Join our peaceful home and enjoy nature, cats and projects in Kounavades, Corfu, Greece

Infos

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  Description

  We're Bill and Hillies from Big Bear... just kidding!
  We're Monika (66), originally from Switzerland, and John (64), originally from California. We live in a spacious house on about 2,000 m² of land in the beautiful countryside of northwest Corfu, surrounded by trees and nature.
  
  Life here is never boring. We're learning, sometimes the hard way, how to garden in Corfu's heavy clay soil, cope with hot, dry summers, winter floods, and the occasional dramatic Mediterranean storms. Every season brings new surprises, and we love discovering them.
  
  Our home is shared with three rescue cats, who somehow found us and completely stole our hearts. They provide endless entertainment and have become part of the family. In spring the swallows return to nest at our house, and we watch them hedge and raise their chicks.
  
  About every two weeks we head into Corfu Town to enjoy its Venetian charm, cafés, and lively atmosphere, but most of the time we're happy enjoying the peaceful countryside.
  
  Monika loves gardening, composting, and creating garden beds where plants can grow despite the challenging soil. There are always new ideas and projects around the house.
  John spends much of his time researching, writing a book, and working remotely (yes—we have fast, reliable internet). He's also the devoted "cat dad," happily taking care of every veterinary visit and making sure Rascal gets his daily eye treatments.
  Between us we've lived in many different parts of the world. John was born in Hawaii and has lived mainly in California and Switzerland. Monika has lived for many years in India, California, and Switzerland, and spent a significant part of her life in intentional and multicultural communities. John's career has taken him from music engineering in Hollywood to university project management, community programs in Los Angeles and Detroit, climate research, educational films, and projects in Switzerland. These experiences have given us plenty of stories and perspectives that often find their way into our dinner conversations.
  
  Our evenings are usually simple: cooking and eating together, chatting about whatever is happening in the world, discussing philosophy, watching the cats chase each other around the house, playing guitar, once in a while enjoying a good movie, or occasionally going out for dinner with friends.
  
  We enjoy sharing our home with curious, independent people. We like spending time together—sharing meals, discussing issues, chatting, laughing, or simply hanging out. At the same time, we know everyone also appreciates some time to themselves. If you enjoy a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you can be part of daily life while still having plenty of time to explore Corfu, you'll probably feel at home here.
  
  The area around Arillas offers much more than beautiful beaches. You can join yoga classes, dance evenings, singing circles, hiking groups, mosaic workshops, or simply drive to the sea for a swim. If you prefer something quieter, you can walk up the hill from our house and watch one of Corfu's unforgettable sunsets.
  
  We recently hosted our first Workawayer before we even joined the platform, and it was such a wonderful experience that it inspired us to become hosts ourselves. We shared meals, conversations, and projects around the house, while she also had plenty of time to explore the island on her own. We realized how much we enjoy this kind of cultural exchange and are looking forward to welcoming many more people.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  S’occuper des animaux

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Langues

  

  Histoire

  

  Musique

  

  Jardinage

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Art et design

  

  Architecture

  

  Animaux

  

  Nature

  

  Randonnée
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  For us, cultural exchange happens naturally through everyday life: sharing a nice meal together, having conversations, exchanging stories, and learning from each other's experiences.
  
  We enjoy meeting people from different cultural backgrounds and different generations.
  John loves music and enjoys playing guitar. Monika can share some Swiss traditions, including a little Swiss yodeling, as well as her love of cooking. We both have always been curious learners—we have learned through self-study, through the people we meet, through animals, and through life itself.
  
  We speak English. Monika also speaks German, some French, and some Italian, so communication can happen in several languages.
  
  We believe that everyone who comes into our lives has something to share, and we look forward to the exchange of stories, skills, ideas, and everyday moments.

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  Aide

  We always have a variety of projects, both inside the house and in the garden, so there's usually something to suit different interests and abilities.
  Rather than assigning fixed tasks, we prefer to decide together what feels like a good fit. Some people enjoy painting or organizing indoors, others like gardening, small DIY projects, cleaning, or helping us improve the house and property.
  
  We also understand that you're coming to experience Corfu. If you want to spend an afternoon at the beach, go for an early morning swim, explore the island, or watch the sunset from one of the beautiful cliffs, that's absolutely part of the experience. We simply agree together on a schedule that works well for everyone.
  
  Every Workawayer brings different skills, interests, and energy, and we're happy to adapt the projects accordingly and to learn from each other, since many things here are still new for us. We find that this flexible, relaxed approach makes the experience enjoyable for everyone.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Français: Débutant
  Italien: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  We can offer English and German, and we are always happy to practice and exchange languages. We both love the Italian language and would enjoy picking up more Italian ourselves. If you speak Italian or another language, we would love to learn a little from you as well.
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  Hébergement

  You will have your own private room with an attached private bathroom and shower.
  The bed is a double bed (160 cm wide). The windows have mosquito nets.
  Our kitchen is not strictly but mostly vegetarian, and we are happy to cook all shared meals vegetarian.
  Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property because of the fire risk during the dry summer season. In winter, smoking outside is possible.

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  Autres infos...

  We are happy to coordinate some trips to Corfu town together. There is also a public bus connection on the main road (about 4 km from our house). We can sometimes bring you there or pick you up, depending on schedules. Taxis are also available from Corfu Town.
  We have a mountain bike that you are welcome to use. E-bike and scooters can be rented nearby.
  
  Community: around Arillas there is a strong international community with yoga, dance, music, workshops, and alternative events.
  
  Corfu is a wonderful base for exploring. There are regular ferry connections to nearby islands, including small islands just off the coast. From Corfu, you can also reach Albania in about 30 minutes by ferry, making it easy to experience another country during your stay.
  
  During the summer season, there are many restaurants, cafés, and places to enjoy local food. In winter (roughly November until March/April), many restaurants close, and life becomes much quieter—but this is also a very special time to experience the island. Winter in Corfu can be astonishingly beautiful. After a rainstorm, the sky often becomes an intense clear blue, the light is magical, and sunny days are perfect for sitting outside and enjoying the warmth. The storms can be dramatic and impressive (although occasionally they bring more water than we would like!). The quieter winter months are ideal for exploring hiking routes and places to discover without the summer crowds.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We have fast and reliable internet, suitable for remote work and online projects. As we are on an island, occasional electricity interruptions can happen, especially during major storms when larger parts of Corfu may be affected. We have a UPS backup system for our satellite internet, which keeps the connection running for around two hours during a power cut, giving enough time for most situations and allowing you to finish important work or online meetings.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

  Thanda, Rascal, Asha

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