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Description
PLEASE READ OUR FULL PROFILE BEFORE APPLYING and be aware that we can only accommodate ONE person at a time.
ABOUT US:
I’m originally from Brazil where I was a Spanish teacher. I’m a married childfree woman. Since I work as an English homework coach and have lots of pupils, I’m always rushing off my feet the whole day, either teaching or preparing my lessons during Spanish academic year (September to June). Apart from that, I sometimes do voluntary work teaching Spanish, mainly to refugees and asylum seekers. My husband works in the mornings and after lunch he usually does some online research study. Both of us can speak English and Spanish, besides that my mother tongue is Portuguese and I can get by in French.
As I’ve stated, for personal reasons, we can only host ONE volunteer for a minimum of TEN days and a maximum of FIFTEEN days at a time. And as much as I like good conversation (about politics, environment, literature or culture), I also like to be quiet, chatting with my husband or doing my own things.
Speaking about us, we’re eco-friendly (recycling everything and saving energy!). Having said that, I must point out that northern Spain (where we live) is far from the traditional Spanish sun-drenched place, so do not expect to have a sweltering summer. In our two-storey house we do NOT turn the heating on from March to November; hence be prepared to wear warm clothing and use blankets.
We’re also easy-going, good-humored, polite, educated, respectful, generous and avid travellers. We don’t smoke, for that reason our guest MUST be non-smoker!
We’re omnivore (in case you’re a strict vegan!), although I love preparing vegetarian or vegan dishes. As a Brazilian person I love fruit and fresh salads chock-full of good-for-you ingredients. For the ones that do eat dairy products, I need to say that Cantabria is famous for the variety of its savoury and tempting homemade cheese and puff pastries...Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Teaching
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I can provide resources should you want to improve your Spanish or Portuguese. I’m perfectly happy to help you with both languages, including giving you ONE-hour lesson per day. I must stress that I’m not able to offer a language course.
If you want to improve your Spanish quickly, we may do the same as we did with our previous volunteers, this means talking in Spanish during the meals, therefore you could learn all the vocabulary related to food, tapas and so on... It’ll be up to you! Apart from that, I may introduce you to some of my Cantabrian friends, so that you can practise your Spanish with them too. I can also teach you how to make my unique yummy homemade bread.
Another thing is that here it’ll be very difficult to communicate in English, you’ll have to use Spanish to ask for directions, buy something, etc. Despite the language barrier, Cantabrian people are extremely good-natured and friendly.
We know a lot about different Spanish regions and we’ll be too pleased to research information and advise you regarding your travel plans here, so please do ask about this before you come - people can waste so much money and time if they aren't savvy.Help
I’ve been studying English for a long time in an attempt to achieve the proficiency level but it’d been very difficult. I finally passed the C2 Exam, although I don't feel that I'm a bilingual person after achieving this certificate and I still need someone willing to help me brush up my communication skills.
Although I don’t mind if your mother tongue isn’t English, the help I need does require you to possess an outstanding command of the language. That means if you aren’t native, you MUST be bilingual, so do NOT apply if you aren’t a proficient user.
Volunteers should also be aware of gender equality (please gentlemen!) and MUST be prepared to do the washing-up (we don’t have dishwasher!). You don’t have to cook, because I love cooking, besides I also knead the dough to make a flavourful and wholesome homemade bread.
I’ll also ask you to lend me a hand with my ‘thorough cleaning of the whole house’ ONCE a week - but this would involve no more than three hours, because we’ve got the custom of leaving our shoes on the doormat. Please, do NOT stay bare feet inside the house, you MUST wear slippers, so bring your own ones, unless you don’t mind using a spare pair we have for guests.
Another thing is that hosting is pointless if the housework isn’t shared. When this happens it means that I’m unable to get on with my own tasks or help you with yours.
WHEN:
My husband and I are early riser people. If you want, we could arrange our working hours until 2pm, so you could spend your free afternoons as you wish. Either if you’re a night owl person or you like to sleep in every single morning, I think you'll suit better in another house.
Days are negotiable - you may prefer to take your day off during the week when it’s easier to travel and assist me at the weekend. It may be possible for us to accompany you and show you the best places to visit.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
I love teaching, so for me it'll be a pleasure to teach you some Spanish. Apart from that, here you'll be immersed in Castellano, since few people speak English. If you can understand my husband, who is a fast-speaking person, you have a C2 level in Spanish.Accommodation
BOARD & LODGING:
You’ll have a light-filled bedroom completely furnished, with a large bed, perfectly clean in a terraced (row) house near the train station of Puente San Miguel (0.5 km = 0.310 miles); a spotless shared bathroom (we have two, only one with shower) and a stainless full-equipped kitchen. You MUST keep your bedroom and bathroom neat and tidy, in other words, in the same standard of the whole house.
