Slow living and cultural exchange in Skotterud, Norway

Details

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  Description

  Hello :)
  
  - I’m fully booked for 2025 -
  
  I am Nina, a 53 year old woman living on a small farm, about 100 km northeast of Oslo, really close to the Swedish border. I have two adult children, but they have both moved out. I’m what you probably would call an empty nester. I just became a grandmother to a little boy - that is soooo exciting - but it feels a bit weird to identify as a grandmother - as I feel max 28 - haha.
  
  I live on a small farm in the countryside, inherited from my great grandparents. I left the farming part to my neighbour who grows grass for his sheep on my land. However, I do quite a bit of gardening - and with a big house and a barn - there is always something to clean, fix or paint.
  
  I think family, friends and colleagues would describe me as both easygoing and outgoing, open minded, as an easily adapting person and that I have a stable good mood. I like to socialize and meet new people and to have good conversations (not just superficial ones). I have the traits of both an extrovert and and an introvert, but I charge my batteries best by spending some time alone or by putting on a headset and stay in my own space for a while.
  
  Of course, during my five decades I’ve had my share of struggle and sorrows, and I suppose that's why I've come to the conclusion that the best way of living my life is to strive to live every day with focus on being present, grateful and positive. And - "It's nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice!". This saying emphasizes the essence of my role as a mother and my profession as an educator/supervisor - and of course as a hostess for workawayers.
  
  I like to travel myself and meet other cultures - and bring them into my home as a WorkAway host.
  
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  - Non smoking ones
  - Females or male travelling with female
  - Ca. 25 hours pr. week, flexitime, and I would say you mostly make your own schedule as long as you are putting in the hours we have agreed upon

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Art & design

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Culture

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Winter sports

  

  Nature

  

  Hiking

  

  Fitness
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I live in the countryside so I can tell you about places to go hiking, go for a swim or maybe even join you. I have a bicycle you can borrow. There are also a few magical places in surrounding nature I like to show to my workawayers :). In the closest town Kongsvinger we can rent a sauna which is by a lake - oh - I really I like saunas and combined with swimming (Oct - April).
  
  I’m happy to tell you about the Norwegian living and our culture. I make sure you get to taste waffels and homemade bread with the very Norwegian brown goat cheese :).

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  Help

  I need help for I would say quite easy tasks such as indoor and outdoor general maintenance including gardening. Cooking would also be highly appreciated. I cook, but I really don't enjoy it THAT much :). I like to eat healty - and I'm always curious about new dishes.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Intermediate
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I would like to practise my French. I also appreciate maintaining my spoken English. As a teacher in Norwegian I would be happy to practise my language with you :)
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  Accommodation

  I have two extra bedrooms in the house, both with double beds (They are the rooms of my children who have moved out). Good wifi connection. One of the rooms is a bit more spaceous than the other, but they are both nice rooms. Heated floors in the winter. (My 280 m2 farm house was built in 2004, so it’s quite new).
  
  The workawayers have their own living room upstairs with a big sofa and TV (with AppleTv).
  
  I also have a very cute bedroom out in the barn if one likes to sleep "ourdoors, but indoors" (spring/summer)

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  What else ...

  I actually startet up as a workawayer myself, and I've done three such experiences myself by now, lambing season in a farm in Lofoten/Norway 2021, as a housekeeper in Gotland/Sweden 2021- both during the pandemic - and as a housekeeper and dogwalker Sicily/Italy 2023.
  
  The ideal way to stay in my place is by bringing your own car/campervan AS I LIVE VERY RURAL 😊. But, I will be happy to give you a ride and pick you up/deliver you at the closest bus stop. I can assist you with finding suitable transport if needed.
  
  Available transport:
  - trains from Oslo (from Oslo airport Gardermoen via Lillestrøm) to Kongsvinger (approx. 1,5 hours)
  - busses from Kongsvinger to Skotterud (approx. 0,5 hours)
  - it´s also possible to arrive from the Swedish side,
  then you should end up in a small town called Charlottenberg (train station), 24 km from my place, with buses available to my hometown Skotterud reguarly
  
  My place has nice possibilities going hiking in the woods during all seasons.
  
  Late spring, summer time and early fall I have a nice garden, with furniture to relax in and even a hammock. Actually I’ve got several hammocks. I have two more «sporty» versions as well, meant for hiking and for sleeping outside in nature if wanted (I have some hiking equipment if you need to borrow). For the autumn/winter/spring time I have a place for bonfires outside.
  
  As I guess you’ve probably understood by now, my farm is not the place to come to if you want to go clubbing/partying 😆. It’s really all about enjoying the quiet life in the countryside.
  
  I also have a rather well equipped homegym if you are into strenght training/yoga. - Or you can join me to the local gym (by the way, it cost 645 nkr for a single month). I also have a walking pad and an exercise bike indoors.

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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

  Digital nomads are happy to come and stay. I have a fiber wifi connection, and I even have an office one could use as well.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Most certainly! I have a lot of outdoor space!

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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