Come hang out with us and maybe travel Southeast Asia together in Penang, Malaysia

Details

• 

  Description

  Hi!
  
  A little note before you read on: I’m actually a very experienced Workaway host! For over two years in 2018-2020, I hosted several dozen Workawayers while running our guesthouse in Jamaica with my ex husband, where family life, work and hosting were all intertwined. Our Workawayers often became a real part of our everyday life.
  
  This is now a completely new chapter, in a different country and with a very different kind of Workaway experience — which explains why my older reviews are about Jamaica!
  
  I also know Workaway from the other side: over the past few years, I’ve been a Workawayer myself, both solo and travelling with my daughter, with very different hosts and projects. So I know both sides of the exchange and really value flexibility, clear communication, independence and making sure it works well for everyone.
  
  Solo (or not) parents travelling with a child are very welcome too! We know that kind of travel from the inside, and having another child around could be a lovely bonus for our kids too.
  
  Now for this new adventure… 😊 , I must say I am offering the kind of experience I would I loved to find in the past as a helper with my kiddo!
  
  ————————
  
  We’re a French mum and my 8-year-old daughter, currently living in Penang, Malaysia, and I’m looking for someone fun, easy-going and English-speaking to join our little everyday life for a while.
  
  We live in a great residence in Penang with swimming pools, waterslides, tennis and squash courts, sports facilities, and we’re just minutes from the sea and the beach. Penang itself is incredibly easy and affordable to explore, with amazing food, lots going on and cheap transportation.
  
  What would you actually be doing?
  
  Mostly: hanging out with my daughter and speaking English with her.
  
  That’s really the heart of it.
  
  She’s 8, very sociable, active, adaptable and used to travelling and meeting people. She isn’t attending school at the moment, so our days are quite flexible.
  
  You might play games together, swim, go exploring, hang out at home, take her to gymnastics or another activity, go for a walk, invent something to do, or occasionally spend a little time reading, writing or doing something educational.
  
  There is no rigid schedule and no homeschooling programme you’re expected to teach.
  
  The one thing that really matters to me is English: I want her to spend genuine time interacting in English, so I’m looking for someone who speaks English fluently and will encourage her to speak, help her find words and gently correct her.
  
  In exchange, you’d have your own private double bedroom, food for meals we eat at home, and plenty of free time to enjoy Penang and do your own thing.
  
  Around 4 hours of help per day, with flexibility on both sides.
  
  And potentially… this could become a travelling Workaway
  
  We’ve been in Penang for about a month and will be here for at least another couple of months. After that, we don’t quite know yet.
  
  Thailand? Vietnam? The Philippines? Somewhere else in Southeast Asia? Back to Penang after a visa run? That’s part of the adventure.
  
  I’ve realised that this arrangement could easily travel with us. Wherever we go, I can look for accommodation with an extra room or bed and potentially have Workawayers join us there too.
  
  So you could come just for a few weeks in Penang — or, if we really get along, perhaps continue part of the journey with us. There is absolutely no expectation of that, just the possibility.
  
  I’m a pretty relaxed mum and our life isn’t highly scheduled. I’m not looking for an employee or someone to take over parenting. I’m looking for another adult who genuinely enjoys children, likes playing and exploring, is independent enough to enjoy their own time, and would enjoy becoming part of our little travelling household for a while.
  
  If that sounds like your kind of Workaway, send me a message and tell me a little about yourself, your travels, your experience with kids, and — most importantly — what you actually enjoy doing with an 8-year-old!
  
  🌴☀️🏊‍♀️
  
  A little extra about me
  
  I’m 45, and I’ve been in love with travelling and discovering other ways of living since I was 18. I first went to West Africa during my gap year after high school, and that trip completely changed something in me. I realised I wanted languages, travel and life abroad to be part of my life, so I studied languages, spending a year in Spain and a year in England.
  
  After that, I became a little addicted to living abroad! 😄 I’ve always loved France and everything I have there, but I’ve also always felt the need to go further, discover new places and immerse myself in different cultures.
  
