Mary

Royaume-Uni
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Information du profil

Information de voyage
Actuellement, je suis
à la maison
Ma prochaine destination :
Italy - du Mai 2025 au Jun 2025
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Description
I am specifically looking for 2 or possibly 3 weeks living in a family in May 2025. I am very happy to help around the house, do some childcare or dog walking or English teaching/helping with homework. Please read my full profile and see if you are interested in hosting me this May.
I have lived and worked in London for most of my life now and love the city, its history and all the diversity and culture it offers. I love art, theatre, literature but most of all just wandering around and enjoying the atmosphere and history.
The countryside and nature is also very important to me and I spend quite a lot of time in Cornwall, a place of great beauty and inspiration. I love walking along the cliffs watching the sea, feeling the weather and being immersed in the natural world.
I've travelled quite a bit - my favourite country of all is India. It just has everything and more and is so intense that you are forced to see things afresh every minute you are there!
At home, I love cooking, reading, making things (Knitting, sewing, gardening). I also ADORE dogs - I have 2 Jack Russell terriers with whom I walk every day. My children think that I love the dogs more than them!!! I am very fit as a result of all the dog walks as well as regular Pilates and Yoga (good for body and soul!)
My 3 adult children live nearby and I enjoy doing things with them locally, or hopping on a train and going for a walk in the countryside around London. We also enjoy the football at the Arsenal (our local team)
I am mostly retired now - before doing so, I was a lawyer and then an English teacher in an inner London secondary school. I have always done volunteering work; it is important for me to contribute to the wider community and meet people from other backgrounds and with different life experiences.
I started learning Italian on duolingo during Lockdown and, here I am 4 years later, better but really needing some practical chat!! I also discovered during investigations into my ancestors that some of them came from near Lake Garda in the 19th century to become picture gilders in Northern Ireland. So it seems to be my destiny to visit Italy
I would love to spend a few weeks living with a family - I can help out with most things and am very responsible and sensible. I want to practice my Italian and be immersed in Italian culture and I would love to share my culture and language with you
Centres d’intérêt
Bricolage / artisanat
Nature
Politique/justice sociale
Yoga / bien-être
Fitness
Langues
Animaux de compagnie
Musique
Jardinage
Histoire
Culture
Livres
Bénévolat
Cuisine et alimentation
Plage
Art et design
Architecture
Animaux
Langues
Langues parlées
Anglais: Courant
Allemand: Débutant
Français: Débutant
Italien: Débutant
Plus de détails sur les langues qui m'intéressent
Ce workawayer a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa ou ses propre(s) langue(s) ou en apprendre une nouvelle. Veuillez le contacter directement pour en discuter.
Trouver un partenaire de langue
Compétences et connaissances que j'aimerais partager ou apprendre
Ça m'intéresse :
Aider dans une ferme
Home sitting
Jardinage
Éco-projets
Accueil / tourisme
J'ai des connaissances :
Travail associatif
Projets artistiques
Langues
S’occuper des animaux
Préparer les repas / cuisiner pour la famille
Aider à la maison
Enseignement
Quelles sont vos compétences ?
I have an English Literature degree, experience teaching English to secondary school age children. I was also trained and worked as a lawyer so have all the organisational and comprehension skills required for that job.
I am a good home cook, gardener and generally practical person. I'm organised, clean and tidy.
I have 20 years experience as a dog owner and consider myself to be pretty good at dealing with them. I also have 3 children (how grown up) and have obviously had a lot of experience with them!
I am well organised, good at taking the initiative, not afraid to stand up for myself or others
Âge
64
Informations complémentaires
- Fumeur
- Permis de conduire
- Allergies
- Régime alimentaire spécial

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27 mai 2025

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Help my two kids with English ...)

This was my first workaway experience (as an older person too!) and so I was quite apprehensive. Going to stay with a family is a big leap in the dark; HOWEVER, from my first contact with Francesco, I felt reassured and confident. He made contact to find out when I could come, he then kept in touch regularly, suggesting travel and transport… read more options and overall making me feel that I could trust that the plans would come to fruition. Although part of my purpose in doing a workaway was to listen to and speak Italian, it was very reassuring that Francesco spoke such good English as it meant that there were no misunderstandings and plans were very straightforward.
From the moment Daniela picked me up from the train station, I felt welcomed and I could immediately relax! The family consists of the parents, two young sons, Nonna (Daniela's mother) and Mike (the golden retriever). I was welcomed with friendship, warmth, generosity and interest. It is easy to say 'make yourself at home' but in this case, it really felt genuine and heartfelt. From the mornings when the boys were getting ready to go to school, to the lunches at home (usually with Nonna and Daniela) to supper with everyone, I was part of the day. I realised that Mike the marvellous dog loved going out and so his walks naturally became part of the daily routine. If you love dogs, you'll love Mike - he is just so enthusiastic and sociable and will be eternally grateful for attention and walks!
I loved the Italian food and Nonna was incredibly patient and kind with me as I asked how she did this, how she made that. I could also really try and practice Italian listening and speaking with her for which I am very grateful!! The boys were absolutely lovely and I found it so interesting going to their schools, finding out about the Italian education system and spending time with them (both of them speak some English and I was happy to talk to them in English so they could practice).
The family included me in their lives in every way; from trips with Daniela to the children's schools, to the farm shop, to the shopping centre, to have drinks with her local friends, walking with Nonna to the supermarket, to going with all of them to the countryside outside Forli. We had two wonderful trips to the stunning hills around the city; I was introduced to their friends and their children which I felt was a great privilege and very enjoyable.
The family kindly provide a very comfortable bedroom and bathroom at the top of the house so there is as much privacy as you need. The family were very respectful in relation to privacy and personal space which I found very reassuring. Because of this, settling down happened very quickly and easily. Basically, no stress, no hidden agenda, very open conversations. I wanted to help out and so did some very limited housework and walked Mike but I never felt that there were expectations of me that I was unaware of.
The house is just outside Forli in a blissfully quiet area overlooking fields and mountains in the far distance. Forli and its station is very easy to access via a local bus (there is also a bike if you want to use it - the area is very bike friendly). I was able to do a few trips to Forli, Faenza and Ferrara which gave me a greater sense of the area and the beauty of Emilia Romagna.
I feel so privileged to have been part of this wonderful family and their lives. It really was a 'cultural exchange'; I have a much better understanding of Italian family life, education, politics etc and definitely feel that my Italian has 'got going'. There is no better experience than being with a family as you are immersed from the moment of arrival and learning and absorbing new information all the time. I am so grateful to Francesco and Daniela and Nonna and the boys and Mike (last but not least) and I honestly look forward to seeing you all again. I would recommend you all from the bottom of my heart!!

(Excellent )

23 mai 2025

Laissé par l'hôte (Help my two kids with English ...) pour le workawayer ()

Hosting Mary has been a truly wonderful experience. She spent about 15 days with our family and from the very beginning, she became a part of our daily life with warmth, kindness, and genuine interest.

Mary is thoughtful, respectful, and incredibly easy to live with. She quickly adapted to our family rhythm, was sensitive to personal space, and… read more

(Excellent )