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Last replied
3 Oct 2023
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Details
Description
We are a family of 6 who live with hundreds of reindeer and 2 dogs. We are in our 40s with kids 0, 3, 5 & 7 yrs. We belong to the indigenous people of Scandinavia called Saami. We live in Norway but speak a different language and have another set of cultural habits and values than Norwegians. We are flexible and open-minded and used to different nationalities, since we run a tourism business during the winter-months. Reindeer-herding means that our life is determined by where they are and we have many varied tasks that follow this lifestyle. We are moving between 3-4 different locations within a year cycle, located quite remote but with cities like Hammerfest (30min), Alta (2h) or Tromsø (1h) in a close distance (at different times of the year, depending on where the reindeer/we are).
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our place is in the Arctic - which means seasons with midnight sun and northern lights. These natural phenomenons are definitely worth a visit to the high north. Therefore be prepared to experience something unique! Norway is an expensive country to live and travel in so this is an opportunity to make your traveling cheaper while also learning some new skills and get to know an ancient culture still depending on primitive livelihoods. Get close to nature and learn secrets of surviving in really rough conditions.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
What we hope from you: The mother in the family works from home on the computer and needs someone to help around in the house(/cabin/camper-van) with house-chores and the children. Therefore a kind and patient spirit who can handle screaming children would be highly appreciated. You enjoy a varied day where everything is not necessarily planned in detail. During the autumn months we move to different locations and you must be able to follow on our trips to help look for the kids and maybe prepare meals while mom is working with other things.
A laid-back and patient personality accompanied by a deep sense of responsibility is good to have. You also need a high level of tolerance towards less than luxurious working and living conditions. You have a “yes-I-can-do-it”-attitude and a good sense of humor to survive the long and dark polar nights or an endless daylight season.
Although we have reindeer there is not specifically much work with the animals per se but you will most probably get the chance to see them if you stay for some weeks.
Language skills: Scandinavian or English.
European driving License class B and/or experience with snowmobile/ATV is a plus.
We can provide clothes for working outdoors in the cold season.
We are ready to offer additional monetary payment should the work exceed the expected voluntary working hours.
Languages spoken
Norwegian: Fluent
Sami: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Accommodation
Different types of standards and locations. From a collective cabin with one bedroom and no installed water nor electricity to bigger houses with separate bedrooms and everything of modern installations. Foods will often be shared meals but if you have very specific dietary preferences or allergies you probably have to prepare your own dinners and meals in general. We don't encourage strict vegans/vegetarians to apply since this type of diet is hard to obtain in this rural countryside. We often cook meats and fish for dinner.
What else ...
Again, the Great Outdoors! Since we move between different locations and areas you will be able to experience many beautiful regions and landscapes and practice many types of outdoor activities. There are also several interesting festivals and events to visit in this region, at different times of the year. Collective/public transport is not super available but we can help with planning transport around here and there in the region.
If you are not driving your own car, getting here is most convenient by taking the flight (from Oslo) to Alta or Tromsø. Traveling this far north would take many days if you use a combination of train (to Narvik or Bodø) and public-buses from there on.
We read emails weekly and can most often be reached by phone.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have plenty of space wherever we live.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
