Hanna & Marvin

Germany
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Travelling
Description
Hej! I am Hanna and I am a student currently living in Bonn, Germany. I am writing my bachelor thesis in Scandinavian Studies this year and plan to be a translator for Swedish literature in the future. I am especially interested in literature, music, languages, and knitting and crocheting. You will hardly ever see me without either a book or a half finished sweater in my hands. I play the guitar and the piano and love to sing.
I have spent some time in Sweden where I really enjoyed hiking through forests and exploring the surrounding areas. I love spending time outside and seeing beautiful things. I am very keen on getting to know more of Scandinavia! Especially since the plan is to move north and out of Germany.

Hei, my name is Marvin and I am the other person in this team of two. I'm currently studying philosophy with history as an accompanying subject here in Bonn, Germany. I like to spend my free time in nature, hiking or walking with my dog Nala. I also have a great fascination for Norway and the language, which fits perfectly as I want to study and live there from autumn 2025. In addition to my studies, I also work as a Norwegian tutor at the University of Bonn. This actually takes up a lot of my time, as I'm very passionate about it.

We are communicative people who enjoy being around people, having deep or simply funny conversations and we're passionate about board games. We're very interested in language and culture exchange and are eager about learning new skills and are very open to new experiences and adventures. Hanna has lived in her own apartment for a few years and Marvin has been living communally, so we are both experienced in keeping our space clean and don't shy away from any work around the house.

As Hanna has already said, this year we want to emigrate to the north together, or more precisely to Bergen. So we want to get a taste of Norway and spend some time there.
Interests
DIY & crafts
Vegetarian or vegan
Writing
Outdoor activities
Nature
Pets
Plant care
Music
Movies & TV
Mountain
Languages
LGBTQ
Gardening
Hiking
Culture
Books
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Norwegian: Fluent
Swedish: Fluent
More details about my language interests
Marvin is very interested in improving his Norwegian, especially orally. Hanna speaks Swedish very well and is always interested in improving her Swedish. We have both taught our respective Scandinavian languages, i.e. Hanna Swedish and Marvin Norwegian, and both have experience in teaching German. So we would be very interested in a language exchange and in giving as well as in receiving language lessons.
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Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Being an elderly companion
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
House sitting
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Able to teach about:
Animal Care
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
More details about your skills
About Hannas skills:
I have experience in language teaching and speak fluent German, English and Swedish. In my spare time I love creative activities such as knitting and crocheting, and I have a real passion for plants - my houseplants are thriving! I am also fascinated by gardening, and after gaining my first experience in my family's garden as a child, I would like to delve even deeper into this subject.

I also really enjoy craft work. I have already helped renovate a flat and discovered that I particularly enjoy painting walls. I also babysat as a teenager and have musical skills - I sing and play both the piano and the guitar.

Professionally, I have worked in various areas: I worked at the reception desk of a residential home for people with disabilities and the elderly, I worked as a waitress and was thus able to gain a lot of valuable experience in dealing with people. I have also just finished a 5-month internship at the Department of Languages at the Linnaeus-University in Växjö, Sweden, where I gave a course for first-semester students of German. And not to forget - I grew up with a dog, so I'm also somewhat familiar with animals.

About Marvins skills:
Working with animals is particularly close to my heart - my own dog Nala comes from animal welfare and has some behavioural problems, which is why I have worked intensively with dog training, especially with challenging dogs.

Before starting my studies, I did a year of voluntary service in the care of people with disabilities. I worked in a workshop for people with disabilities in the field of industrial assembly and was able to gain valuable insights into support work as well as some practical skills.

I am also particularly interested in cultural and language exchange. I have been a tutor for the Norwegian course at the University of Bonn for 5 semesters. During my school years, I have tutored students of all ages for a long time, especially in maths and sciences.

I additionally have experience in the hospitality and hostel industry as well as in event management. Alongside my studies, I worked for two years in a busy hostel in Bonn. For three years I was active in the student project ‘Scandinavian Film Days Bonn’, two of which I spent in a leading position.

Over the years, I have been involved in a number of different smaller renovation jobs. From painting walls and sanding parquet floors to wallpapering and varnishing, I've done lots of different jobs. I'm far from being a carpenter, but I really enjoy renovation work.

Even though we both cook a lot and regularly, I'm probably more the baker of the two of us. I've been baking since I was 13 and could bake a new recipe every day if I didn't want to eat it myself. So I would be very happy to be able to bake for a family!

