SOUTH WEST FRANCE
JOBS OVERSEAS in South West France WORK ABROAD
More information
on working abroad in France
and helping with the project at
La Giraudiere
Notice Board
The notice board is where we have placed your questions and the answers. If you have asked a question then you will find it here plus my answer. If you have a question then please email it to us and your question plus the answer will also be posted here.
TO CONFIRM THE COST
For each week that you want to stay at La Giraudiere on this project will cost you 90 euros for each week and you will have to contribute 3 days work or 24 hours each week of your stay.
IN RETURN THIS IS WHAT YOU GET
Transfers to and from either Bordeaux airport / Station or Angouleme Airport or Station. Accommodation, Three meals a day for all the days you are La Giraudiere not just the days you would be working. Training and Advice is included. 4 days to do as you please go swimming explore Bordeaux visit Lourdes what ever you have in Mind or just chill out at La Giraudiere.
EXAMPLE
If you wanted to stay for 4 weeks the cost would be 360 euros plus 12 days work or 96 hours. Using the same 4 week stay you would get 16 days to do as you please 4 weeks full bed and board plus your transfers and you will be learning how to live and work in France.
WHEN DO I PAY ?
If you are making your own way to Brossac or La Giraudiere you pay for your first week upon arrival. If you require a transfer from either Bordeaux or Angouleme then we ask that you pay for your first week in advance. This way we know you will be arriving and our journey to either Bordeaux or Angouleme will not be waisted.
Once your place as been confirmed we will ask for a confirmation of your Train reservation or air ticket so we know you are arriving.
HOW LONG CAN I STAY AT LA GIRAUDIERE?
It is entirely up to you as far as I am concerned as long as you pay your 90 euros each week and give La Giraudiere 24 hours of your time each week you can for a year providing we have accommodation.
DO I NEED A WORK PERMIT?
This you would have to check with your local embassy or consulate. But as you are actually paying to go abroad and you are paying for your accommodation and your food then it would easily be considered as a cheap holiday ~ remember you are not being paid. If you need a receipt or confirmation of your booking then this can be provided.
WHAT
TYPE OF WORK IS THERE This will all depend on the time of your visit and what was going on at that time. For example you may be helping to repair and paint shutters or window, Clearing wood land so to create picnic area in the woods, Gardening, Construction which could vary from small out houses to house services to a major swimming pool, Learn how to hang doors, learn how to insulate a 200 year old stone built building, tilling, fitting kitchens, plumbing, minor electrics, flooring and all the thing we have forgot to mention related to building.
Plus we need some one to do the cooking and the cleaning and other household chores such as shopping etc.
Then there is the marketing of the project we are
not going to wait
until the whole project is
finished before the marketing starts so we
can use people who could help
with the marketing improving the website and web pages,
finding the attractions and presenting them in order to
attract
visitors to La Giraudiere. Several ideas or themes have already been put in place and that is a golfing holiday which we could operate prior to La Giraudiere being finished. Another great idea is a summer camp for children. Maybe you have some good ideas which we could start marketing just to see which gets the most response. - Come along, get involved and try out your ideas.
CAN
I CHOOSE THE TYPE OF WORK ?Of course you can. There are so many different jobs that need doing there will be plenty to go around household, marketing, building are just a few and at the end of the day we want you to come back year after year either on a working project or maybe as a client or as part of the staff once we are open.
GROUPS OR INDIVIDUAL
Depending on what work you are actually doing will decide if you are in a group or working alone. What I am trying to put in place is a working holiday that is open to all nationals, all ages and people from different backgrounds who can work and live together as a team. I want to bring La Giraudiere to life and with your help and input I am sure it will happen.
I PAID 850 US DOLLARS PER WEEK TO STUDY ABROAD LAST YEAR HOW CAN IT ONLY BE 90 EUROS AT LA GIRAUDIERE ?
Yes it exists people are paying up to 1000 us dollars a week to go abroad and study French or about France and they spend 5 days a week in some high rise air conditioned class room in a major French city. But with our project you are contributing towards the success of La Giraudiere and hence the price. Yes maybe one day that will exist at La Giraudiere but now you can learn how to live and work in France for 90 euros a week and pick up some useful skills on the way.
WHERE IS LA GIRAUDIERE AND WHAT IS THE SURROUNDING AREA LIKE?
You would be staying in one of the most beautiful regions of France. Charente is famous for it's number of sunshine hours and it's clear unpolluted air. The countryside is rolling hills full of Grapevines and sun flowers and scattered stone built villages. I could spend hours just telling you what there is to see but really I am looking for people that want to come and find out and tell me and the rest of the group what there is to see.
Where is La Giraudiere?
