Nurture nature and enjoy the countryside's stillness in Sicily, Italy

Details

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  Description

  I need one person in APRIL: especially I the two weeks from about 13th to 26th (I will have an event on the 19th). From MAY till the beginning of NOVEMBER I am also looking for long-term helpers who could stay one month or more. I need help to take care of 7 cats, one young dog, the house, plants in the garden and some baby trees growing up.
  
  PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY
  
  If you have an independent, proactive, "how can i help/what can i do" attitude, if you feel ready for Heart to Heart connection, and if your soul resonates with the words "know thyself", go on reading. Otherwise, please skip this profile, it would not make for you.
  
  This Workaway stay can suit people who may enjoy spending time by themselves in a countryside location during the time i won't be at home. Although i am friend with all the people living in the area and I can introduce you to them, the house is in the countryside, in a quite REMOTE place, with no public transportation. The tasks when I am out of home are very easy and basic: watering plants (in Summer), and taking care of the animals' needs, like walking the dog, feeding them and changing their drinking water every day. I also expect volunteers to CONTRIBUTE by helping to keep the house clean and tidy with basic tasks such as sweeping the floor, cleaning the stove after use, putting your dish away from the table, washing dishes if you were served a ready meal: you need to understand very clearly that these are the BASICS of respect and sharing common areas.
  
  LOCATION: I can pick you up at arrival and take you to the bus/train station when you leave, there are families and couples living in the area, so walking around you can usually meet people along the road. The closest town is Castelmola, about 8 km far, but there are no buses and no public transportation, and towns are NOT at walking distance, because the area is made of mountains and hills.
  
  PETS + HOUSE: At home there are 7 outdoor/indoor cats (Rubacuori, Joshu, Piuma, Muezza, Principessa, Pasha and Mini) who are free to go in and out, and one young dog, Kokoro. Taking care of energetic Kokoro requires some PATIENCE. There are many awesome walks that you can do in the area with Kokoro, who loves walking, running and exploring: i take him for a walk twice every day, in the morning and in the evening, for at least one hour each walk. As you can see on the pictures, the property offers an amazing view on Etna, trees, a hanging chair, a hammock and plenty of peace, and at home there's an excellent and stable internet satellite Wi-Fi. We use a compost toilet in the bathroom: it has no flush and requires some care and attention but it is very easy to use.
  
  ACCOMMODATION + FOOD: You will have a mezzanine on top of the living room, where the ceiling is not very high (check pictures). I mainly eat vegetarian, but about once a week I have some meat, however, not every single day I cook food: at home there's always plenty of food that you can take; there are vegetables in the garden, you will find vegetables and eggs in the fridge, and much more food stored in the pantry. Especially in Summer, I may cook at night, but if I am at home during the day, usually I don't cook (it's too hot!), but we have something fresh, like salads or maybe food from the day before.
  
  EXPERIENCE: Four years ago I started to rent this property to stay deeply connected to Nature, wake up with birds' songs and and tune into a peaceful silence and into the healing frequency of trees and plants. I offer you an opportunity to enjoy the same! This Workaway experience is for you if you enjoy countryside's stillness, if you love a very simple life-style and spending time in nature, if you feel like you don't need social events or a lot of social interaction during your stay, and if you are willing to commit taking care of the place as well as the animals. I am happy to share everything about life, I deeply value your joy as much as your tears and sadness if those happen, at the same time I appreciate direct and honest communication, and I enjoy a creative use of time, therefore I will reject any form of interaction based on mind games, ego-centered drama, emotional or psychological manipulation, and attention-seeking behaviors. And if you happen to notice that i do something like that, tell me and we will laugh together at it :-)
  
  Volunteers can enjoy their time in a natural environment, with awesome landscapes, clean air and the view of Etna just in front. Taormina is the most popular town around the area. A very beautiful village on the east coast of Sicily, about midway between Messina and Catania, and very popular tourist destination since the 19th century. The village is perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Besides the ancient Greek theatre, it has many old churches, lively bars, fine restaurants, and antique shops. Taormina is approximately a forty-five minute drive away from Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Pets

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Self development

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Photography

  

  Gardening

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Books

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Dancing
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The main benefit is the opportunity to stay for free in an area where accommodation is usually very expensive. Also, staying close to Taormina is a good opportunity to visit places near by, like Catania, Forza D'Agrò, Savoca, and spend some time on awesome beaches. Taormina is also a very interesting town from the historical and cultural viewpoint, a place where it is possible to enjoy beautiful art and architecture. The area also offers nice walks in an amazing landscape.

