pinky (9 years)

  Calico cat, female; red cat, male.

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