Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
10 Sep 2023
Feedback
10
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Apart from my « day » job as a solicitor for a European Outdoor organisation, I am doing projects to update and renovate the house and the terrain around.
My mother also lives in the house and so do certain of my children who are often on the move. We all speak English and are well travelled and used to spending time with people from around the world, we’re looking forward to meeting some more during the summer’s projects. We have a couple of dogs in the house: Samba and her mum Mona, two adorable long-haired hippie style sausage dogs.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The village sits in a valley at 1.000 meters high surrounded by mountains that go up to 1.600 meters; the whole place is in a Regional Park with forests and wildlife with lots of opportunities to explore.
You can learn the basic skills required to build, plant, renovate due to the fact that we often have some electrical jobs, stones masonry, woodwork, tree planting, renovation... the list goes on and we'd love to share with you our experiences and techniques in these fields.
The various activities (wood, stone, garden) that we perform in the house / garden are typical to the Jura mountains and I will be very happy to exchange with you on this topic and the history behind our habitat and building constructions.
The food we process and eat is 100% local and the cuisine is French ... very much will be exchanged I ma sure on this cultural and historical aspect of French life as we eat traditional dishes most of the time.
Furthermore, although the family members speak english, our native language is French and we will be very happy to pass it on to you as part of the exchange.
Finally, the fact that we are 3 generations living in the house, means that we know quite a lot about our historical and cultural background which is open for exchanges and investigation; I have been "Maire" (Mayor) of my village for 12 years until recently which gives me a strong knowledge of cultural issues which I will be very happy to share for you to be able to discover the Commune and Département in a better way.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
I am doing projects to update and renovate the house and the terrain around; I am therefore looking for a hand in activities such as rebuilding small walls, installing water recuperation tanks & supply, woodwork – I have a wood workshop -, gardening, fencing, planting trees, …. There’s always plenty of different projects going on around the house!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
German: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
I live in a 250-year-old big house in the Jura mountains – France, in a village located 45 minutes from Geneva and its international airport. Food is as local as can be 3 times a day, there is a private bedroom, unlimited Wi-Fi, bicycles and kites (we love flying kites here) for you while you stay.
What else ...
The village is just below a ski resort that offers summer activities such as hiking, mountain biking, a zip line and more. The Jura area has plenty to offer for outdoor activities and spending time in nature. Public transports is bus to train station (Bellegarde-sur-Valserine) once a day, or train to Switzerland at 5 km every hour that continues to GVA Airport.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a decent internet access and an office area available or a desk in the room.
Space for parking camper vans
There is available space to park a camper van in front of the house on the pavement.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (6)
Jean-Yves was a great host and made us feel at home from the beginning. We helped building insulation walls, a magnificent alcove in the workshop and other small renovation works. We were beginners in using tools and Jean Yves was patient enough to teach us… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Jean-Yves was a great host and made us feel at home from the beginning. We helped building insulation walls, a magnificent alcove in the workshop and other small renovation works. We were beginners in using tools and Jean Yves was patient enough to teach us… read more
Although she did not have very developed skills in DIY she really got into it and performed everything she was asked to help us with, including operating the ciment mixer ... We did a lot with her help !
Jana is a fine person who I strongly… read more
Jean-Yves is a great host, always making sure that we were well-informed and properly prepared for the tasks at hand, and there were many tasks to choose between - building, renovating,… read more
We achieved some very good projects round the house and their help was really efficient and most appreciated.
They blended in the family / group very easily and we would welcome them again anytime they want in the future. We hope that they have a lovely… read more
Jean is very interesting and knowledgeable and happily shared his knowledge about many things with us such as, woodworking, French history, culture and the outdoors.… read more
