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12 Nov 2024
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Description
Hello, we are Anita and Chris. Anita was born and raised in Kenya and Chris is English. We have travelled together extensively, and we are returned to Europe after 30 years in Los Angeles. Between us we speak English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Kiswahili. I am a pianist and teach and Chris is a sound mixer for major motion pictures.
Five years ago we moved to France, to a beautiful old Mas, originally a monastery and then a silk mill just outside Ales, on a hilltop with a magnificent view and access to all amenities. We love to have people in our home work with us on the renovation of the Mas and it's garden and also to afford them an experience in a most beautiful part of France, exploring the magnificent Cevennes mountains, the nearby historical cities of Nimes, Montpellier and Avignon. Ales has a train station with great connections.
We very much enjoy having guests in our home and so far we have had over forty Workawayers and I think it says a whole lot about the experience of staying and working here that some of those are people who were here for a second, third or even fourth time.
We have a very affectionate dog, a Rhodesian ridgeback mix, who loves people.Types of help and learning opportunities
GardeningDIY and building projectsCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceHelp with Computers/ InternetCultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are located just outside the Southern French town of Alès in the department of the Gard. We are on the edge of the Cevennes Mountains which offer some wonderful walks and hikes, rivers, gorges and grottos and river swimming. The history of the area is rich and complicated, as with most of Europe!! The Occitane was a stronghold of both French resistance to German occupation in WW2 and of Protestant resistance during the various French religious wars over centuries. Alès is a cultural centre itself but we are also close to the Roman city of Nimes, the Mediaeval and very picturesque town of Uzès , Montpellier and Avignon. The Mediterranean is an hour to the South with beaches and seaside towns and the wild beauty of the Carmargue with its wild bulls, horses and flamingoes. We are also in the heart of a wine growing region, so much to explore.
Help
We are looking for help with renovating the house and improving the grounds. There is a lot of varied work including redecorating and rebuilding, pathways, decks, flower, shrub and vegetable beds, mowing, brush clearing etc. Chris is competent in pretty much all of these but could use some help and a second pair of hands. Specific skills are always welcome too though. In the summer its is too hot to work in the middle of the day so work would normally be between 8am and noon and 5pm and 7pm.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Italian: Intermediate
Indonesian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.Accommodation
The ground floor is given over for the use of guests. There are three bedrooms: two large and one smaller one, each opening onto the extensive garden. The shower and toilets are shared, but there is an additional wash room. The largest room also has its own kitchen.
We would encourage having lunch and dinner together over conversation and good wine. Chris is an excellent cook, but we would also enjoy experiencing other cuisine from those who like to cook. Breakfast is help yourself’. We would provide the food and there is always plenty of wine or beer, plus Chris has a specialty in making his own tonic water for gin and tonics by the pool.
We would encourage anyone with a musical instrument to bring it. I play classical music and would love to have some chamber music partners, Chris plays more rock n roll piano, but all music is encouraged in our large living room which used to be where Yehudi Menuhin led the Cevennes chamber orchestra.
We have one hectare of land so there is plenty of nice outside space, a swimming pool and ping pong table.What else ...
Alès itself has a lot of bars and restaurants and there are concerts and theatre. It is easy to walk into the old town and wander its alleyways with its myriad of interesting shops.
Alès also has a regular and efficient train station which connects you to the TGV from Nimes, which is only 1/2 hour away. Montpellier is about 45 minutes. Paris is 4hrs, Marseilles 2hrs, Barcelona 4hrs. We are generally available to drop you and pick you up at the train station.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have space to work in and pretty decent Wifi. We have hosted a couple who ran an internet based marketing and graphic design company. They were here for five months.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (17)
But mainly she was just a joy to have in the house, to live with, to eat… read more
They will make you feel at home from the first moment, with Anita's wonderful contagious laugh, her sweetness, her caring and her friendliness,
with Chris's immense patience, his strength, his… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
But mainly she was just a joy to have in the house, to live with, to eat… read more
They will make you feel at home from the first moment, with Anita's wonderful contagious laugh, her sweetness, her caring and her friendliness,
with Chris's immense patience, his strength, his… read more
I helped out with a mixture of weeding, painting, gardening, and organising… read more
Thanks to Chris and Anita, and of course the fantastic Masa, I spent four weeks in the little kingdom. A little paradise surrounded by nature and constantly accompanied by the chirping of birds.
From day one Chris and Anita made me feel at home, despite my terrible English they had the patience to help and… read more
We had some lovely… read more
She is also a deeply sensitive… read more
From the first day on I felt at home and the time literally flew. Anita and Chris are amazing hosts and I had the best first workaway experience I could ever imagine! I really enjoyed all the little tasks: weeding, mowing, painting, sanding, tidying up, washing, cleaning... I… read more
Thank you for having us!
we really enjoyed getting to know Chris and Anita and learning about their amazing life's! and of course had lots of play times with their super friendly dog!
I'd highly recommend:)
Thank you for having me!
Ils ont une belle liste de projets et chantiers pour rendre leur nouvelle maison un havre de paix et de bien vivre. Sans jamais mettre de pression (matin quand on veut, grande sieste), nous avons adoré travailler avec Chris qui a… read more