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  Help

  The help required from volunteers is very simple, but requires care: feeding the cats focusing on some specifications that I will give at the beginning of the stay or before, if required. And watering garden and growing plants

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Turkish: Intermediate
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I used to be a teacher of Italian language for foreigners, so I have a great knowledge of Italian grammar, vocabulary, phrases and Italian culture
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  Accommodation

  Single room in shared countryside house. If couple or two friends, they will share the single room

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  What else ...

  Possibility to use the e-bike to visit Taormina and the beautiful surroundings: like the charming Isola Bella and the small "fairy town" of Castelmola. It is also possible to visit the wonderful historical centres of Forza d'Agrò and Savoca, where some scenes of the Godfather movie were shot.

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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

  I host workawayers in the house where I live. If you would like to see the spaces you can ask me pictures

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  Space for parking camper vans

  They are super welcome

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  Can possibly accept pets

  No pets: my cats become very upset when other cats are in the house, and since a few months there's already a young dog that i am training, therefore living all together is already a challenge. So, more pets would be a problem, and it could also be dangerous if you have a cat, who could be scared and escape.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  

  Kokoro (2 years)

  My name is Kokoro,which in Japanese means Heart, because I am brave and steadfast, I love exploring and running, so my favorite part of the day is when I can go out to walk. I especially love parties, spending time with babies and kids, and meeting other dogs to play with them, because my nature is very playful and joyful

  

  Mini (1 year)

  I am Mini, the new entry. I am small but I fear nothing. Sometimes I don't come home for days and I am very mysterious about it, nobody knows where I go and stay...my human thinks I have an other family, but I will never tell, it's my secret. I have large, round very funny cheeks and I am incredibly good at creative meowing, I always make new sounds to talk to my human. My fur is very soft, I am very curious, and at home I really like Joshu and Pasha. I love to sleep on the couch near Kokoro, the dog, he protects my sleep because Principessa may set up some ugly ambush to me, and that's not fun.

  

  Pasha

  I arrived from the surrounding countryside, and back then I was super wild when I started to stay around the house. Now I love cuddles so much that I always ask for more: I want to make up for all the cuddles i never had in my hard life, I can't believe that now I have a warm house to sleep and a human who takes care of me! When it comes to food I become very vocal, I beg a lot for it, and I tend to eat a bit too much. I am big and strong, and since I have not much control on my energy, usually other cats don't enjoy playing with me, they are a bit afraid of my heavy paws....

  

  Principessa (4 years)

  I am a Princess, but of a very wild kind, what I love more than anything else is my sweet mum, Muezza. I am quite big, strong, and wild too, and my purr is the loudest in the house. I have a difficult relationship with Piuma, but even more difficult with Mini, the last arrived kitty...sometimes I feel like attacking them, so, if you see that I do that, please stop me

  

  Muezza

  I am a sweet and small mama cat, Principessa is my daughter who loves me to the moon and back. I am a very silent, I never meow, I only do when I bring home a mouse for other cats. I am also sensitive, so too much cuddle may stress me, but I love to stay on top of the bed just purring to my human. I am the number one hunter of the house, many times I only hunt for my fellow cats: when i take home a mouse, I make a very special meow to tell everybody, but i am not interested in eating my prey. I am crazy for the two brothers, Joshu and Piuma: I really love them a lot, for me they are my babies, and I am so happy they are here, because they took here the human who opened the house to me and always gives me delicious treats

  

  Piuma (4 years)

  I am Piuma, my personality is quite shy but I am also very sweet and delicate, my human says I am pure kindness, and sometimes she calls me "medicine cat". When it's feeding time, I will wait until all other cats have their food before I get to my bowl. I am not a big cat but I am especially light so I can jump very high and long. I have an allergy that makes me suffer in Spring and Summer. I have my special unique quirks and rituals that you will learn here, and sometimes I have a hard time with Principessa who may become a bit aggressive to me. Joshu is my brother, I love him and I also love to have my spaces

  

  Joshu (4 years)

  I am a big size cat, very friendly and curious, extrovert and very sweet, so I will want to meet and get to know you before everybody else. I bear the name of a Zen Master, so I will teach you patience and heart-based communication. I try to be the boss, but some times I meow around or stay close to you just because I just want cuddles, I especially like to have a nap on your lap. I also love Kokoro the dog: when he comes back from the walk I always come to welcome him and rub on his paws. Sometimes I play with my brother Piuma, and sometimes we get nervous at each other

  

  Rubacuori (7 years)

  I am Rubacuori, that means heart stealer. With humans I am the sweetest cat, and I like men especially....but I am really afraid of all other cats, so I come home to eat or to stay when outside it's too cold or too hot. Otherwise soon after eating I escape to the fields. I love to stay in nature, and sometimes I may join you on the walk with Kokoro the dog. But if it's too hot I may get tired very soon. When i am relaxed i am very funny, my fur is soft and my look is very expressive

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