Margaux

France
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Reply rate
100.0 %
Travel information
I am currently
At home
Description
Hi! My name is Margaux and I am a PhD student who is looking for adventure! After four years of intense studying, 📚 I am looking to have more practical work experience, to acquire new skills and experience something new, especially in a rural setting abroad.

I am a French-American who grew up in the US, Denmark, and Japan. I also lived in the UK for four years, for my studies. I graduated with a BA and MPhil from Cambridge, and am now a doctoral researcher based in Princeton, NJ, USA. My multi-cultural background makes me very open-minded and flexible. 🌎 I love connecting with different people, learning new thing, and learning/practicing languages: I speak French, English, Danish, Spanish, Japanese. I am currently actively studying German and Norwegian. I am a quick learner, and a motivated, hard-working individual who is always up for something new. I have an EU passport which means I can easily stay anywhere in Europe. 🇪🇺

I am sporty and energetic: I have a background in martial arts (tae kwon do, hapkido, BJJ, kickboxing...) , run, skateboard, surf, and like to hike. 🥋🏄🏼‍♀️ I love spending time outdoors-whether it be the mountains or the beach! ⛰️ But I also sometimes need some time to decompress-I read and write a lot.

I have also volunteered for the past four years for a non-profit that helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds go to top UK universities--I am dedicated to social justice and enjoy charity work.

I also love animals: my family has a basset hound. 🐕 I got to do my first workaway on a farm in Norway, and particularly enjoyed working with cows.

I am very eager and open to new opportunities, and learning new skills. I get most of my joy in life from meeting people and learning new things. I look forward to hearing back from you and meeting you!
Interests
Culture
Photography
Nature
Outdoor activities
Pets
Mountain
Events & social
Writing
Politics / Social justice
Movies & TV
Performing arts
Languages
History
Hiking
Fitness
Cooking & food
Charity work
Books
Beach
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Danish: Intermediate
Japanese: Intermediate
German: Beginner
Italian: Beginner
Norwegian bokmål: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I grew up in a bilingual household (French and English) and studied English and Comparative Literatures. Since high school, I have tutored French and English languages from elementary school-level all the way to university-level. I am currently a tutor for the Doxa Tutoring Company and for U2 Tuition- I tutor English, French, and Japanese. I also have a C2 level in Spanish, C2 level in Danish (I took the folkeskolens afgangseksamen), and I specialized in Japanese language at school. I took advanced Spanish classes, and beginner German and Italian classes at Cambridge. I also completed an intensive semester in Japanese at Nihon University in Tokyo (from Jan 2025-March 2025). I'd be excited to teach any of these languages to you! I'm keen to practice my Spanish, and Scandinavian languages, and learn more German! But I am more than happy to speak any of these with you. it is difficult keeping up a good level in any language, so I am always looking to improve these languages, no matter the level.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Life at a Farmstay
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Gardening
Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Animal Care
Helping around the house
General Maintenance
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Able to teach about:
Languages
Teaching
More details about your skills
-website creation: book blog with 30,000 views
-tutoring/teaching : English, French, Japanese, and Literature from ages 5 to university level
-administrative/organisational: experience working in administration at a medical uni in France
-group leading: directed and stage managed plays at uni
-languages: speak English, French, Japanese, Danish, Spanish - can teach and want to learn more!
-volunteering: blood donation officer, mentoring high school students
-cooking: see pics!
Age
22
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  no
- Special dietary requirements
  no

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24 Jun 2025

Left by host (Enjoy staying in a very nice, ...) for Workawayer ()

Margaux came here as a novice in anything related to practical things to do in a rural farm environment. The first thing I observed, was here genuine smile, that immediately confirmed my guts feeling about this girl, aligned with the impressions from the video interview. And after a week, I felt that she found her self pretty comfortable here,… read more

(Excellent )

23 Jun 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Enjoy staying in a very nice, ...)

I came to Hans Olaf’s with no expectations — it was my first workaway experience, and I will forever be grateful that Hans Olaf took a chance on me.

Having no expectations is key – on the farm, you need to always expect the unexpected. Most days were paced by the morning and evening shifts with the cows. Days can be long, challenging, and not… read more for the faint-hearted — you need to be ready to get your hands dirty, and to try new things. But they’re also infinitely rewarding. I gained practical skills I never expected to learn: I painted, seeded potatoes, cut grass, fixed insulators, learned a lot about animal husbandry… Before this workaway, I was the kind of person who didn’t even know what a wrench or a drill was — let alone how to use one. Hans Olaf taught me how to be confident in my abilities, and trust my instincts. His patience in teaching me the things that are for him second nature is something I’m deeply thankful for. Don’t be surprised if, especially in the first few days, Hans Olaf points out what you do wrong — it is a learning process, and you will most certainly make some mistakes, as it is a lot of trial and error. Just swallow your pride, try your best, and trust the process — and trust Hans Olaf.

Hans Olaf’s lifestyle is perhaps modest in some ways, but also infinitely rich. I experienced so many moments of beauty and serenity: the magical drives home after a long day of work, mesmerized by the idyllic sunsets, and mirror-like reflections on the water; resting in the cozy house; hearty meals shared and cooked together; spotting moose, deer, rabbits, fox (it really is the wild west!); petting and playing with the cows — or watching them ‘dance’ as they were let out to pasture — and the list goes on. During calmer days, I also got to hike, canoe, and read by the lake.

Before coming, I thought the biggest lesson would come from the culture shock of rural life. But I quickly realized it wasn’t just about experiencing farm life — it was also about meeting and spending time with Hans Olaf, and those around him. It is important to remember that although this may not be your usual day-to-day life, it is someone else’s lived reality. Coming here requires more than just showing up — it is a mindset, a way of thinking and being. It’s about understanding what being responsible truly means. If you leave your preconceptions behind, and are ready to embrace a new mindset, you can truly understand the importance and value of the hard work, and the ‘bigger picture’ you are contributing to (cultural heritage; a sustainable lifestyle) — and, more importantly, you begin to truly care about the work. This is, I think, how you can get the most out of this workaway experience, and how you can help Hans Olaf the most.

I must also add that workdays with Hans Olaf, even if long and arduous, were always interesting, enjoyable, and rewarding — his joy for life radiates to everyone around him. We shared many moments of laughter, and his genuine nature makes him the sort of person who brings out the best in you.

I am also grateful to have spent time with Hans Olaf’s parents, Sigurd and Solveig. When Hans Olaf was at university, I worked with his father. In spite of me knowing very little Norwegian, both were always very welcoming, kind, and made a true effort to include me. I quickly understood that with Hans Olaf, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree ;) .

I really got attached to, and miss the Nord Melby lifestyle, and Hans Olaf!

Takk for alt, det var kjempebra!

(Excellent )