Deixado pelo Workawayer () para o anfitrião
(Help in and around the house ...)
I spent almost three weeks at Rita, Einar, Arne and Sverres place - and what a wonderfull stay. From the moment I stepped into their living room (and accidentally presented myself as a 62 year old lady, instead of 26...the Norwegian numbers are confusing), I felt the warm of the family. I felt right away, that I could be myself and that I was very
… read more welcome - not only as a helping hand, but also as a company. To me - that is essential, when I go on workaway - that I am not only their to help out, but also because they genuinely want me there.
This is how a normal day would look like:
Weekday: the familie go to work in town, I am home and have time for myself. Before lunch I go to feed the dogs and do the poop in the dogyard. Maybe I do some vacuuming, bake some bread og help with some laundry, prepare the dinner, read a book, go for a small skitrip on my own (I brought my own boots for cross-country skies). Around 2 or 3 Rita and the kids come home, we eat dinner around 4.30 and head out mushing with the dogs in the evening. Maybe we place some games in the evening :-)
Weekend: we go mushing with the dogs and we also went icefishing, which is one of Einars big passions.
It is good to note, as described, that you are alone in the daytime. While I was there, there was another workawayer there for a few days, but I was also alone some days. So bring a good books, make sure to go for a walk or a skieing trip around the area and activate yourself. The workload is absolutely reasonable during the day, so you have plenty of time to enjoy yourself. You 'only' you mushing with the dogs and the sledge, when Rita og Einar is home, so not during the daytime in the weekdays. However, we went out a lot in the evening and the weekends and I am so thankful for alle the trips, we went on. I guess, I was out a least every second day approximately!
About the family:
Rita is humorous, is easy to laugh at herself and also with you, when you fall. That makes great fun, because you will fall (especially on skies). I tought here to use the textile break (which is what you think, your closing 'breaking' when you fall in skies). She is kind and very curious about other people and their way of living. Rita and I had some really nice evenings and beautiful weekends, where we went out mushing. Either just the two of us or with Sverre on the akebrett behind the snow scooter. I really enjoyed the times with you and the talked we had. Thanks for your willingness to be vulnerable and honest (and funny!)
Einar is calm and patient. He was the one to take me out on the first evening mushing the dogs. The sigh was bad and my headlamp was not fully charged, so I tipped with the sledge (maybe it has nothing to do with the weather or light anyway), but he came up to me and said with a big smile "You did great! You did not let go of the sledge". What safer environment, can you ask for than people, who allow you to fail and learn with a compassionate mindset. The same goes for Rita. Einar and I had some really nice evening trips on skies with the dogs - and thanks for teaching me to icefish.
Arne, the 10 year old son, what a brainy guy, you are. Always up for a game, but be ware, you might (will) lose the game. Thanks for many facts about everything from physics to politics, I might not have been that bright at your age.
Sverre, the 6 year old son (happy birthday!), always on the move, crawling around like a monkey. Thanks for your lively energy, your giggle laugher, your eagerness to play games (also here, prepare yourself to lose) and rides with you on 'akebrett.'
Dogs:
The dogs are lovely, there are 6 of the sledge dogs and 1 hunting dog. They are well behaved and you feel safe around them. You can really tell that Rita and Einar care for them. Fox is the cuddly one, Chase the one you will always chase (in a fun way), Pia and Kvisock (the two females) so kind and also cuddly girls, who are always so excited to see you (thanks for being to kind with me, when the three of us when on skies together), Emil the energetic, but still kind guys and Edwin the hardworking and playfull guy.
I don't eat meat (but fish), and that worked out very well. Rita was very considerate about buying food for me - and in general there was alway lots of food in the fridge, that I could eat. I really appreciated that, since the nearest store was far away :-) I had my won 'apartment' downstear with toilet, shower, washing machine, living room, kitchen and a bedroom - so I was easy for me to rest and have some alone time.
I really enjoyed my stay there, and will come back when I get the chance! If you ever consider going here, do it. You will not regret it. Don't hesitate to contact me, if you have any questions regarding this place.
I wish you all the best Rita, Einar, Arne and Sverre - and see you again soon!