Article written by Malole Rodríguez , manager of the Rural Hotel was from the Court located in Antigua, Fuerteventura.
A few months ago, in August 2021, I received a call from Noelia Suárez, project director of the Fuerteventura Biosphere, rural quality and ecotourism. He explained that they had contacted her from an initiative called remote villages and that they intended to do a project in Fuerteventura that seemed beautiful: ancient remote .
At first, my head did not give to endure so much information. I just heard "teleworking", "several weeks", "local projects", "Pío, Pío, Pío" ... until my brain became a flat encephalogram, totally unable to assimilate the information (it is what happens to the dispersed ).
I accepted almost blind, on the one hand, because I totally trust it and, on the other, because the few words I had been able to understand the project caught my attention. Well, I must clarify that I also accepted because I did not want to think (it is what happens to the gandulas).
We are part of the design of the experience from the beginning
Today, a few months after that call, I know that it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Just before starting, with more information and with the most elaborate idea, we already knew it was going to be a great project. What we did not know is that it would become one of the most enriching experiences for David and me, for the house, for the municipality and, without exaggeration, for the island of Fuerteventura.
Noelia told us that one of the reasons why our house was ideal for the project was for the close, entertaining and fun that we are David and me. They needed someone to connect well with teleworkors and who could teach them daily the essence of the people of this land. We promised to do what we usually do: be ourselves.
And thus, we began to know all the details of this adventure and who made it up.
First, we met next to the project, composed of Elsa, the director and soul and life of every second of that idea; his partner and brain of the digital strategy part, Carlos; The ingenious and currant Rocío and the always diplomatic and attentive Yeray. Together, and guided by the pattern that Elsa and Carlos drew them, they threaded the threads that made up the 3 weeks map of collaboration, coexistence, rurality, connection and, of course, some fun .
Then, we met those who were going to be on our side of the project: those known as "local actors." A group of 6 local projects, among which they included us, who were going to receive teleworkors in their facilities so that they could participate in the activities related to their commercial sector and that, in addition, they would receive advice from the teleworkors for Improve those corners of their strategies and products that will fail something. In this way, we met people as wonderful as the friends of the refuge of rescued animals The Animal Academy, the Association of Artisans of Fuerteventura and the house of the cheese Cabrera Pérez, but, in addition, we had the opportunity to meet again and share good times with the Vidaloe Fuerteventura, the Verdeaurora Permaculture Farm and our beloved flower, which put the other half of the base camp with its mill house.
Teleworking, the true protagonists of this story
But all this machinery could not be launched without the fuel that fuents the spark: the teleworkors .
I confess that at first, David and I feared he would touch us some group of pijos come to more, to make the experience a hell. We were not very clear to expect, although they had told us that the participants would pass a personal interview to determine their suitability for the project.
Blessed interview!
Jana, Lucía, Luis, Raúl, Alejandro, Gonzalo, Javi and Jose filled our house, and the house of the mill, of great love, humor, rich meals, blue tea, serious moments of work and meetings online, gossip and the true feeling of family .
The project included an activity that local actors prepared in their facilities so that teleworkors could learn more about the routine of each of them. In our case, and because they lived in our house and learned a little more about how we worked, flower and we decided to prepare two special activities separated in two different nights.
On the one hand, Flor and her husband organized them a beautiful night of astronomy in which they invited us to some tapas and explained, from the ruins of a mill in the vicinity of the house, the wonders that hide behind the stars and constellations
Star observation activity for ancient remote 2021. Photograph by Macaronesia Fuerteventura.
On the other hand, David and I, from the other part of the "camp," prepare a true watercat brothers and me.
Night of "Berros stew" in family in the kitchen of the Rural La Age of the Court
David and I have been running this place since 2017, being the second generation of this rural hotel. In these years, we have made friends among our guests and some return again and again to be with us and be able to disconnect. However, in all these years we had never connected so deeply with such a large group of people so different that, not only came to discover the most authentic fuertura, but also participated by helping us with our weaknesses. In our case, they accompanied us in the process of improving our website. They were involved from the first minute and have not stopped giving us advice and support all the way. A few days ago we launched the new image of the web and until then they continued to solve doubts, giving their opinion and living this project as if it were really part of them (although I consider that it really is).
Do you remember that I told you that they had chosen us for the project because David and I are close, entertaining and fun? We would not be any of that if it were not for the ease with which the components of this project created connection:
They connected to each other.
They connected with us.
They connected with our rurality.
