Welcome to the countryside to experience french life style with a teacher in Vendee, France

  • Favourited 256 times
  • Last activity: 26 Feb 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    UPDATE : if you have very good skills in gardening, landscaping, masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electricity, please contact me.

    ** The reviews on our profile relate to volunteering which took place mainly in the summer when my whole family was together in this holiday's house. Today, I live alone and the house is my principal residence. So I ask you to read my announcement carefully to understand what I am looking for.**

    My name is Laurence, I am a teacher of French language and literature and I currently write on several subjects which requires a lot of calm and concentration. This is why I need the help of volunteers who can relieve me of daily tasks (cleaning, cooking, gardening in particular).
    I share my life between this house in the countryside and an apartment in Angers, where my sons live with their father.
    So, occasionally, you may be required to keep the house during my absence and to live independently, the important thing for me is that the house is inhabited and heated.

    I was raised in a community based on values of solidarity, sharing, joy and constant mutual aid. I have therefore always found it natural to live like this: I welcome people to my home, I carpool, I travel by exchanging my house, I barter for objects or services, etc.
    I turned to Workaway for several years but my family has been used to hosting volunteers and foreign students for almost twenty years, we have always had fantastic experiences with all of our hosts as we are warm and easy going.

    I love to discover different cultures by travelling and meeting foreigners. I love cooking, discussing, playing board games (a lot !), reading (a lot !), writing (obviously), doing yoga, swimming, traveling the world, meeting friends, laughing, visiting the region and my country. I love art, photography, cinema, literature, history, politic, philosophy, world cuisine.

    I am said to be very sociable, warm and benevolent. I also really like being alone and I need lots of quiet time when I retreat to my room to work or rest. I can't live in the continuous effervescence even if I really appreciate the discussions, the party and the collective activities.

    In winter, I adopt a really gentle and quiet pace of life: I go to bed early, I don't go out much, I read, I write.

    ** VERY IMPORTANT**

    My house is located in a very small village in the countryside of South of Vendée. It's really important that you appreciate the fact that my house is in the middle of nowhere. This means that there is no public transport in or around my village (the first bus or train station is 30 minutes away by car and I cannot take you there regularly) nor can you go very far by bike. It would really be ideal if you could come to my house with your own car or if you are willing to rent a car here in order to be self-sufficient, when I am here or when I am away.
    In addition, I would like to point out that in winter most tourist sites are closed, that the weather is obviously not always pleasant and that nature is not very beautiful. I know from experience that many people choose Workaway to travel "for free" and discover France but if that is your main objective, choose another destination. On the other hand, if your goal is to rest, to live peacefully and for free somewhere, to take care of yourself, to meet people, then you are welcome, even if, in the end, you don't work a lot for me . I don't consider volunteers as slaves and I like the idea of creating a small community at home where people just feel good and enjoy living peacefully.
    I repeat: I prefer to welcome people who have a car or who are willing to rent one for the duration of their stay. At the moment, and particularly in winter, I do not have the mental and physical availability to take you sightseeing.

    **

    Currently, I am looking for volunteers who have real skills who can help me on a daily basis and lighten my workload. I am looking for resourceful, autonomous and dynamic people.

    I care about the environment and I expect that volunteers respect my way of life regarding the economy of water and energy. For the same reasons, I have a healthy, organic and vegetarian diet.

    Sorry, I don't welcome smokers at all because of allergies. About allergies, I have two cats ;)

    I like reaching out through a Skype session as to get to know each other before the real meeting :)

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    - You will share my daily life : meals, outings, discussions... and you will improve your french language ! Depending on your level, you can participate in my classes with my other learners.

    - You will discover a region rich in history and craftsmanship if you want to visit it by your own way. Obviously, you will benefit from an experience of life in the rural world and discover the charm of simple pleasures.

  • Help

    Help

    Here is the specific help I need:

    - someone to cook vegetarian lunch and dinner 5 days a week (no gastronomy, only simple, family and tasty meals.), to clean the house regularly and thoroughly, to take care of the laundry (machine washing, drying, ironing).

    - someone to arrange the huge garden with me : a lot of cleaning to be expected, removing weeds, trimming hedges and trees, clearing brush, mowing again and again.

    - someone to finish the work already started inside the house (lay baseboards, fix a switch or a socket, finish laying the tiles in a small space, delicately paint walls, windows or doors). It would ideally require a good handyman or handywoman. And I would love to learn ;) !

    -There are neither animals like chicken, goats, sheeps nor a vegetable garden since I travel a lot. But, with the new shared housing project, it's something that I plan to put in place very quickly. So, if you have skills in making a sheep shelter, a chicken coop and building a pen, welcome to my place ! I will be happy to build this with you.

    - Ditto if you are an outstanding gardener and you can help me to create a vegetable garden (especially in permaculture) from scratch ;)

    - someone who knows how to sew will be greatly appreciated (make curtains, tea towels, cushion covers, etc.)

    - someone who can create my website (commercial site with reservation of time slots and online payment) and/or who can help me edit video clips

    I ask for 20 to 25 hours of working per week but the hours are flexible, it depends of my needs and yours. You can work hard during 3 days and have your time free for 4 days, for example.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    French: Fluent
    English: Intermediate
    German: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    I'm always interested in improving my english skills. So you don't need to speak French ! I can teach you french language.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The house has 4 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and toilet, a queensize bed, a small desk and a wardrobe. 3 rooms are made available to volunteers. They can accommodate couples or single people.

    I provide you 3 meals a day, tea-time etc. Free access to the laundry and the wifi. You're a part of my family ;)

    Obviously all the DIY material (materials, tools, equipment) is provided by me. But please bring clothes that can be ruined or stained and safety shoes, boots for gardening.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Our place in Vendée is situated in the crossroads of the biggest places of interest of the region : Puy du Fou, Marais Poitevin, the Atlantic coast (Les Sables D'Olonne, Jard sur Mer, La Tranche sur Mer...) , big cities as Nantes, Niort and La Rochelle, a lot of little castles (Talmont, Saint-Mesmin, Bazoges...).

    However, it's very isolated and there are only 400 inhabitants in our village ! Any shops or clubs. So you must really love the countryside to come to our place. If you want to visit the region, you need to take the bus, the train or the car but it's far away from home (railway and bus station at 30 minutes drive). And there is nothing less than 20 minutes to one hour away by car !
    I can help you to organize your trips and visits and I will also be happy to show you the region and the sites you are interested in but not in winter. The best solution for visiting the region by yourself is to rent a car.

    To arrive at home, there are two main airports : Nantes and Paris (CDG or ORY). Then, you will have to catch a train or a bus (it's cheaper) to La-Roche-Sur-Yon or Luçon. I can pick you up there. I prefer that you arrive in Luçon.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    I myself am a digital nomad so it is with great pleasure that I will welcome people who have adopted this way of life. Working hours will be flexible, each room has a desk and high-speed Internet connection, of good quality.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    I love the van life. With my family, we lived in a van for almost 6 months and traveled around Europe. I would therefore be delighted to welcome you and provide one and a half hectares of land, as well as a bathroom, access to water and electricity.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    25 hours a week

Host ref number: 522357562797

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Accuracy of profile: (4.8)

Cultural exchange: (5.0)

Communication: (5.0)