Help with my sled dogs and take part in outdoor activities in Brumunddal, Norway

Details

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  Description

  I am a retired female medical doctor who have taught in the University Medical School and worked all over the world. I also do some competitive dog sledding sports . I ski, cycle, run dogs, have rock climbed, kayaked and sailed. I usually host one or two young people who are interested in outdoors activities with sled dogs.We only do fun trips and some dog sledding competitions. We have 13 sled dogs that are very social, a cabin in the woods and a house near trails for sledding and skiing. We live with the dogs close by, and have all gear needed for doing everything - like sleds, skis, carts, bicycle, ATV, kayaks, 2 vehicles etc. I prefer people who can stay for a little longer than one month, since it takes a little while to get to know the dogs. The dogs live mostly outdoors, but some are indoor dogs. I do prefer people who commit themselves to coming after they have been given a place here, and do not change their mind just as quickly, and are able to stay more than 4 weeks, as it takes a bit of time to get to know the dogs and our routines. We are not a business, and the only work here is a few hours with the dogs per day. You will have a lot of spare time, although some days we expect you to be around, for the safety of the dogs.
  
  To really have a good time here, you should like the outdoors; Hiking, running dogs, maybe camping, and like rural wilderness more than urban cafe living. We try to be a "low consumption, taking care of the environment" type of living. We do offer a lot of competence in various types of outdoors activities; skiing, hiking, winter camping, dog sledding, kayaking in rivers and lakes, But also daily maintenance of dog kennel and playing with friendly dogs.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I am an "internationalist" who have lived and worked in Asia, USA and mostly Africa. I have spent a year abroad as a youth, and a lot altogether. I am a medical doctor. We are a community of friends here where we live. Mostly a person would learn about winter activities like skiing, dogsledding, winter camping, dog racing, but also summer activities like hiking, kayaking, swimming, sleeping outdoors etc. I have had young people working around us for over 20 years, (one stayed 8 years and another two, 3 years). It is really like a wilderness experience. We own two remote cabins. We can drive dogs from the house. We speak fluent English. Daily tasks are feeding and training dogs, some household shared duties, cleaning dog yard and maintenance occasionally, like painting or snow shoveling or mowing lawn . It is possible to either study part time or bring hobbies as well. Not hard work nor long hours, but a lot of dog love and dust and dog hair.

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  Help

  We have a small sled dog kennel (12 dogs) for recreational use and some competitions. We need help around the friendly dogs, especially feeding and dog yard tasks, and if you want, but it is voluntary; also training them. And some responsibility - being present - when I have to take shorter trips away. We offer accommodation, meals and a lot of outdoor recreational possibilities. We live in a neat big old red and remote country house - 1,5 hours from Oslo, in Norway, in high altitude and real winters, near ski resorts, relatively remote - but 15 minutes to town and 1.5 hours with a train to Oslo.
  Many cities nearby, and a railroad connecting to Oslo, Hamar, Lillehammer every hour. We are very active in summer and winter outdoors, including skiing, sledding, kayaking, camping and hiking, and trips. We appreciate willingness to be around the dogs, chat at the dinner table, taking responsibility , and participating in all we do. It is not hard work. Winter stays are enjoyable, as you can get skills in dog sledding in pristine nature, but we also can accomodate WA in summer.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Norwegian: Fluent
  Danish: Intermediate
  German: Intermediate
  Swedish: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  You get your own room (and workawayers have a separate bathroom). You get access to a fridge. You can use our kitchen, dishwasher and washing machine within reasonable limits. We live an active life and utility rather than beauty is the description of the house. You participate as someone who lives here - in daily chores like emptying dishwasher and vacuum cleaning. You get ordinary, but simple meals, but may have to take turns cooking.....( - no fancy diets in this household - Norwegians eat a lot of bread, potatoes - and one hot meal per day!) We accommodate vegetarian people, but are not so easy with very special dietary claims. We have a spare car that can be borrowed if you have a licence.

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  What else ...

  We have internet, several kayaks, dog sleds, atv, cars, carts, outdoor gear etc. Everything you need shop wise is reachable from here. One hour to airport. Several dog kennel colleauges nearby. Many sports facilities, like swimming center, sports club, training center, cross country ski resort, just around the corner. Cultural heritage city Lillehammer less than an hour away. Our cabin is also one hour from here. I am a social person with many connections, and very active. I am more intellectual than most and read a lot, work a lot and laugh a lot. I appreciate HUMOR. I love my dogs and my friends and my family (they do not live here), and I am fond of clear communication and people who can enjoy to test their limits (sledding) and still relax and manage their time. I do get to be around young people pretty often.
  
  We have gotten a lot of requests and seem to be blessed with good people for most of the time now....... but many young people change their minds from day to day, so I prefer those who commit themselves to coming, and can give a date of arrival and departure.

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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 good enough wifi

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  Space for parking camper vans

  there is enough space

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We already have a LOT of dogs and need no more pets

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  2 to 3 hours a day, 5 days a week (variable, flexible)

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