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30 Mar 2024
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Hello! I am Sahra (40), originally from Austria, I have lived in Germany, England and Bali and I have lived in different places in Portugal for 2.5 years now and for the past 2 years I've lived in Coja.
I just moved into a new house within the small and enchanting town of Coja in Central Portugal and I need help to spruce it up a bit. I could use help with a deep clean of the house (windows, floors, fireplace, doors, wooden dining room table, etc.). I would also like to paint parts of the walls on the outside and the small patch of garden I have could also use some cleaning up. Whatever work you feel drawn to and feel to contribute, will be much appreciated!
If you are a creative person, that would be perfect as well. You could help me with decorating ideas or art for the house. If you can give yoga lessons, are a henna artist or massage therapist, know arts & crafts or you can play an instrument - all that would be very lovely and welcome to have as exchange.
The house is situated in a residential area on a hill, right by a forest, overlooking the magical small town of Coja. I live there with my cat Cleo who I adopted from the streets last July. She is a very loving, mellow and affectionate cat with the occasional 'crazy 5 minutes' and loves cuddles and to snuggle.
A beautiful guest room awaits you with a view onto the patio and lots of natural sunlight coming through.
This is my first time hosting someone yet I have used workaway in the past myself and would like to give back to someone who needs and appreciates this offer. I was thinking 2 hours of help a day (5 days/week) in exchange for the room. If you need food included, let me know and we can negotiate something.
I'm looking for someone quiet and respectful as I am a quiet person myself and I appreciate it. I have a spiritual/emotional healing practice in the form of a check-in with myself and parts of me and with the Divine in meditation and through written dialogue in the morning. I am vegan and generally live a healthy and self-loving lifestyle.
I am teaching German online part-time and am self-employed, working from home. 3 times a week I am starting early with teaching at 7 in the morning.
That's why I'm also looking for someone who I can get along with personally, as my room and the guestroom share a wall and I am home most of the time.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The people of Coja are the friendliest, most welcoming and helpful people I've met so far (and I traveled a bit too). They are eager to help and even help you learn Portuguese, yet almost everyone speaks English here.
There is 'expat' events going on here as well like ecstatic dances, workshops, music nights and there's a monthly market here where people come together to sell second hand clothes, delicious foods, house items, self-crafted jewelry and many other home-made products. It's a place for craftsmanship, bartering and exchange economy, and a very popular social highlight.
Portugal is a very special and safe place. Central Portugal seems to be drawing people from all over the world, yet especially England, Germany, Israel and the Netherlands who have already deconstructed their lives and want to go back to a more natural/nature-based and sustainable lifestyle and communities.
You'll also find traditional Portuguese festivities here, especially when it gets warmer. There's a music festival here in summer right in the park in the center of the town and other festivities and parades like carnival, etc.
Help
I just moved into a new house in the small and enchanting town of Coja in Central Portugal and I need help to spruce it up a bit. I could use help with a deep clean of the house (windows, floors, fireplace, doors, wooden dining room table, etc.), I would also like to paint parts of the walls on the outside and the small patch of garden I have could also use some cleaning up. Whatever work you feel drawn to and feel to contribute, will be much appreciated!
If you are a creative person, that would be perfect as well. You could help me with decorating ideas or art for the house. If you can give yoga lessons, are a henna artist or massage therapist, know arts & crafts or you can play an instrument - all that would be very lovely and welcome to have as exchange.
I was thinking 2 hours of help a day (5 days/week) in exchange for the room. If you need food included, let me know and we can negotiate something.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Accommodation
A beautiful guest room awaits you with a view onto the patio and lots of natural sunlight coming through. You are welcome to use the entire house which has a patio and a small garden.
What else ...
Coja itself is a tourist destination and enchanted place that draws many people, especially in the warmer months/summer. It is so enchanting here with the river Alva running through and a very old bridge that connects both sides of the river which each other. The park with its glistening creek is just a 5 minute walk from the house. You will find 2 markets in the main square and a frutaria with good Portuguese vegetables and fruits. We have some clothes and shoe stores here, hair dressers, a computer store, post office and pay shop. There's a handful of cafe's and bakeries as well.
We do have a bus stop right in town yet I have not used it yet as it only operates twice a day I believe. If I need to go anywhere I usually take a taxi, yet I'm sure we can figure something out. The network here in the area is strong and somebody usually can offer a lift.
Very close by we have Fraga da Pena which is a magical forest place with little wooden bridges and a few waterfalls on different levels that you hike up to.
Piódão is a beautiful, quaint and historical village that is know for its shist houses and is only around 45 minutes away by car.
Coimbra is the next bigger city closest to us and is about 1 hours drive away by car and it is a truly beautiful city. It has a beautiful old town/center, as well as botanical gardens and a river walk. There is a good way to get there by taxi to a close by bus stop and then taking the bus from there to Coimbra. That is a worthwhile day or weekend trip.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
You are welcome to work from your room which doesn't have a desk though. There is a table in the living room which I like to use as well in the afternoons but we could negotiate times. The internet is fiber glass and I just got a new router which is the latest technology and internet is super fast and reliable here.
Space for parking camper vans
There is parking spots right by the house which is quite a large area. I'm sure this can be used for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
2 hours/day, 5 days/week
