Alexandra

& Laurie

Travel information

We are currently

Activities we are interested in:

Hiking, discovering new places and cultures, meeting new people, helping others in various activities, etc.

Description

Hello,
We are new Workaway members, our names are Alexandra and Laurie.

Why did we choose workaway?
As our financial resources are not unlimited, Workaway proved to be both an economical and rewarding option for us, offering us the opportunity to experience new things. Going on a trip while working and sharing good times with families allows us to improve our language skills and discover the local culture while being useful. Workaway is an ideal opportunity for adventure.

Degree :
We both graduated with a degree in Applied Foreign Languages, specialising in International Business. Laurie specialised in English and Italian, while Alexandra focused on English and German. The course was very rewarding, and enabled us to become both polyvalent and independent. In terms of languages, we studied the civilisation of the countries concerned (history, customs, habits), grammar and specialised vocabulary. On the business side, we took courses in law, economics, marketing, purchasing, logistics, accounting, IT and much more, as well as covering topics such as social networks, greenwashing, sustainable development and second-hand goods.

How did we meet?
We were lucky enough to meet and become friends during our second year at university. Over time, we got to know each other better and discovered that we had a lot in common. We had the opportunity to introduce each other to our respective friends and, together, we formed a very close-knit group. As a result, we spent our final years at university together, even though it took a lot of effort.
With our many interests and some uncertainty as to which Masters we wanted to pursue, we decided to take a gap year together. This will give us the opportunity to discover more about ourselves while gaining experience abroad and becoming more independent in an international environment.

Individual description:

Alexandra, 21, Franco-German :
My degree has given me the opportunity to meet new people and learn a lot. It has contributed greatly to my personal development, making me an ambitious and polyvalent person in different fields. Personal development is essential for me, because I believe that every task and activity is a source of learning. I'm constantly on the lookout for new skills and knowledge, because I believe that time is precious and that it's important to make the most of the present while striving to be useful.
Family background :
I grew up in a family that allowed me to discover many different areas of activity:
- My artistic side comes from my grandfather, a painter and sculptor, and my aunt, who taught me to develop my creativity through sewing and DIY projects.
- Respect for nature and animals has always been part of my environment. I often spent time walking with my grandmother and looking after the farm animals with her and my sister. We had sheep, rabbits, cats, dogs, ducks and chickens. We have taken in many cats over the years.
- My desire to create with my hands comes from my father, an engineer who has passed on a multitude of skills to me. As far as I'm concerned, he can do anything. In his spare time, he's constantly teaching me new techniques. I was involved in renovating the two flats I now own, and we're currently working together on renovating other properties.
- Real estate has become a field that interests and appreciates me. I grew up alongside my parents, who set up their own real estate business. They gave me the opportunity to help them visit properties, create adverts (writing descriptions, taking photographs), talk to owners and potential buyers, and so on. I also had the opportunity to manage a gîte for seasonal rental and to assist with accounting and notarial negotiations, which helped me to develop my sense of responsibility.
Today, I'm proud of what I've become, thanks to a family and school environment that has always encouraged me to push my limits and aim high. I'm a constantly evolving self-taught person, eager to learn every day, and I'm looking forward to discovering new aspects of travel.


Laurie :
Hello, my name is Laurie, I'm 21 years old, and I'm from the south of France, where I grew up in a rural environment full of discovery. My family roots are deeply connected to the countryside, where my grandparents, who were farmers, gave me the chance to experience life close to nature. As a child, I spent a lot of time on farms, interacting with animals like rabbits, chickens, dogs, and cats, which sparked my love for animals and rural life.
My family has been instrumental in shaping my passions. My father, who works in construction and renovation, taught me how to be independent and handle tools with confidence. My sister, a graphic designer and art director, helped me develop my creativity, especially through drawing and painting. My mother, an intellectual, passed on to me a love for reading, foreign languages, and taught me to observe and understand the world around me. These different influences have shaped my character and given me a rich, multifaceted perspective on life.
Music has always played an important role in my life. Since childhood, during family meals, my grandfather would sing songs by Luis Mariano and Tino Rossi, which naturally led me to want to learn to play an instrument. Music is a way for me to express myself and connect with others, a precious family heritage.
Outside of family, I’m also a huge fan of motorsport, especially MotoGP and F1, thanks to my father, who has been following these sports for many years. Weekends are often a time for family gatherings around the races, creating a strong bond with my loved ones.
Finally, dance has been an integral part of my life since I was 4 years old. I practiced modern jazz and contemporary dance for many years, and it remains today a form of expression where I feel free and connected to myself.
I value family, human connection, and authenticity. I enjoy discovering new things, engaging in meaningful conversations, and building genuine relationships. If you'd like to know more about me, I’d be happy to share and create connections based on trust and openness.

