Archive for month: May, 2012

May 17, 2012

We love hearing adventures and stories from workawayers as well…

What is Workaway?

Workaway is a site set up to promote fair exchange between travellers (workawayers) and hosts who are families, individuals or organisations looking for help with a range of activities.

Our philosophy is simple: A few hours honest help a day in exchange for food and accommodation and an opportunity to learn about local lifestyles.

On this blog we aim to share stories and experiences from hosts and workawayers as well as allowing the people behind the organisation to communicate ideas and tips.

Work abroad, integrate into local cultures, learn a language, acquire new skills, make new friends through Workaway

Other Posts To Take A Look At

7 Workaway adventures to make your Summer unforgettable

Summertime is officially here, calling us to let the most wild and free versions of ourselves shine. It invites us to take a step back from our normal routines to discover something different. Embrace your most wild and brave self and let these Workaway adventures inspire your own. (And buy that plane ticket, already)!
Dance and kitesurf with locals at one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador

This month, we talk with Juan who helps run a guest house in Ecuador on a remote beach in Santa Marianita. Drawing on his experience hosting over 100 Workaway volunteers (!), he shared valuable wisdom and his compassion for helping others. We’re already imagining the beautiful breeze coming off the waves and know you’ll be wanting to book a flight ASAP!
10 Hacks to get the most from your first Workaway adventure

It can be intimidating if you’re new to it (or need to reassure your parents). Here are a few tips for your first Workaway that I’m sure will give you the confidence to go for it and have one of the best adventures of your life.
This honeymoon couple quit their office jobs to live their dream of living off the land

When we were planning our honeymoon, we thought we can make the best of our round-the-world trip by experiencing the rural lifestyle as a farmer via workaway, as a test to make sure we weren’t just romanticizing the idea of living on a farm (especially because we were both working office jobs in New York City)! We were also hoping that the new skill set we would gain can really carry us through our big retirement plan of living on a ranch or a farm.
Sustainable travel: 10 simple tips to become a responsible traveller

There’s no doubt that travelling can be good for the mind, body, and soul. We don’t have to convince you of its many personal benefits, but is it as good for the environment? Not always. The good news is that there are many ways to practice sustainable travel. With intention and a little preparation, following even a few of these steps can go a long way in helping preserve the treasures we seek around the world.
5 Fascinating things travel does to your brain

There’s a feeling that you get when you arrive in a new place: the adrenaline buzzes through your body, and everyday things that usually pass you by suddenly seem to be full of potential. We know that travel opens your eyes to the minutiae of life, and studies suggest that it opens up your brain as well. So what exactly is it about ‘travel’ that gets the cogs in our head turning?
Grow a good life: learn to live on less on this beautiful farm in the Jordan Valley

"It is more than just a farm, it's a way of life :). We really love what we do. We wake up every day at 4:00 AM with a smile on our faces, ready to start a new day. We feel lucky that we have a good life." This month's Workaway "Host of the Month", a beautiful organic farm from the Jordan Valley reminds us to slow down and enjoy the view.
5 Irresistible workaway experiences to give back to the world

You all know by now how Workaway works and the benefits of volunteering compared to aimless travel, so we won’t go on about that again, but sometimes it’s just nice to highlight some of the 28,000+ hosts in over 155 countries we now have online – especially the ones that are really making a difference to our planet and are giving back to the local communities.
Family travel tips: on the go with kids in tow

The prospect of international travel with kids may seem a bit daunting — especially when they’re still very young — but let us reassure you that you don’t have to give up your nomadic lifestyle as a parent. Travelling with kids in tow just means that you’ve got to plan your trips a little differently! Read these useful advice and hacks on how to make your kids' travel experience as satisfying and memorable as your own.
It’s never too late to pursue your dreams of travelling the world

Well, we felt it’s not always the things in life that you do that you sometimes regret, it’s the things that you don’t do. If there’s something that you really want to do, just take a chance! You can always go home if it doesn’t work out. It was a bit scary thinking about it and we talked about travelling for about a year before we realised that the only thing stopping us, was us.
Feed your inner wanderlust: can you explore the world without travelling?

One problem we come across regularly is the desire to travel over the reality of travelling. For some, it really just isn’t possible – whether that be because of money, time or commitments… But you know we are not the sort of people to back down easy, so we’ve come up with these 5 ways to experience the world and to feed your inner wanderlust, without actually having to travel.
Voluntourism: selfless or selfish?

Is it better to stay home rather than participate in voluntourism? Was I making a positive impact by volunteering abroad? Or was I simply hurting the very people I was trying to help? Was my presence an act of neo-colonialism?
Packing tips & hacks: How to Workaway out of a backpack in Southeast Asia

When we decided to embark on a 15-month-long Workaway adventure in Southeast Asia, the first concrete decision we made was to travel with nothing but our hand luggage. the swift transit from the gate to your destination and vice versa, the freedom that comes with the ability to pack up your entire life within minutes, wandering around in sweltering temperatures without too much hassle… Not to mention the money we would save on flights!
Live and teach among the indigenous Achuar deep inside the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest

This month, we talk to Samira and Alan with this school project in a Ecuadorian Amazon village. Dedicated to helping protect indigenous culture in the heart of the Amazon, they need volunteers like you and me to help teach English in their remote village. We’re inspired by their project and know you will be too!
Food travel: Workaway and eat your way around the world

Food is such a huge part of travel. It doesn’t only teach us about the country and its culture, but also its people and traditions. Recently we’ve met the foodie workwawayer Malou, who previously worked as the Deputy Editor for Jamie Oliver HQ in London for nearly 5 years. And it only seems to us that there’s no better timing to get serious about your food travel!
Workawaying and travelling Morocco as a solo female

In the beginning I was very insecure and almost anxious but soon I simply fell in love with this miraculous, mesmerizing, beautiful country. I thought I might feel limited, as I just cannot wear whatever I want like at home or I cannot move freely because of being a girl, especially as a solo female traveller, but this turned out to be just wrong...
Be a more confident traveler: How to pick up a new language in no time

As Nelson Mandela reminds us, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” But how does one go about learning a new language while travelling, exactly?
A solo travellers guide to an alternative Valentine’s Day abroad

If you are like us and every day is your own individual Valentine’s day with the world, you’ll already be spreading your love as we speak. But what’s a solo, single traveller to do on Valentine’s day? We’ve got some fun things to do that aren’t going out for dinner or crying alone in your pj’s.
Island living: Exploring Bahamas on a workaway sailboat

While we are in the depth of winter in most countries around the world we can’t help ourselves dreaming of warmer places, on a boat, in, I don’t know, somewhere like the.. BAHAMAS! Workaway host of the month David is living our dream..
Solo, single and nearly 30: Travellers, isn’t it time you settle down?

Single? Travelling alone? About to hit 30? But don’t you want a relationship? Isn’t it time you settle down? How come you don’t have a partner? Don’t you think the clock is ticking? And since when did life become so defined by relationships and age?!