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Help with with day-to-day running of a house, La Mesa, California, USA
Last activity
: 17 Apr 2025
Profile information
Usually responds within 2 days
Min stay requested: at least a week
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 112616138482
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Feedback (6)
Left by Workawayer (Luca ) for host
Ever since I could, I’ve always enjoyed spending summers away from home and meeting new people, and I think this summer has been the most memorable I’ve ever experienced. I had never been to America, and thanks to Debrah, not only did I get to spend the summer there, but I also visited many places and lived unforgettable experiences. From the very
… read more beginning, she welcomed me as if I were part of the family, despite my initial difficulties in expressing myself, since my English level was quite low. I think she was the perfect person to help me improve. She never hesitated to repeat things multiple times when I didn’t understand, and even though it was hard to communicate at first, she always tried to interact with me as much as possible to help me speak and practice my English.
We never had any issues finding the right balance between work and fun. I can say that Debrah is a very accommodating person in this regard. She always let me manage my schedule as I preferred, trusting that the tasks she asked me to do would be completed. I even managed to go to the gym every day, play soccer once a week, and go surfing twice a week. On top of that, we still found time to often go out for lunch or dinner, go to the movies, visit museums, and explore amazing places like a gold mine. And I can’t forget about the breakfasts. Debrah doesn’t really like cooking, but when it comes to making breakfast, she’s unbeatable. She makes the best French Toast I’ve ever had, also because I’d never had it before 😂.
There are so many more things I could share about this experience, but I think writing about them wouldn’t do justice to just how unforgettable they were. I hope the walls I built at her place are still standing and will stay that way until she moves into the new house, which I hope she finds soon. I also hope we can meet again someday, maybe here in Italy.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Luca )
I had the pleasure of hosting Luca this summer for about 3 months. Luca is an easy going traveler, great cook, gregarious, and keeps things neat and tidy. He was here specifically to help with some masonry projects, including repairing some damaged walls, and he did excellent work. Luca also did a number of other helpful tasks including painting
… read more (he is detail oriented) and caring for the animals. We had many laughs, mostly him laughing at my attempts to learn Italian :-) Luca makes friends easily and was soon helping another neighbor and playing in pick up soccer games on a weekly basis. Luca is easy to be around and we shared many stories over meals. Luca came wanting to improve his English and he accomplished that. I feel that I've made a new friend and hope to visit Italy one day!
Left by host for Workawayer (Babsi)
I had the pleasure hosting Babsi for a couple weeks; she was a wonderful guest. Babsi was a great fit and we hit it off right away. She cooked nightly (very yummy vegan fare) and taught me a few things about cooking vegan. Thanks to her I tackled making my own hummus...and am learning about nutritional yeast. Not only did she cook but she also
… read more cleaned up after herself whilst cooking which was very appreciated. Babsi's most notable contribution was painting the exterior of the travel trailer with a beautiful desert mural; it's just lovely. She also was a great help with the foster dogs and got some wonderful pictures of them that will help to get them adopted. Thank you Babsi! The greatest compliment I can give is to say Babsi is welcome back as a friend. Cheers!
Left by Workawayer (Babsi) for host
My workaway at Debras beautiful place was a fantastic little getaway from the city trouble. Debra is a very kind, smart and pleasant person to be around and we had great conversations. I appreciate learning something new everyday and using my skills. All tasks given felt like made for me and I really enjoyed every of them. I helped taking care of
… read more the animals, which Debra fosters or rescues, took photos, painted a trailer and sew a pants for a pony! Oh and cooking was a task - I love it and Debra enjoyed my vegan meals. (I hope haha)
This workaway is a place of serenity, very calm and peaceful. If you love to be outdoor and spend time with animals or gardening then this place is perfect.
Thank you Debra for welcoming me as a stranger and saying goodbye as a friend <3
Left by Workawayer (Julia) for host
I loved it with Debra, Hugo and all the other animal housemates. The work was easy to do, I loved cooking for us and was always allowed to choose what to eat.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Julia)
I had the great privilege of hosting Julia in my home for 2 weeks in November 2023. Julia is a very accomplished and friendly person with excellent communication skills. From the very start she was open and honest about what she was looking for in a host and that allowed us to work together easily. She has traveled extensively and has many
… read more excellent stories that she shared during our dinners (oh and she's brilliant with the quick one-pot dinners - so delicious!) Despite having had some unpleasant experiences with pets prior to her arrival here she was open and friendly with my rambunctious pup and was comfortable helping me feed and clean the resident pony. Julie isn't afraid to ask questions and was quick to tackle the list of projects that I had written up prior to her arrival. In addition to cooking dinners and helping with the animals, Julia also tackled cleaning and organizing with gusto. I had some reservations about handing over the power washer but she assured me she had used one before - and indeed she had! She helped with some other minor tasks as well, all with a smile whilst playing with the pup.