We look forward to meeting you and learning about your culture :)

Interests

Charity work

Sustainability

Videography

Drawing & painting

Dancing

Animals

Architecture

Adventure sports

Blogging

Culture

Farming

Nature

Performing arts

Self development

Languages

Mountain

Pets

Photography

Movies & TV

Hiking

Beach

Cooking & food

Events & social

Music

Yoga / Wellness

Outdoor activities

Cycling

DIY & crafts

Fitness

Gardening

Languages

Languages spoken
German: Fluent
French: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Italian: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
French is our native language. Thanks to our degree in English, we've enriched our linguistic knowledge, revised our grammar, and expanded our vocabulary. Going abroad would be the ideal opportunity to put this learning into practice and to improve our oral exchanges in a foreign language. Laurie has been taking Italian and English courses since secondary school, while Alexandra is bilingual in German. She has also strengthened her written German thanks to university courses and specialized textbooks. We've both been lucky enough to travel in Germany. For my part (Alexandra), I have also visited the Czech Republic (Prague) and England (Oxford and its surrounding villages), while Laurie has traveled to Italy (Naples, Florence, Pisa, etc.) and Morocco. We already have a broad knowledge base, but we're always eager to learn more. We'd be delighted to teach you French and help you improve. Laurie is also keen to improve her Italian and can teach you some basic Italian. Similarly, Alexandra can help you improve your German or teach you the basics. We would love to improve our English skills through sharing and activities. We'd be delighted to share good times and chat with you on any subject!

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:  

Charity Work

Gardening

Life at a Farmstay

Babysitting and creative play

Hospitality/Tourism

House sitting

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Some knowledge of:  

Art Projects

Eco Projects

DIY and building projects

Animal Care

General Maintenance

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Teaching

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

- Housework: we both enjoy living in a tidy and clean house, and make sure it stays that way even with pets.
Alexandra used to work in a holiday cottage. She looked after the villa and swimming pool during the year and cleaned every time there was a change of tenant during the summer. This consisted of vacuuming, mopping, changing sheets, cleaning all surfaces, dusting, starting and emptying the dishwasher, hanging sheets, taking care of the pool ph, removing leaves, sweeping the terraces, cleaning windows, etc.

- Tidying up:
We really enjoy tidying things up so that we can easily find things again and the result is pleasing to the eye.

- Communication / Welcoming clients:
Laurie has worked with the public services to welcome and guide people through the steps they need to take.
Alexandra has had to welcome tenants on several occasions for a gîte, as well as for visits to rented flats. She has sometimes had to speak English to welcome Belgians.
By combining our languages, we can communicate in 4 different languages.

- Small repairs:
Alexandra spends time repairing her jewellery, refastening objects, assembling furniture, painting imperfections and doesn't hesitate to travel to make small alterations to her rentals.
We both do our own sewing (adjustments, adding buttons, etc).

- Renovation:
Alexandra added an insulating floor to one of her flats to improve the insulation, and is now removing the old wallpaper in a house and preparing it for the empty work. She has helped with the installation of air conditioning, maintenance of gutters, etc. Soon I'll be helping my father to re-roof.
As her father works in the building trade, Laurie has already helped her father lay tiles, parquet, plasterboard, etc.
We've both helped with transporting and moving materials (wooden beam for roofing, tiles, stones, pallets, wheelbarrow).

- Gardening :
Maintaining your home from the outside is just as important as maintaining your garden. A beautiful garden always adds to the beauty of the house. Each of us can spend hours in the garden weeding, planting, cutting branches and so on. In the summer I help water the plants and harvest the potatoes.
Laurie has already helped farmers harvest maize as a seasonal job.

- Animal care: we both grew up in a farming environment and know how to look after animals.
Alexandra currently has 9 cats that she looks after every day (brushing, care, food, litter, attention).
Laurie also looks after her two cats (brushing, care, food, litter, attention) as well as her dog (walking, playing).

- Hard work: Whether it's during our studies or in our daily lives, we're never short of work, but we enjoy it. We're dedicated to our future and work as part of a team or even on our own. Spending several hours doing the same task doesn't scare us, as we already do it every day.

- Babysitting: Laurie looked after a baby (carrying, playing with and looking after him). She has also babysat for other people's children (homework, cooking, putting them to bed).

- Cooking/Baking: We both love cooking and know how to make various recipes. We know how to follow recipes to the letter, whether sweet or savoury (pancakes, cakes, pies, etc).

- First aid: Laurie obtained her first aid diploma at college.
Alexandra has a friend who is a care assistant and who has shown her what to do in certain cases. I've already had to take emergency action several times for fairly deep cuts, but I've been able to keep my cool and not panic.

Age

22 & 21

What else ...

Hello, we are currently looking for hosts for our trip to Milan from 7 January 2025 to 25 January 2025. We would be delighted to find a family fairly quickly.
Thank you and see you soon :)

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  no

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  Special dietary requirements