Language exchange and join my daily life at a local musical home in Georgetown Penang, Malaysia

Details

• 

  Description

  Important help needed right now
  - German Language practice (for native speaker only, around 5 to 6 hours a week of help needed)
  - Mathematics help (4-6 hours)
  Help me to understand mathematics better
  
  *Please only write to me at most, 2 weeks before your arrival as I work and study in shifts, I could only confirm your dates 10 days in advance*
  
  
  
  Hello Workawayers, I am Michelle, a full time teacher, teaching mainly music (Piano, Violin and Singing), and also Mathematics. I also attend university full time and doing a pure science major, along with running a small touring side hustle and renting room. Sometimes, my friend come to live with me.
  
  I thrive on structure, routine, and having planned outcomes. Casual small talk doesn’t appeal to me; instead, I find great enjoyment in engaging in discussions regarding to mathematics. Mathematics is a serious hobby, so I am most excited to meet engineers, mathematic majors, and anyone like minded.
  
  Another fun interest of mine is Herpetology. I am very keen to look at snakes, lizards in nature.
  
  My home is the most suitable for those who are eager to experience a typical Malaysian life in a local neighbourhood.
  
  I live in a local government housing area. The people who lives here are low income people. In my building, you will see many local people and the way of their daily life. I am located in Georgetown, Penang Island. My building is very near the sea.
  
  On fridays, saturdays and sundays, children come to my place to learn. So, you will get to observe the children and highly encourages to interact with the children. You are however not allowed to take photos of the children to protect their privacy. You are allowed to play music on weekdays 10am - 8pm only
  
  I have reduced mobility as I have partially torn 6 of my ligaments in both knees. I cannot stand for a long period of time, walk a long distance, kneel and squat. Therefore, I do not go out much unless if I have to. During my free time, I draw and colour, read books and swim.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  Interests

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Gardening

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Culture

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Languages

  

  Books

  

  Nature

  

  Cycling

  

  Outdoor activities
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The place where is stay is just a 3km walk to the city center and UNESCO Heritage Site. It is very convenient and bus 12 goes there.
  There are many museums in the heritage area to visit.
  
  You can learn about my country and culture by staying in a local government flat. My neighbours from my block consist mainly of people from lower income people. You get to observe their life. You are highly encourage to interact with the local children who comes to my place to learn.
  
  I offer music lessons (Piano, Violin and Singing) to workawayer at a discounted rate. Minimum 3 hours per subject lesson a week. Write to me and I will tell you more about the different music lesson packages.

• 

  Help

  Description of help needed.
  
  Cleaning and Tidying help
  - Cleaning windows floors, walls, rooms, kitchen, balcony, toilet, bathroom, furniture
  - Tending the plants
  - Cleaning the car
  
  Crochet help
  Help to crochet granny squares. You must already know how to crochet granny squares.
  
  Help Teaching Piano (5-8 hours a week)
  - Must be able to help on Friday and Saturday and Sunday for two consecutive weekends, I.e. two fridays, saturdays and sundays.
  - Tell me more about your piano experience. Include your current repertoire or your highest level.
  - Have positive reference as you will be interacting with children.
  
  Eco project
  - You must be willing to do this when there are glass jars.
  - Remove labels of glass jars and plastic containers, these jars and containers must be very clean, and these will be sent to people who use these jars and containers to put food and sell.
  - Removed fermented citrus, cut into small pieces to make into fertilizers later.
  
  German Language help (Important)
  - For native speakers only. To help with reading, listening, writing and speaking german. I want the language to be incorporated in my daily life.
  
  
  I am looking for someone energetic and vibrant, age 35 and below, honest, patient , punctual, proactive, has humility, reliable, sensible, far sighted, healthy, early bird, passionate about working, enthusiastic to learn new things and has grit. Most importantly, you must have integrity.
  You must be open to assist with other task if something arises.
  
  For everyone's safety here on workaway, you must have your ID verification on workaway. As I have children here, priority will be given to those who has positive reference from hosts. You must have positive reference from host if you choose to help with the children.
  For some months, I can host up to 2 people at the same time.
  If two people come together, you must be willing to be separated to help different task.
  
  I STRICTLY do not host children, smokers, drug user, and people who use profanity and also those who do not bother to read my profile.
  
  Depending on the days and tasks, tasks in the mornings start as early as 9am. Task at night ends at 9pm. I will write you a schedule and we can discuss about it. Generally, you will have 3 days of off days a week.
  
  I do not have Wifi at home. If you need to be constantly on the internet, this is not a place for you.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Malay: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  Chinese (Mandarin): Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  My language proficiency are as below Malay My national language and I am a native speaker English The 2nd language in Malaysia and my proficiency is C1. Chinese - Mandarin My 3rd language and my proficiecy is B2 German Completed B1. Chinese (Other dialects) Speak Teochew and Hokkien fluently. Could understand and speak some Cantonese. Improving and learning German is my priority. I have no interest to learn or practice other language.
• 

  Accommodation

  Minimum stay is 7 days. Maximum stay is 15 days. My work and university schedule changes every week, so I could only confirm your stay one week in advance.
  