Towels are provided, as is bed linen, and you may use the washing machine - this will enable you to travel light and avoid baggage costs. We have two televisions and besides you can borrow our spare laptop, taking into account that WIFI will be ON from 7am to 11pm (NOT round-the-clock). We like to be as ‘green’ as possible to conserve energy, so please, TURN the lights OFF when you aren’t in your bedroom or in another part of the house.
If you aren’t familiar with terraced (row) housing, this means that the immediate houses are joined, thereby we expect you not to make so much noise, especially in the early mornings or late evenings.
We live in a rural area just a stone’s throw from a milkman, hence you can drink fresh milk if you want to do so. Therefore, expect to see farmers and livestock.
We don’t live just along the coast, but most coastal towns and villages are nonetheless easily accessible by public transportation or by bike, such as Suances (11.5 km = 7.14miles), Comillas (20.5 km = 12.73 miles) and San Vicente de la Barquera (35 km = 22.05 miles).
Finally, my house is within walking distance of excellent transport links and the amenities of a small town. You can go to Santander – capital of Cantabria (35 minutes by train), with its bay bathed by the azure-blue waters of the Cantabrian Sea. You can also visit Santillana del Mar (4 km = 2.48 miles), labelled ‘the prettiest village in Spain’ by Jean-Paul Sartre. The closest medium town is Torrelavega (4.2 km = 2.60 miles), which has around 60,000 inhabitants.
Regarding meals, we’ll offer you a healthy no-cook breakfast (coffee, tea, dairy or plant-based milk, juice carton, cereal, muesli, porridge, homemade or white bread, jam, marmalade, butter, honey, peanut butter, Marmite, fruit, yoghurt) and a nutritious and fulfilling lunch, because we prefer to have our main meal at lunchtime (around 2 p.m.). In the evening you can prepare something frugal, given that we aren’t used to having dinner. Of course, you’ll have plenty of leftovers from the lunch (I always prepare loads of food!), so you can help yourself. We aren’t the type of people who are stingy with food, please take a look at the glowing reviews from our past Workawayers.
I cycle everywhere and you may borrow a spare bike we have, so that you can explore the well-kept and picturesque surroundings. Some of our neighbours own dogs that usually ‘play bark’, so, if you can’t stand doggies barking, I don't think our village will be the ideal place for you.What else ...
PLEASE ensure that you’ve read our profile THOROUGHLY and ask if there is anything you don’t understand. When writing your request, please mention a little more about yourself if not in your profile: What have you done since leaving school? Where are you from? Any skills? Education? Hobbies?
First, I’d prefer to clarify what this opportunity involves, because there’re some wonderful experiences on offer at this website and this one, in comparison, is quite ordinary and may not be as exciting as you expect.
If you decide to come and then change your mind, please have the courtesy to let us know out of respect for other people who would have loved to be hosted by us.
One more thing: We expect you to be responsible, PUNCTUAL, CLEAN, tidy and organized.
When I travel I expect things to be different – that’s the whole point and joy of travel. What’s normal in your host country may seem strange to you but to continually remark upon it can be seen as impolite.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
You can borrow our spare laptop, taking into account that WIFI will be ON from 7am to 11pm (NOT round-the-clock).
Space for parking camper vans
You’ll have lots of space to park your campervan or motorhome where we live.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Feedback (46)
While in my house she could catch up some sleep and do some yoga and meditation, since our work timetable was very flexible. We… read more
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While in my house she could catch up some sleep and do some yoga and meditation, since our work timetable was very flexible. We… read more
We were greatly pleased to show her some of the sights around here and it was so refreshing to have someone who really appreciated the beauty of this area and the Spanish culture. We did a bit of sightseeing in Picos de Europa National… read more
We shared very long walks either along the coast or passing through picturesque paths in the… read more
Being a teacher, I always admire studious and tenacious pupils, so I was delighted to know he was a languages student at the… read more
Being a teacher, I always admire studious and tenacious students, so I was delighted to know he’d study Aerospace Engineering in a prestigious university… read more
He kindly did some exams with me, corrected my mistakes… read more
As my pupils were having loads of tests, I was really… read more
We spent her stay talking, sightseeing, bar hoping and laughing. She was an enthusiastic traveller as she… read more
As my husband was out of town, I asked a friend… read more
When I read on his… read more
She was a credit to her family who had done a fantastic job raising that polite and reliable young woman. She seemed far older than her age, very responsible and independent,… read more
I really recommend to anyone wanting to explore the… read more
We shared very long walks either along the coast or passing through picturesque paths in the… read more
Although we only host her for a short time, we could notice that she was good company in every respect. Nothing was too much trouble, including setting… read more
Although it was a short period of time I could notice that she was true-hearted and… read more
She was lucky with the weather, it wasn’t so bad, although she had to put up with builders and painters because they were fixing up some… read more
He even joined an English conversation group in Torrelavega and everyone had great fun… read more
She will definitely go down in the books as one of my favourite volunteers. What a wonderful lady! She was cheerful, helpful, interesting, reliable, trustworthy, considerate, very neat… read more
We had lots of interesting chats, visited Santander, Bilbao, San Vincente de la… read more
I arrived into Santander Airport where Jane very kindly met me and gave me a lift back to her house, which was only a short drive away. Jane was very welcoming and I felt right at home.
