English speaking family renovating a house/ garden in Susa, Italy

Details

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  Description

  We're looking forward to having you join our adventure! We're a family (Ami, Chris and our 3 year old) from London who have recently bought a house in Susa, with lots of work to do to make it the home that we want for our family and friends to enjoy!
  
  It is already a wonderful space, with jawdropping views and we've now worked out a lot about what we want to be doing with the house and garden over the coming years, but are still learning every day we're in the house.
  
  There's plenty of space for guests - you'll be able to have your own room(s) and privacy while you're with us, but we'd love to get to know you better and have you join us too!
  
  We're an English speaking family and don't speak much Italian: we're learning(!), but currently speak a little more French - which is also useful in Susa as it is so close to the French border.
  
  Susa is a wonderful town in the centre of the Susa valley up from Turin, popular with tourists. We've been happy living in the house with no car - all the shops and services you need are in walking/ cycling distance. Susa sits on the via Francigena (the pilgrimage from Canterbury, UK to Rome), there are some stunning Roman remains and beautiful mountains all around.
  
  The weather is mostly fantastic, as although the mountains about Susa climb to 3500m (Rocciamelone) the town is only at 500m - meaning it is largely warm and sunny.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  As an English speaking family, we're aware that opportunities in the UK on Workaway are limited now, so we're offering a British experience in Italy!
  
  Susa is also a great place to practice your Italian, your French, embrace the religious heritage and learn about the history of a town that has been a cultural centre for thousands of years.

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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

  We're looking for help with all sorts of DIY, or simply childcare while we're doing it!
  
  There are plenty of jobs that we want to do over the coming years:
  - Larger scale DIY & restructuring: removing walls, building walls/ doors, fitting a kitchen, renovating bathrooms etc
  - Simpler DIY: decorating, deep cleaning etc
  - Gardening: we've got a pretty clean slate here to have some fun with the garden
  - Childcare: we have a 3 year old that needs constant entertainment, which can be a challenge while we're working in the house!
  
  We've also got a few areas that you could stamp your own mark - some basements and outbuildings that we're leaving alone for the moment, but could be amazing spaces.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Our house is currently split into 3 flats on top of each other, which we're trying to improve and also connect into more of a home. All are comfortable spaces to stay though, so you will be able to have your own space.
  
  We're in the centre of town, but that doesn't mean that it is noisy - the loudest thing that we hear in the house is typically a little waterfall joining the river near us!

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  What else ...

  There's a lot to do in Susa and the wider Susa valley - all accessible by foot, bike or train.
  - Susa is in the mountains, so hiking, climbing, cycling (road & MTB), Skiing (in winter) etc are all close
  - As such, the natural environment is stunning, with woodland, waterfalls, lakes and rivers
  - Churches, Roman remains and all things history
  - Vineyards (there's some wonderful winemaking in the surrounding hills)
  - Turin is on the doorstep with all the history it holds is close by
  - It's not hard to get to the rest of the surrounding area of Turin: like Asti, Alba, Barolo, Aosta valley etc are all a couple of trains away. Milan is only a 2 hour drive!

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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?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week