  Over the years, I lived between France and Morocco, spent a year and a half in Madagascar, and later moved to Jamaica, where I fell in love with both the country and a Jamaican man. We built a life there, started a guesthouse project and had our daughter Maya, who was born in Jamaica.
  
  Then life took an unexpected turn. We came back to France for a holiday just before Covid, my mother passed away, our business in Jamaica was lost, and eventually we stayed in France. My partner and I separated when Maya was four, and since then I’ve been raising her as a solo mum.
  
  Travel has remained a huge part of our life. Over the last few years, Maya and I have travelled for several months at a time, including Morocco, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. And now we’ve taken it a step further: we’ve been travelling continuously for the past six months, with no fixed date to go back home.
  
  I guess I’ve always been drawn to the same thing: meeting people, sharing everyday life, learning from different cultures and feeling at home in places that are not technically home. That’s a big part of why Workaway feels so natural to me.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Creative DIY projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
• 

  Interests

  

  Van life

  

  Events & social

  

  Culture

  

  Writing

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Books

  

  Hiking

  

  Mountain

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Team sports

  

  Winter sports

  

  Beach

  

  Fitness

  

  Dancing

  

  Camping

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Water sports

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Nature

  

  Adventure sports
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  This is a chance to experience everyday life in Penang rather than just passing through as a tourist. Penang is an incredibly multicultural place, with Malay, Chinese and Indian influences, amazing food and lots to discover.
  
  We’re a French travelling family and have been living and travelling in different countries, so we love exchanging stories, languages, cultures and perspectives with people from all over the world.
  
  You’ll also get a glimpse into our rather unconventional travelling/worldschooling lifestyle — and hopefully share some of your own culture with us too!
  
  And of course, you’ll have plenty of free time to explore Penang independently.

• 

  Au Pair Help

  This host is looking for Au pair help.

• 

  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

• 

  Help

  The main thing I’m looking for is someone to spend time with my 8-year-old daughter and give her a real English-speaking environment.
  
  That could mean playing games, swimming, exploring the neighbourhood,and the island, taking her to gymnastics or other activities, doing crafts, reading together, or simply hanging out and chatting. Occasionally, you might also do some light educational activities with her, but there is no formal homeschooling programme to follow.
  
  The most important requirement is fluent English and a willingness to actively help her improve: encourage her to speak, help her find the right words and gently correct her when needed.
  
  Around 4 hours a day, with plenty of flexibility. There’s no rigid timetable — we’ll organise things together depending on everyone’s plans and activities.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Berber: Intermediate
  German: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I have learnt them at university and taught them at school
• 

  Accommodation

  You’ll have your own private, comfortable bedroom with a large double bed, air conditioning, a big window with a lovely view, plenty of storage space and a desk. The bathroom next to it will be essentially yours — I use my own, although my daughter may occasionally use either one.
  
  We live on the 7th floor in a spacious three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, with a large open-plan living/dining area and kitchen, a balcony and lovely views towards the sea. There’s plenty of space for everyone to have some privacy.
  
  The residence itself is fantastic, with swimming pools, waterslides, tennis and squash courts, sports facilities and lots of outdoor space. The sea and beach are just nearby.

• 

  What else ...

  Penang is a fantastic place to spend some time — there is loads to explore and it’s very easy and affordable to get around.
  
  We’re in Tanjung Bungah, between George Town and Batu Ferringhi, close to the sea and beaches. You can easily explore George Town, hike in Penang National Park, visit temples, markets and museums, discover the island’s famous food scene, or just enjoy the beach and the facilities at our residence.
  
  Getting around is easy: local buses are very cheap and Grab is affordable and widely available.
  
  There are also plenty of cafés, restaurants, shops and supermarkets nearby, and eating out locally can be incredibly cheap.
  
  You’ll have plenty of time off to explore independently, and you’re also very welcome to join us when we go out, explore somewhere new, meet other travelling/worldschooling families or do activities around the island.
  
  We’ve only recently arrived ourselves, so we’re still discovering Penang too — you wouldn’t just be joining our routine, you’d be part of the adventure!

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  Great speed internet. Bedroom has a desk.

• 

  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

Website Safety

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

+1

Feedback (8)