Julia really inspired me to get my house cleaned up and organized (it's been a mess since I started remodeling earlier this year) and although we didn't finish everything we accomplished a great deal. Her 'get it done' attitude will help me continue the work we started. I feel honored to have met Julia; we shared many laughs. It is always nice to make new friends - thank you Julia, you are welcome back here any time. I hope to see you in Germany!Photos
San Diego has many beautiful beaches and tide pools.
Are you brave enough to ride the Belmont roller coaster? It's a San Diego landmark.
My puppy pride and joy, he does like to play fetch - ALL THE TIME.
I enjoy playing board games, do you?
The yard is a peaceful sanctuary.
My last workaway adventure in Austria
The yard is full of nature's animals including lizards, birds, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, and others.
Spain 2013 visit with long time friends
The hummingbird, natures flying jewel.
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Left by Workawayer (Luca ) for host
Ever since I could, I’ve always enjoyed spending summers away from home and meeting new people, and I think this summer has been the most memorable I’ve ever experienced. I had never been to America, and thanks to Debrah, not only did I get to spend the summer there, but I also visited many places and lived unforgettable experiences. From the very
… read more beginning, she welcomed me as if I were part of the family, despite my initial difficulties in expressing myself, since my English level was quite low. I think she was the perfect person to help me improve. She never hesitated to repeat things multiple times when I didn’t understand, and even though it was hard to communicate at first, she always tried to interact with me as much as possible to help me speak and practice my English.
We never had any issues finding the right balance between work and fun. I can say that Debrah is a very accommodating person in this regard. She always let me manage my schedule as I preferred, trusting that the tasks she asked me to do would be completed. I even managed to go to the gym every day, play soccer once a week, and go surfing twice a week. On top of that, we still found time to often go out for lunch or dinner, go to the movies, visit museums, and explore amazing places like a gold mine. And I can’t forget about the breakfasts. Debrah doesn’t really like cooking, but when it comes to making breakfast, she’s unbeatable. She makes the best French Toast I’ve ever had, also because I’d never had it before 😂.
There are so many more things I could share about this experience, but I think writing about them wouldn’t do justice to just how unforgettable they were. I hope the walls I built at her place are still standing and will stay that way until she moves into the new house, which I hope she finds soon. I also hope we can meet again someday, maybe here in Italy.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Luca )
I had the pleasure of hosting Luca this summer for about 3 months. Luca is an easy going traveler, great cook, gregarious, and keeps things neat and tidy. He was here specifically to help with some masonry projects, including repairing some damaged walls, and he did excellent work. Luca also did a number of other helpful tasks including painting
… read more (he is detail oriented) and caring for the animals. We had many laughs, mostly him laughing at my attempts to learn Italian :-) Luca makes friends easily and was soon helping another neighbor and playing in pick up soccer games on a weekly basis. Luca is easy to be around and we shared many stories over meals. Luca came wanting to improve his English and he accomplished that. I feel that I've made a new friend and hope to visit Italy one day!
Left by host for Workawayer (Babsi)
I had the pleasure hosting Babsi for a couple weeks; she was a wonderful guest. Babsi was a great fit and we hit it off right away. She cooked nightly (very yummy vegan fare) and taught me a few things about cooking vegan. Thanks to her I tackled making my own hummus...and am learning about nutritional yeast. Not only did she cook but she also
… read more cleaned up after herself whilst cooking which was very appreciated. Babsi's most notable contribution was painting the exterior of the travel trailer with a beautiful desert mural; it's just lovely. She also was a great help with the foster dogs and got some wonderful pictures of them that will help to get them adopted. Thank you Babsi! The greatest compliment I can give is to say Babsi is welcome back as a friend. Cheers!
Left by Workawayer (Babsi) for host
My workaway at Debras beautiful place was a fantastic little getaway from the city trouble. Debra is a very kind, smart and pleasant person to be around and we had great conversations. I appreciate learning something new everyday and using my skills. All tasks given felt like made for me and I really enjoyed every of them. I helped taking care of
… read more the animals, which Debra fosters or rescues, took photos, painted a trailer and sew a pants for a pony! Oh and cooking was a task - I love it and Debra enjoyed my vegan meals. (I hope haha)
This workaway is a place of serenity, very calm and peaceful. If you love to be outdoor and spend time with animals or gardening then this place is perfect.