  I provide accommodation without meals as I have no time to cook for you. You have to buy your own meals. Only vegetarian food and light cooking is allowed. No frying, no deep frying, no cooking with oil.
  
  Your room will be provided with mattress, pillow, blanket, light, fan, plants, window, and piano. Refer to the photo.
  
  I will write out a weekly schedule for you and a milestone for you to track. For every week of your stay, you help 15 hours.
  
  Your responsibilities :
  When you live with me, you will be treated like a family. Therefore , it is your responsibility to keep the place that you stay clean.
  - Vacuum the home at least twice a week.
  - Change the bedsheets and pillow cases before you leave, put the used bedsheet, pillow case and blanket in the laundry basket and I will wash them, so that the next guest will have clean place to live.
  
  Keeping the common place tidy :
  - pick up your hair after you shower and throw in the rubbish bin
  - clean up the kitchen and dining table after using.
  - arrange books back into the shelf after reading.
  
  
  HOW TO COME TO MY HOME :
  Coming by train is the safest way. Take a train to Butterworth. From Butterworth, walk and take the ferry to go to Penang island.
  Once you reach the island, from the Jetty , take Bus number 12 to Ocean View. You can also walk for 3km if you do not want to take the bus.
  
  If you take bus or flight to Penang International Airport, take any bus that goes to Komtar or Jetty. From jetty or komtar, take bus 12 to Ocean View. I will meet you at this bus stop. My home is right there. I do not provide my home address, therefore, if you are travelling internationally, you have to be responsible for the arrival card.
  
  
  IMPORTANT THINGS TO OBSERVE IN MY HOME
  - time management is very important in my home.
  - do not offer meat and seafood to me
  - You are only allowed to cook vegetarian food in my home.
  - You are NOT allowed to use oil to cook in my place. Only light cooking is allowed. (No deep-frying, no frying)
  - Dress code : Shower everyday before bedtime, wear and change clean clothes everyday. As I live by the equator and the weather is hot and humid all year round, it is a culture here to do bucket shower 2 to 4 times a day. You are required to follow the local culture, to at least shower once a day, before you sleep.
  
  Dress modestly during weekends when the children are around for class. Remove body piercings, cover excessive tattoos.
  
  As I teach music in my home on weekends and have children coming to my home, you have to be understanding that children are noisy!! You must be comfortable being around rambunctious children.
  
  Understand that I work full time and study university full time, so you have to be very independent. My job is busy. On some days, I start as early as 7am and end my day at 11pm. You must be independent and comfortable to stay alone. I will find time to spend with you, and to show you as much as you can learn.

• 

  What else ...

  I have hosted on Workaway since 2017 and receive many applications on a weekly basis. I consider each application carefully and will decline any copy and paste application, any candidate that has not fulfilled the requirements as stated above and applicants who does not answer the questions below. Your profile, CV, and your first message is very impotant to stand out among the rest.
  
  You are most welcome to make enquiries throughout the year but I am only open for booking two weeks prior. As I am a full time teacher and full time university student with a busy schedule, I could only confirm your stay 10 days in advance.
  
  As I am very busy, do not expect me to conduct a video call/ phone call interview with you. I only correspond here after you answered all the questions below and will only send you my location once your stay is confirmed.
  
  You are to include the following in your message, to show that you have read everything in my profile. As I could only host one at a time, I will choose the most suitable candidate.
  
  - Exact Arrival and departure date. How are you coming? By bus, train flight? I will provide you the time whereby you can check in and check out.
  - Length of stay (Minimum 7 days ,Maximum stay is 15 days)
  - Are you an introvert or extrovert?
  - On some days, I stay at the university or workplace. Are you independent and ok to stay alone at home?
  - Highest level of education
  - Hobbies and interest
  - Whatsapp number
  - Why do you choose Penang as a destination? And why do you want to work at my place?
  - Are you open to help out with other tasks if something comes up?
  - What is your biggest fear, what can you not do, and how are you going to improve that?
  - How can my work / home make you a better person?
  - Are you here to learn music? If yes, write more about your prior musical experiences, your learning goals.
  
  I live in a Muslim country, and a muslim neighbourhood, so please dress according to the custom. Please refrain from wearing revealing clothing such as: showing your butt crack and cleavage. No excessive piercing, no gothic or punk style. People here are more conservative. If you have excessive tattoos, wear clothes that cover some of your tattoo. Do not eat pork in front of my Muslim neighbors. Be respectful to them.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

Website Safety

Feedback (23)