There is always such a lovely variety of healthy, food at the… read more
That… read more
I couldn't have asked for a kinder, more generous host. Jane, you are genuinely one of the most lovely people I've ever met. Your attitude to life and the way you treat others is inspiring - even if you say it's just a Brazilian thing (hahaha). You're… read more
What a great surprise, when, after picking her up at the airport, we… read more
We’ve been hosting… read more
We spent her stay talking, sightseeing and laughing. She is a wildlife and environmentalist enthusiast as she explained… read more
She quickly settled in and we were so happy with her, that time went by very quickly. She had an eagerness to discover and taste everything that surrounded her,… read more
As Jane and Francisco were unable to… read more
She was discrete, always willing to help, even-tempered, thoughtful and very polite. She demonstrated common-sense and capability beyond her years – a credit to her parents. As a… read more
We had a few language exchange sessions together, and Jane showed strong dedication to language-learning and aim for perfection,… read more
What she lacked in English grammar knowledge she fully made up for in willingness and tenacity while looking up on the internet for the most accurate answer. She had to… read more
Some days we would head out for pleasant walks, either along the coast or into the countryside. My husband and I tried to make her… read more
After my flight time was changed to a very late evening arrival, Jane and her husband Francisco were good enough to collect me from the airport which was really appreciated.
During the week I thoroughly enjoyed chatting to Jane, I felt we both had… read more
When we finally met at the coach station in Torrelavega, all my… read more
Nothing was too much trouble, including setting off very early to Santoyo to see an organ recital in an old church and staying overnight in Palencia.
He showed great determination, besides that… read more
We had quite a few interesting chats over mealtimes and during… read more
Some days we would head out early for very long walks or bike rides, either along… read more
She was extremely brave and showed great determination, besides that, she possessed a contagious… read more
Thank you do much Jane for everything. I will keep a great memory of my stay… read more
Since she was a visual artist and had worked in some artist-in-residence programmes,… read more
Jane speaks excellent English; she just wants to keep herself practicing, so no worries about teaching basic stuff. We pretty much just had… read more
Besides… read more
Lia will definitely go down in the books amongst my best volunteers. What a wonderful person! She was cheerful, helpful, creative, reliable, thoughtful… read more
Her English is great; there… read more
Besides that, Alex is one of… read more
When my husband and I went to the coach station to pick her up, we noticed that she mixed up English words. I assumed that she was tired by… read more
The town is very quiet but I really appreciated the tranquillity, and could… read more
When there was raw weather, she made the most of my large… read more
I arrived in Santander airport where Jane and Francisco kindly picked me up and I knew straight away that I was in for a wonderful time. They are extremely welcoming, kind and… read more
Besides that, she… read more
They took me to see many lovely sights around Cantabria and to… read more
She initially seemed quite quiet and reserved, but always open and friendly. Besides that, she was extremely considerate and trustworthy and we had… read more
I fully recommend this Workaway experience. It is ideal for anyone eager to learn about different ways of life and open to discovering beautiful areas with a very kind host.… read more
When we finally met at the coach… read more
We were greatly pleased to show her some of the sights around here and it was so refreshing to have someone who really appreciated the beauty of this area and the Spanish culture. We did a bit of sightseeing in Santillana del Mar, San… read more
Exploring Cantabria was great. Jane and Francisco took me to some really picturesque mountains, beaches and… read more
Thomas demonstrated common-sense and capability beyond his years – a credit to his parents. It was a pleasure having him in my house.
Besides that, Thomas possessed a… read more
Lynn will definitely go down in the books as one of my favourite volunteers. What a wonderful lady! She was cheerful, helpful, interesting, reliable,… read more
Having LaChelle in my house for seven days, I discovered she wasn’t… read more
It was lovely to exchange views on life, personal experiences and cultural details. I very highly reccommend spending some time with them, you definitely will leave richer… read more
She was very reliable and consistent with communications prior to her arrival and when I met her at home I was completely sure that we’d get on well.
Breanna initially seemed quite… read more
Every morning I was greeted by the sound of cowbells and a delicious breakfast, complete with homemade bread,… read more
Sue helped me with my English exams and I would really… read more
Max demonstrated common-sense and capability beyond his years and I imagine that he could turn his hand to… read more