La Giraudiere is 1 km from the center of Brossac Village. Brossac is in the south Charente and lies 8km from Chalais market town and 18 km of Barbezieux Market town. If you visit GOOGLE BASE at http://www.google.com/base/a/1531732/D4022631470800127523
you will find a google map with the exact location of La Giraudiere by working away from the location you will see exactly the location in respect of the towns and cities of south west France.
DOES MY 90 EUROS INCLUDE THE COST FOR MY TRANSFER TO AND FROM BORDEAUX
Yes or Angouleme
ARRIVAL POINTS AND TRANSFERS
The two main arrival points would be Angouleme if you were arriving by Train and Bordeaux if you were arriving by air. I or some one would meet you at your arrival point. Your travel expenses to the arrival point are down to you all I ask is confirmation of your travel reservation ticket in order I know you are coming. Also payment of your first weeks 90 euros. Please not that Angouleme airport will be opening this spring and Ryan air will be providing flights plus I have heard the a subsidiary of British Airways will be flying from Gatwick although no dates have been confirmed.
CAN I TRAVEL BY CAR?
Yes of course or bike- Let me know how you are traveling and when you expect to arrive YOU CAN PAY FOR YOUR FIRST WEEK UPON ARRIVAL.
TRAVEL INSURANCE - DO IT
Do not forget to get your travel insurance in place. Health care and treatment can be very expensive in France it is your responsibility to have full cover for accidents and illness.
E111 - BRING IT
If you are European citizen remember to bring the E111 !!! which since my time in England as changed to a blue credit card ID or so I have been told. Can anyone inform me?
THE MEALS AND A TYPICAL DAY
Wake up time is normally about 7.30 and breakfast is a typical continental breakfast. Work start about 8.30 and we go through to lunch which is about 12.30 - 1.30 the working day finishes at 5.30. Evening meal is about 7.30 and meals will depend on who is preparing and cooking, you may want to take a turn. I normally contribute with a barbecue once a week.
CAN WE APPLY AS A COUPLE ?
Providing you both contribute the answer is yes
CAN WE APPLY AS A GROUP?
Providing we have the space. Presently we have 8 bedrooms some singles some doubles and some trebles. As the program starts more accommodation will become available so the answer is it all depend when you apply and the dates you apply for.
THE WEATHER
The summer can be very hot up to 40+ c and the region of south west France is also known for it's storms so prepare for both. In really hot periods you may want to start earlier and finish earlier depending on and where the work is. Again flexibility is the order of the day. Winters can be very cold -5 recorded this year.
ONCE WE WERE AT LA GIRAUDIERE HOW DO WE GET ABOUT?
I have eight bikes or cycles which can be used ideal for getting to the village Brossac which has a bus service or the nearby swimming lake they are here for your use. If you need a lift into the nearest town Chalais 8km which has a station and bus service this can always be arranged with me or one of the locals no problem.
What Language is used at La Giraudiere?
I am English but have lived in France for almost 5 years so my French is getting there. From time to time local French artisans work on the project and there are many French friends and locals who past each day so a mixture of French and English is used also consider that there may be members of the team from other parts of the world and we may have to learn other languages or at least try and get by - it all adds to the fun.
WHERE IS THE NEAREST BEACH?
Brossac Lake as a superb sandy beach and it's lake is ideal and safe for swimming and is 1km from La Giraudiere as for the magnificent coastline of south west France then that is an hours drive from La Giraudiere and if you if you research an interesting excursion for the website which includes the coastline then I will take the group there.
IS THERE A TOURIST OFFICE NEARBY?
Yes there is a tourist office annexed to the local Brossac town hall "Mairie" and another larger office 8km away at Chalais
DO YOU HAVE PAYING GUEST STAYING THERE NOW?
Yes ~ Some of the accommodation is finished and we have had holiday makers, travelers, schools and football teams all make us of the finished accommodation.
DO YOU NEED AN HOUSE KEEPER AT LA GIRAUDIERE?
YES ~ Last year everyone took turns dishing up a meal for the group and doing the shopping and tidying up the accommodation but if you are interested in just looking after house and providing the meals for the group then the answer is yes. email me again with your proposition. Anyone else interested in being the housekeeper then contact me with your proposal i.e how many days would you like to do and what experience you have etc convince me you could look after the group and you may have a full time job with bed and board and some pocket money.
WHAT PART OF LA GIRAUDIERE IS FINISHED AND WHAT DOES THE ACCOMMODATION LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DATES?
For the moment we are organizing a group for the period 1st of May until the 14th of June more dates will be added once we know the numbers and the accommodation available.
CONCLUSION FOR THE MOMENT
I say for the moment because I will be updating this page constantly as I receive your questions about the project. If you have further questions send me them at
work@lagiraudiere.com and I will reply as soon as possible and also place your question and my answer here for all to see. Thank for the feed back and the interest it is great getting your input and questions.
Regards Paul and the team at La Giraudiere
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