Language practicing in a family plus sharing mountain style living in Crodo, Italy

Details

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  Description

  Hello Everyone!
  
  We are back ready to host again. This time with a new main aim, but anyway we still remain the same family as when we started hosting in 2017. Things change but we still have the same values: sharing our life with you.
  This time we are especially looking for an English or German native speaker to help our daughter Maddalena improve her language speaking skills (she studies both English and German at school).
  Beside this, we are still loking for someone intrested in helping us with our day to day life (read below for details on this).
  
  We are looking for people to do a cultural exchange. We would like you to be part of our family, which means spending time working and socializing with the family.
  We often like to eat meals toghether, especially during the first week or so as we get to know you. However after we get acclimated, you can determine your own work and meal schedule.
  
  Franco only speaks Italian, so we recommend that you know intermidiate Italian in order to speak with him, or at least some basics so Franco can give you commands regarding the work. Regardless, Elenonora can translate so it is not absolutely necessary, but preferable. Franco is great at communicating with his hands.
  
  We are a small family living in a mountain village, Crodo, which is in the north of Italy, very close to the border of Switzerland (25 minutes by car). The elevation of Crodo is around 500 meters.
  
  Our philosophy is to do what we can in order to be responsible and respectful of the environment. We respect both nature and the people around us. We try to balance work and life at the same time.
  
  Franco runs a dairy farm started by his grandfather. He started working as a young boy and has always been doing it with passion and tenacity. Currently the farm has 40 cows. Franco has adapted to the changes brought in the last decade and has built a new style barn with a modern system of milking. He belongs to the local social cooperative , where he sells his milk in exchange for discounts on some of the dairy products they produce (cheese, butter, yogurt, etc.).
  
  Eleonora received an advanced degree in Political Science from the University of Pavia. She has worked abroad in tourism. She has also held Italian language courses for foreigners. She has studied over 7 languages in her life and loves to learn new phrases from other languages. Currently she speaks Italian, English and French. After meeting Franco in 2007 she became interested in agriculture, she started to learn more about the job, helping him in the barn and in other related activities. In addition to her duties helping with the farm and the house, she works as a freelancer for the local newspaper and also applies for other short-term projects.
  
  Maddalena is our 14 y.o. daughter. She is very independent and loves to enjoy both family and friends. She also helps working with us, when she is not at school. She has interests in some sports (tennis) and music.
  
  Our main house is located near the center of Crodo, about 30 minutes by foot or 5 minutes by car. We have an orchard of trees (non fruit-bearing) in our backyard, where the cabins are also located. The house is part of a complex of units, and other family members live in these units. The unit closest to the street is a great restaurant and we are friends with the owners.
  We don't have any wi-fi in our house, but there is a place in town that you can use for free, but it is a 30 minute walk away.
  We buy groceries about once per week (exept bread is more frequent), so you will have to wait a little bit or tell us in advance.
  There are a few restaurants and shops in town which serve things like pizza, gelato, bread, produce, wine etc. They are reasonably priced, but the selection is limited, so for certain things you will have to wait until we go to Domodossola (the closest large town). We go there about once every two weeks.
  There is a bus that runs to and from Domodossola a few times a day and it is about 30 minutes from the house. The closest airport is Milano Malpensa which can be reached by train or bus (Alibus, wich needs to be booked in advance), and that is about 1,5 hours from Domodossola.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Culture

  

  Writing

  

  Animals

  

  Books

  

  Languages

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  As mentioned before, we are looking for a cultural exchange. We are a quiet family and, when possible, we like to relax sharing stories or playing board games.
  If your goal is learning/improving Italian language and culture, here it is a good occasion for sharing our cultures and get to know each other. You can share with us your passions and hobbies (playing instruments, music, art, etc). If you like mountain trekking, you'll have planty of amazing treks to discover.
  
  You can join us to local events (especially during summer time), so you will have the opportunity to experience the culture and community in Crodo (such as festivals, musical performances, church events, etc.). However sometimes you will be on your own, so we like people to be able to be independent. We will be glad helping you giving advice on how to discover our beautiful territory.
  
  All proposals for good practice improvement will be considered and also a space for a personal project will be left.

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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

  As mentioned, we'd love a cultural exchange, so the main task will be talking and sharing knowledge. We live in a beautiful mountain alpine area, our lifestyle is very connected to nature, environment and animals. We have one old horse, two cats, a garden, we grow potetoes etc etc. So our day to day life, besides our working day, includes taking care of our passions (animals and gardening). If you enjoy doing openair activities, you will have planty of little chores to persue, according to your desires and abilities. We will be glad teaching you, if you have no basic knowlwdge. Here is a list of the main tasks you can choose:
  1) PRACTICING LANGUAGES. We would love to teach you Italian and we like to learn other languages.
  2) HOUSEKEEPING. As the kitchen is a common area for all family members, we appreciate our Workawayers actively help us maintaining it clean and tidy. After every meal we wash dishes, sweep and clean the table. About once per week we sweep and mop the kitchen, clean the bathroom, sweep the grounds, weed the flower beds. Occasionally you will help with garden tasks like cleaning branches and stones, raking, trimming herbs.
  3) VEGETABLE AND OFFICINAL HERBS GARDEN. We need help for weeding and collecting products.
  4) COOKING. We like to have meals toghether, when possible, but not always have the time to cook, so having someone expert at cooking would be a pro. Moreover Eleonora and Maddalena like to try new dishes, so will be glad trying specialities from your country.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  Eleonora is interested in learning Japanese and German. Maddalena in interested in getting fluent in English speaking and German. We all love to help our guests learning and improving Italian. Eleonora has been an Italian teacher for few years. She can also share her knowledge about the foreign languages she studied.
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  Accommodation

  You will be staying in the cabins in the orchard which has a bedroom (with two single beds) and a sitting room (with table and chairs). It's a very simple accomodation with no bathroom, no electricity, thin matresses and pillows. Howeveer it is comfortable temperature at night and quiet. There are also candles you can use for lighting. We have plenty of blankets, so you won't be cold (if the case take with you a sleeping bag and a torch).
  We also have space for a tent or a camper van. You will have some privacy here and can enjoy the river nearby. Please be advised that there are many flies and sometimes mosquitos (summer time only) so you may have to bring bug spray or other things if these annoy you at night.
  You will have access to the kitchen (with stove, fridge, pots, pens, plates, utensiles, etc.). We don't have a microwave or owen. You also have access to the bathroom with a shower and a washing machine. We ask that you only use the washing machine once a week, or you can pay us 2 euros per extra load to cover the costs, or bring plenty of clothes.
  You can use the orchard to relax or do whatever activities you like (meditatin, exercice, reading, playing etc.) in your free time.
  We provide food for 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

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  What else ...

  Crodo is a beautiful mountainous area, where many people come to visit to do outdoor activities and sports.
  If you like biking in the mountais (either on roads or off-road), we recommend you bring your own bike, as there are lots of paths to explore. It is possible to rent an e-bike. We also have a couple of bikes that you can borrow for short trips.
  
  There are also plenty of choices for all skill levels for things like hiking, running, climbing, and bouldering. People say we have the most beautiful spots in Northern Italy. Some of them may be difficult to reach without a car, but they can be walket to if you desire. The same bus that goes to Domodossola also runs through the valley a few times a day.
  Main most sites: Orridi di Uriezzo, Casa della Montagna museum in Viceno, Water and Mineral Museum in Crodo, Parco delle Terme garden in Crodo, Terme di Premia (pool and spa), Veglia-Devero Natural park, Cascata del Toce (waterfall) in Formazza.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have planty of space

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Only very well trained and relible pets.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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