Thank you Debra for welcoming me as a stranger and saying goodbye as a friend <3
Left by Workawayer (Julia) for host
I loved it with Debra, Hugo and all the other animal housemates. The work was easy to do, I loved cooking for us and was always allowed to choose what to eat.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Julia)
I had the great privilege of hosting Julia in my home for 2 weeks in November 2023. Julia is a very accomplished and friendly person with excellent communication skills. From the very start she was open and honest about what she was looking for in a host and that allowed us to work together easily. She has traveled extensively and has many
… read more excellent stories that she shared during our dinners (oh and she's brilliant with the quick one-pot dinners - so delicious!) Despite having had some unpleasant experiences with pets prior to her arrival here she was open and friendly with my rambunctious pup and was comfortable helping me feed and clean the resident pony. Julie isn't afraid to ask questions and was quick to tackle the list of projects that I had written up prior to her arrival. In addition to cooking dinners and helping with the animals, Julia also tackled cleaning and organizing with gusto. I had some reservations about handing over the power washer but she assured me she had used one before - and indeed she had! She helped with some other minor tasks as well, all with a smile whilst playing with the pup.
Julia really inspired me to get my house cleaned up and organized (it's been a mess since I started remodeling earlier this year) and although we didn't finish everything we accomplished a great deal. Her 'get it done' attitude will help me continue the work we started. I feel honored to have met Julia; we shared many laughs. It is always nice to make new friends - thank you Julia, you are welcome back here any time. I hope to see you in Germany!
Left by host for Workawayer (Marco)
Hosted Marco for 5 weeks and have nothing but good things to say. He is an excellent cook! Great with the puppy, super helpful and observant. While here Marco tackled several projects. He is very skilled with construction tools (woodworking/saws/hand & power tools) I gave Marco general direction with what I wanted and he went to work...built a
… read more small tool shed, repaired and repainted a bench, table and a patio set, built a lovely little picket fence to keep the dog from destroying a section of garden, cut a path/steps into my steep back yard...and cooked and helped me with the horse...and more. Marco and I had many lovely evenings chatting about travel adventures, he has some amazing stories and is quite funny. I feel that I have made a new friend! Chin-chin Marco I hope to see you in Italy before 2.5 yrs!
Left by Workawayer (Marco) for host
I was From Debra for a mounth, I had very good time with her, we had good conversation. I have could follow her around her hors and was very interesting for me, she pay attention for bring me to see many good place near San Marco, we was to see the ocean more time I saw the sea lion, I was in Balboa Park in San diego ecc. San Marcos is nice ,
… read more there is stores and restaurants near at home. The home is very confortebol and there are some friends, cat and very fanny and friendly dog. It was a very good time for me from Debra. Thanks debra, I hope see her again.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Anne-Kathrin)
I had the pleasure of hosting Anne for 2 1/2 weeks. I found Anne to be an excellent fit. She is a very good cook, independent and able to follow instructions. Anne helped care for the animals, did the cooking and cleaning, did yard work and so much more! She helped me do some photography work with my horse too. I found Anne to be introspective,
… read more respectful, and funny. Anne is welcome back anytime; I feel that I've made a new friend.
Left by Workawayer (ruedante) for host
I really enjoyed my 2 week's stay with Debra, and thanks to our similar open but relaxed communication style, we connected immediately. I edited some documents and weeded the garden. Oh and had lots of fun with Hugo, the beautiful 'big' puppy! I was able to manage my own hours each day, and I appreciated the independence that this afforded me. The
… read more place is in a lovely quiet location, and only a few minutes walk to the bus or store. Debra was very tolerant of my cooking and baking endeavours :) and basically handed over the kitchen to me on arrival. She also took me to several local sights and shared some of her favourite places with me, which I really appreciated. We got to know each other really well in the short time, which made it a little difficult to leave. I just hope I can be such a great local host when she visits Nice!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (ruedante)
Anne stayed with me for 2 weeks and it was a wonderful exchange. Anne is intelligent, funny, thoughtful, detail oriented & an excellent cook. She helped me by formatting numerous documents following specific instructions, weeding, taking care of/playing with the puppy, cleaning up the bunny room, cooking and some light house cleaning – there’s
… read more probably more – goodness knows she did so much…and she did it well. I appreciated Anne’s dedication to finishing task, the attention to detail and her ability to figure things out. We had some good laughs, some serious/deep conversations, and got along splendidly. I have only praises for Anne and feel that I’ve made a new friend. I hope we meet again. Cheers!
