Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
92.0 %
Usually responds within 7 days
Feedback
4
Email verified
Badges (1)
Details
Description
Important note: I do not speak English and workawayers must be fluent in French or Spanish. My daughter Sabrina helps me maintaining my profile in English and replies to communications, see her listing for reference: #385983996226.
I am Ana, a grandmother of 4 girls and 9 grandchildren. I was born in Spain during the civil war and arrived in France when I was 9 after having crossed the Pyrenees with my mother clandestinely for three days and two nights without eating or drinking to meet my father who was evacuated to France by the red cross after being wounded in a battle (he was a political refugee). This experience made me a strong-willed person. When I arrived in France, from Barcelona to Collet-de-Dèze in the Cevennes, I found refuge in French literature and immediately loved this beautiful language. I studied nursing and specialized in childcare. I practiced for 5 years before stopping to raise my 4 daughters and support my husband in his busy job as medical biologist. I have always welcomed many foreigners at home (my daughters' exchange partners or as a host family from towns twinned with Nimes) and I have travelled a lot myself. Now, being old, I travel through the stories of my children, grandchildren, and the people I meet. I love art in general, in particular music, painting and contemporary art.
Coming from a family of bricklayers, I have always been interested in construction and dared to take the audacious challenge in 1980 to buy a 100yo mansion that was almost in ruins, which I renovated with my father and my three brothers. Along with my daughters' education, this house has been the big project of my life. The house is beautiful and was built with high quality materials: stonework, mosaics, solid oak framing and flooring, etc. It was built in 1880 by an architect for himself and he lived there all his life, alone with his maid. It is ideally located: downtown and near the beautiful gardens "De la Fontaine". You can go nearly anywhere in Nimes from here either on foot, by bike or public transport.
Since my husband's death in 2017, my daughters have been helping me to maintain the house, but they are quite busy, and the house is starting to fall into disrepair. I need help to restore it and to develop the garden.
Although I am from the Boomer generation, I have always been very sensitive to ecology and try to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible, i.e. I sort my waste, buy only what is necessary, hate waste...
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I am fluent in French and Spanish and would be happy to help in both languages. I do not speak English (my daughter wrote this text in English for me).
My Daughter Sabrina regularly comes and visit me (she currently lives on the French Riviera, see WorkAway reference #385983996226): she's got friends in Nîmes that she will introduce to you if you're interested.
Help
Help with everyday shopping and keep me company through reading and short walks.
Basic restoration and maintenance of the house: repainting walls, changing light bulbs, helping with tidying and sorting, clearing dead leaves, collecting ripe fruit (persimmons, figs, pears, grapes). Rehabilitating part of a garden to make a vegetable garden using natural techniques, ideally permaculture.
Languages
Languages spoken
Spanish: Fluent
French: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I'm fluent in Spanish and French and my daughters who help me to maintain the house speak English fluently. I will help you on both improving your French and Spanish. My daughters are musician and can help you play the piano and learn music theory.
Accommodation
You will be independent in the fully equipped studio (kitchenette, bathroom, washing machine) located in the mezzanine overlooking a beautiful patio. You can park a car. Two bikes will be at your disposal.
What else ...
Nîmes is a beautiful roman city famous for its illustrious monuments and gardens:
- La Maison Carrée (literally "the square house")
- The arenas
- the temple of Diana
- Les Jardins de la Fontaine (literally "The gardens of the Fountain")
- Le Pont du Gard (20km far)
It is a particularly lively town during the Pentecost and the grape harvest Ferias.
It has several universities and an Olympic swimming pool (Nemausa).
The Mediterranean Sea is not far, you can reach Le Grau-du-roi or La-Grande-Motte in 50min and get there either by train or car.
The mountain lovers will enjoy walking in the Cevennes.
Lovers of authenticity and old stones will appreciate the charm of the Camargue and the beautiful village of Aigues-Mortes.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The house has a fibre internet connection, and the studio is equipped with a desk from which you can work.
Can possibly accept pets
Dogs are not allowed inside. Cats can stay in the studio but cannot go in the other part of the house (2 of my daughters are allergic to cat's hair).
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (2)
Ana is very knowledgeable about history, going back to Roman times.
I took Ana for a walk in a wheelchair. Without a good knowledge of French it would have… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.5)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Ana is very knowledgeable about history, going back to Roman times.
I took Ana for a walk in a wheelchair. Without a good knowledge of French it would have… read more