I like working independently and on my own responsibility, but I also work well in a team. I would say that I pick up new skills very quickly and am always interested in learning new ones.
Age
28 & 27
What else ...
Of the two of us, Hanna is the one who has the driving licence.

We are both non-smokers and don't drink alcohol.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  mild house-dust allergy (Marvin)
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegeterian/ vegan, but we are ready to adjust to the host, especially when it comes to preparing meals.

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18 May 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Learn about self sufficiency ...)

We had our first Workaway experience with Johnny, spending six weeks on his homestead in southern Norway. We were absolutely thrilled by the rural surroundings and the huge property that stretches all the way down to the lake.
We stayed in the house on the property, which we either had to ourselves or occasionally shared with Johnny. He's a very… read more open-minded person, and we had great conversations with him about all kinds of topics. It was a real pleasure to exchange thoughts about cultural differences and similarities.

Working with Johnny was very easy-going. He got us involved right away, and we helped with chopping firewood and tidying up the property. Since we stayed during the spring, many of our tasks were related to preparing for summer. We took care of the potato field and the strawberry beds, cleaned out the sheep barn, mowed the lawn, removed weeds and moss from the grass and rocks, and sowed new grass. We also helped Johnny with developing the "beach" area by the lake — we really hope this project continues and turns out just the way he envisions it!

Part of our responsibilities included caring for the animals: feeding hay to the sheep, keeping the chicken coop clean and collecting eggs, and looking after newly hatched chicks.
There was also plenty to do outside of work. Johnny’s property is perfect for spending time outdoors — grilling on the porch or by the lake, going for boat rides, or just sitting in the sun. The surrounding area is incredibly beautiful, offering lots of opportunities for hiking through forests and up into the mountains.

One of the highlights for us was a train trip to Notodden that Johnny took us on. He’s a train operator and wanted to show us his workplace — it was a breathtaking journey through Norway’s stunning nature!

Hanna’s thoughts:
I had an absolutely amazing time with Johnny. I really enjoyed the work, and I gained a much better understanding of what it takes to run a homestead. I learned how much effort goes into maintaining such a property and how everything is interconnected. I especially loved the gardening work we did during the last few weeks of our stay! I got to plant potatoes, help Johnny with the compost, and do some weeding — which, unlike many people, I actually really enjoy.
Even though it wasn’t very frequent, the contact with Johnny’s family was also really lovely. His daughter Astrid often encouraged me to play games with her, which I enjoyed a lot.
I truly appreciated the conversations with Johnny. They ranged from funny Norwegian sayings to deeper topics, and I feel like I have learned a lot from him.
For anyone who wants to experience life in the Norwegian countryside, enjoys a wide variety of outdoor tasks, and is looking for a warm and open host, I can wholeheartedly recommend Johnny. I'm so grateful to him for a wonderful time!

Marvin’s thoughts:
My time with Johnny won’t just be remembered as my first Workaway experience — it was a truly special chapter in my life. Johnny is an incredibly open, curious, and kind person. It’s very easy to talk to him, and he has so many fascinating stories to share. I really recommend taking the time to sit down and talk with him — he has so much insight to offer. Not only does he know quite a bit about the local history of Porsgrunn, but over the years, he’s also picked up a lot of practical knowledge and some “cowboy tricks.” He reflects deeply on a wide range of topics, so if you’re curious, open to learning, and eager to gain new perspectives, Johnny is the perfect host.
He always made sure we were doing well, enjoying the work, and not overexerting ourselves. But Johnny’s care extended far beyond the work itself — his house in Porsgrunn truly became a home for us during those six weeks, thanks largely to his warm and welcoming nature. We never lacked for anything, and it’s clear how much thought and heart he puts into hosting Workawayers. At the same time, we always had enough space and time to ourselves. As Johnny already mentions on his profile, most of your contact will be with him rather than with his family. So if you’re looking to be fully integrated into a host family, this might not be the right place — but for us, it was just perfect.
I’m incredibly grateful to Johnny for this unforgettable time. I’ll always cherish the memories and I’m already looking forward to the day we meet again!

(Excellent )

14 May 2025

Left by host (Learn about self sufficiency ...) for Workawayer ()

I had the pleasure of hosting Marvin & Hanna for six weeks. They are a hardworking and respectful couple from Germany who quickly adapted to life here. This was both their first Workaway experience and mine as host, making it a special experience for all of us—one that has truly inspired me to continue hosting in the future.

Throughout their… read more

(Excellent )