Left by host for Workawayer (Carol)
I had the pleasure of hosting Carol from March 4-20 and she was wonderful! Her communication was excellent and she always let me know when she was hoping to take some time off or be away. She helped with a variety of projects including general cooking and cleaning, watching the puppy, assessing and organizing construction materials and
… read more planting/yard work. She is very knowledgeable about plants and took great care trimming up some overgrown shrubs and transplanting some plants. She freely shared her gardening/mulching tips and turned a rundown planter area into a beautiful focal point. Carol has some great life experience and we had many a night sharing life/travel stories; her cooking is amazing! She helped some with the horses and showed confidence and care in each situation. There is no higher reference than to say she is welcome back as a friend!
Left by Workawayer (Carol) for host
I had a great experience at Debra’s place. The house is comfortable, the animals were sweet and it’s ideally located for transit and travel. Perhaps we were so good with the workaway since we shared a common sensibility when it came to doing the work. I asked for a To Do list and she provided me a great one with lots of possibilities. That way I
… read more could go back and forth to different tasks without having to ask constantly what I should tackle. Her intructions were clear and I just clarified before I did something that I was unsure about.
I enjoyed her company and her generosity was much appreciated. We will be friends from now on regardless if I return for another Workaway. Thanks for everything!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Abi)
I had the pleasure of hosting Abi ...she is an excellent cook! Abi helped out with household chores, animal care, some basic yard clean-up and organizing art supplies. She is a sweet and easy going person. During her stay she made dinner quite a few times and each meal was delicious, she is one of those cooks that really knows the kitchen and how
… read more to use what is available to make a lovely meal. She was excellent with the animals and they loved her. I didn't give a five-star rating because she left the room a bit of a mess, took more time than necessary to complete some of the projects and left the house unlocked at times. Overall she was a very good guest. Thank you for everything Abi, those sweet potatoes and the noodle dish will live on in my memory! Best of luck to you in Los Angeles
Left by host for Workawayer (Joe)
Joe was a sweet easy going workawayer but seemed inattentive at times and didn’t complete tasks as assigned. Perhaps distracted, not paying attention or found tasks boring, he never said. The agreement was 4-5 hours of work per day in exchange for housing and meals. If assigned tasks take less than 4 hours worker should take the initiative to
… read more inquire if there is more that can be done. Did well with animals, playful and respectful of their needs. Did some photography work for sale items. Joe was cooperative, eager and willing to work however tasks are not always completed as instructed or not completed at all. He was flexible and expressed gratitude, which I noticed and appreciated. Weeding is not Joe’s a strength. Needs to inquire if having difficulty or needs other tools to accomplish tasks. Didn’t cleaning up areas worked in thoroughly and didn’t always clean up after making meals in kitchen. Joe should ask for clarification when instructions appear to be lacking or texts indicate there is more to a text message than was received. If asked to “clean up” an area the expectation is that the area is carefully cleaned/organized vs. just half-heartedly picking up or sweeping up the majority of debris. I appreciate Joe’s kind gentle nature and interaction with the animals. Best to you in your journey!
Left by host for Workawayer (Joseph)
Joe was great, plain and simple. He volunteered at my mom's place in La Mesa (which we've since taken off the listing) since having discovered after Joe arrived there were a number of unknown issues with the accommodations. Joe was very understanding and flexible in dealing with these challenges. During his stay he did a lot of odd jobs including
… read more stacking fire wood, general clean up of construction materials, cleaning/organizing gardening areas, trimming/weeding the garden/yard and more. Joe's work ethic is excellent and he kept me informed of his progress on each task. My mom was very pleased to have him there and she's seldom happy with anyone that does work for her - so that's saying a lot. Joe, I cannot thank you enough for all you did while with us. I wish you the very best on your journey and look forward to reading the blog posts. You are always welcome back!Help us build an iconic hot springs resort in the high desert of Oregon, USA
Help taking care of a golden retriever and Great Pyrenees in Maryland, United States
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Information for those planning to visit the US
If you are NOT a US CITIZEN and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA. To find out more information you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling. Do NOT attempt to enter the USA without the correct visa!
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Pets
Charity work
Plant care
DIY & crafts
Photography
Gardening
Carpentry
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Beach
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