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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
24 Apr 2025
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14
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Description
We are Japanese artist family, mother and son (16 now...born 2010). We live in the countryside of South Normandy, France. We are in a scenic region called Le Perche, 2.5 hours from Paris. Our property is about half hectare with 2 old stone houses, surrounded by cow field and farmlands, and some friendly neighbors. We have a dance studio and have dance/art events a few times a year. In the summer we have about 10-20 international dance participants of all ages taking workshop and enjoying the countryside. We have small vegetable garden, we are always fixing up the old house and taking care of the garden. We live simply. Closest town is Mortagne-au-Perche, about 5km away, a charming town popular for Parisians who have weekend houses in the region. We speak Japanese, English, and French.
We are looking for help around the house and gardening, DIY projects.
My son speaks fluent French, but I speak better English and Japanese. So, if you'd like to practice a language, it would be English and Japanese. My son is not always home.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Culture
Self development
Music
Books
Writing
Photography
Performing arts
Plant care
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Art & design
Architecture
Dancing
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
If you come in the period of our dance workshops, you will meet people from all different countries and all different ages and backgrounds --- usually they are open people interested in the arts. In 2026 spring-summer, we have our artisan friend from Brittany working on restoration of old house. By joining to help his work, you could learn about eco-building. There's also a lot you could learn about gardening.
Most of all, people enjoy to be in the countryside, away from the noise of the city, where you can hear lots of birds and bumblebees and see full stars at night. We are not in deep nature, as this region is very cultivated, but it is still very calm.
We have a large library of Japanese books, if you are learning Japanese and love to read.
We have some dancers visiting from time to time to help around the house in exchange to stay. Like workawayers, they stay at the house and help, but the difference is that the exchange is with morning practice (Qi Gong, Yoga, Feldenkrais) instead of meals (they buy their own food and cook). I have been teaching bodywork for over 30 years. We open the option to everyone how they would like to exchange -- whether by standard stay and food, or by stay and practice.
Help
We have different projects depending on the season, and what you might be good at.
The garden help is trimming trees and bushes, cutting grass, clearing grounds, work on our vegetable garden, moving flowers.
House help is a lot of clearing out, DIY repairs and building, organizing and cleaning.
We have a cat who is mostly outdoor cat, but he passes through the kitchen and dining room.
We like to enjoy each task and be creative and positive.
And we also learn a lot from you! We had some wonderful meetings from workawayers, and many of them we keep in touch.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
During the time we have dance workshop, you might share a room with someone, share bath, kitchen, dining room. At other times, you could have the house to yourself. Our family lives in a separate building right behind. There's WiFi internet at the house you stay. Our house is not luxury house. It has a charm of an old house, but you must be ok to live in an old countryside home, not modern.
When there is a group, we make cook teams. When less people, we can decide and arrange how we like. We can take turns cooking, or cook together, or sometimes eat independently. Cooking for just for yourself and cleaning of your personal area is not part of the help hours.
What else ...
Our region called Le Perche is quite famous for beautiful landscape with historical architecture. We have bicycles if you would like to go on excursions. There are woods nearby (national parks) with forest hikes. If you like to exercise, practice yoga or mediation etc., we have a beautiful studio.
Most people come by blablacar. Mortagne-au-Perche is our closest town. We can pick you up near Mortagne-su-Perche. There are trains from Paris and Le Mans, then limited bus connections to Mortagne-au-Perche).
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
In some periods, it is possible to park a camp van in our garden, not always -- we can only park one campvan.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Nin-Nyan
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I feel really lucky that i arrive to this magical place, I was looking to connect with myself and definitly was the place to do it.
My work there consisted on gardering and… read more
The house itself is located… read more
The house is on Normandie countryside, in the calm nature but at the same time not far from Paris, if someone wish to spend the days off in the big City. During the other days you can go… read more
