Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Jul 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
27
ID verified
Email verified
Host offers payment
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We are a family now composed of three people (Alessandra, 55 years old - Emanuele, 56 - Abdul 7), 2 dogs (Momo and Nero) and 2 cats (Pippo and Tina). Unfortunately, Renzo and Maria (95 and 88, Emanuele's parents) left us four year ago, and the house became even bigger, but one year ago Abdul came to stay with us in foster care. In the adjacent wooden house lives Sidi (the one in the photos), who after a fostering process decided to stay with us, and will soon move to Voghera with his partner.
We decided to move away from the city to retrieve a life size closer to nature. We want to build a place in harmony with what we feel. A small farm. A straw-bale house. A happy slump.
We will update this page soon as Abdul has been away with us for a few days now (early July 2025) and one of the dogs, Momo, has died of old age.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live a simple life in contact with nature. We are mindful of energy saving, water cycles, bio-building, waste recycling, and local consumption. We like to know how things work. Emanuele is expert in construction. Alessandra is an excellent cook.
Au Pair Help
Further details can be found here
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are still working to improve the place we live in. We need help to build shelter for animals, arrange the garden (spring / summer), build fences, arrange the existing buildings, cut the wood for the winter.
Languages
Languages spoken
Italian: Fluent
English: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
Interested in learning English and teaching Italiano
Accommodation
Volunteers will be able to sleep in an independent (max 4 person) apartment, with private bathroom, but without a kitchen. There is a chance to have their own fridge, but we would like to share the meal times to give more meaning to cultural exchange.
What else ...
We live in a small country (10 inhabitants) in the middle of the anything. Walk you can reach a small bar, but for other stores you need to take the car. There is a service bus that connects the main location. In the summer there are many cultural events and food. In the winter need to move a bit more away for leisure. Cities that you can visit from here are Milano, Pavia,Vigevano, Piacenza, Genova.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We no longer have a wi-fi connection: we use our phones as routers. So those few times that we will both be absent we cannot guarantee connection.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Feedback (12)
Maria, much more outgoing, (as a good psychologist) loves to know how we are and how to be helpful.
Both were hard workers even in tiring heat and often took the initiative to do work beyond… read more
Thank you so much for the wonderful company, card games, and (of course) the incredible food! Sending my love to Momo and Nero and I… read more
A presence that interests and cheers everyday life.
Not to be bored!
His air of old-fashioned gentlemen, his particular elegance of manners and his affability make him a perfect host for summer dinners. Ask him about Irish culture: he likes to talk about it.
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
Maria, much more outgoing, (as a good psychologist) loves to know how we are and how to be helpful.
Both were hard workers even in tiring heat and often took the initiative to do work beyond… read more
Thank you so much for the wonderful company, card games, and (of course) the incredible food! Sending my love to Momo and Nero and I… read more
A presence that interests and cheers everyday life.
Not to be bored!
His air of old-fashioned gentlemen, his particular elegance of manners and his affability make him a perfect host for summer dinners. Ask him about Irish culture: he likes to talk about it.
The period of time spent with her was filled with intense chatter about ours and her history: a very fruitful intercultural and intergenerational exchange.
One thing is certain: she is not afraid of the hard work done under an authentic and… read more
Seriously, Magda presents herself as shy and not up to par but in reality she is strong, courageous and very nice.
With us she worked all the hours we had decided even if the weather was unfavorable, she trusted what she had read about… read more
Although young people asked us to do hard work that they did well.
Eager to share they were pleasant playmates, stories, impressions and above all laughter.
For those who don't want to get bored.
Silent and enterprising worker. Thanks to his initiative he completes the work he has seen him do even without explaining everything to her.
It was a lot of fun to have her as a collaborator and to note that she was ready to provide the right tool or piece at the right time, like a nurse in the operating room.
His professional advice as… read more
Always smiling is a very helpful workmate, besides being a pleasant playmate
Enterprising, precise, he uses imagination and inventiveness to carry out works begun together and finished by himself excellently.
Friendly and sympathetic even if at first it may seem more introverted and thoughtful we consider it a good workawayer
Staying with them was pleasant and interesting because they are starting a project similar to ours.
They are people full of energy and positive… read more
Paravello is a lovely hamlet in the beautiful countryside south from Milan. Great scenery, perfect for hikes and hill running ;) There is a little bar down the hill where you can indulge in the tastiest ice creams, perfect… read more
In the short time she was with us we worked together, we saw her working hard alone, she prepared a plate of her land and told us how to do art therapy (something that we could not experience on us) .
The rain kept us company in those days but it would be… read more
We learned a lot from them about simple and happy family life.
Every thing we did together was enjoyable and meaningful: cuting wood, building, walking in the forest, watching movies, playing games, exchanging recipes and eating what we all cooked.
We also learned what you can achieve with your own… read more
Precise and accurate, they placed every instrument used in their place, creating an order that was often better than before.
Regarding working hours, they accepted our every proposal without discussion.
They prepared delicious food.
In their eyes was the serenity and the joy… read more
Alessandra and Emanuele's house is in a really nice place. Surrounded by hills, little villages, woods...And the… read more
He worked hard and was very interested in cultural exchanges, above all poetic, with a lively intelligence and a surprisingly fast word speed, not to mention the languages he knew.
A special person
Volentious, full of initiative, respectful and curious. Hosting her and Caleb (her beautiful doberman) was really a pleasure.
Plus we learned Spanish!
