Experience rural life and language exchange in El Valle, Asturias, Spain

Details

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  Description

  Hi, I’m Ana. I run a rural guesthouse in El Valle, a small village in Carreño, Asturias. The house is an old stone country house, more than 120 years old, and now we have 6 rooms for guests.
  
  We have a big garden with a barbecue, a living room with a fireplace and a kitchen where we usually end up chatting with guests. Dogs are welcome here, so there are often dogs around. Sometimes we also have yoga retreats and workshops in the house.
  
  We are in the countryside but very close to everything. Candás is 10 minutes away, and Gijón and Avilés too. There are good beaches, surf, walks along the coast and the Camino de Santiago passes through Carreño. And the food is very good here, especially fabada, cachopo and of course cider.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Light gardening

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture

  

  Sustainability

  

  Events & social

  

  Fashion or beauty

  

  Culture

  

  Self development

  

  Beach

  

  Mountain

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Dancing
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Living here you’ll see how life is in a small village in Asturias. I’ll show you our food and how to pour cider, and if there are fiestas nearby (Candás has the Cristo in September, and in autumn there is the magüestu with chestnuts) you can come and see them.
  
  You can practise Spanish every day with me and with the guests. I’d also like to learn about where you come from. You’ll also learn how a rural house works from the inside, and you’ll meet all kinds of people: families, couples, pilgrims, people coming to retreats…
  
  On your days off I can tell you where to go, beaches, walks, sidrerías and places that tourists usually don’t find.

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

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  Help

  This is a paid position. You get free accommodation and 9 € gross for every hour you work. You need to be allowed to work in Spain (EU citizen or work permit).
  
  I need help with different things, depending on the season. In the garden there is always something to do: cutting the grass, pruning, planting. I also want to paint some walls, doors and furniture, and help with small repairs, because an old house always needs something.
  
  Inside, the help is mainly with the rooms (cleaning and getting them ready for the next guests) and with breakfast, which is a buffet. Also receiving guests when they arrive and showing them the house. For this part it’s good if you speak some Spanish and English.
  
  You don’t need experience for the garden or painting. For the rooms and reception, I’m looking for someone organised who likes being with people.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Beginner
  Russian: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  You will have your own room, Trasgu. It’s the small one in the attic, on the second floor. 14 m², double bed (135 cm) and private bathroom with shower. It has a skylight so there is a lot of light, but the ceiling is low at the end of the bed and near the toilet, just so you know.
  
  Sheets, towels, wardrobe, fan, hairdryer and wifi are included. You can use the living room, dining room, shared fridge, garden and the washing machine.
  
  The house is in the countryside, so a car or a bike is very useful.

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  What else ...

  Free time: Xagó, Verdicio and Salinas are good beaches (Salinas for surfing). Cabo Peñas is great for walking. Gijón, Avilés and Oviedo are close, and the Picos de Europa are about 1.5 hours by car.
  
  Transport: Asturias airport is about 30 minutes away. Gijón and Avilés have trains and buses to the rest of Spain.
  
  House life: there are guests in the house, so we try to keep it quiet, especially at night and in the morning. No smoking inside. There are often dogs. From November to Easter the house is mainly open at weekends, so the schedule changes with the season. We agree it together before you come.

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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

  We have free Wi-Fi throughout the house and a portable desk in the room, so you can work online in your free time. Working hours with us are agreed in advance, so it’s easy to combine both.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This is pet friendly, so you’re welcome to come with your dog. Please let us know in advance its size and whether it gets along with other dogs, as our guests often travel with theirs too.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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