Meet Edwin and Cécile, an adventurous Dutch couple who decided to break free from the monotony of their 9-5 jobs to embark on an incredible journey across Europe and into Morocco. With Cécile’s trusty mini car as their primary mode of transportation, they set off to explore new horizons, learn new skills and immerse themselves in diverse cultures volunteering through Workaway.
Edwin and Cécile are not just sightseeing, but also giving back to the communities they visit as they volunteer abroad. Read more for a tale of their inspiring travels, and the stories behind their creative and fun-filled video snippets of their Workaway adventures!
Swapping Routine for Adventure
Cécile worked as a photographer and Edwin was a game developer before moving into programming. Both were starting to lose enthusiasm for their careers and were uncertain about their future paths. They first heard about Workaway through word of mouth and Instagram a few years ago, and it had remained on their minds ever since.
Edwin explained, “I wasn’t sure what to do next, so I figured, let’s go for Workaway because it’s a place where you can learn a lot of different things. You can work with wood, with cement, with teaching, or animal sitting. Everything!”
The Dutch couple started out in Belgium for a month, working on a cool biological farm. The family there had bought a farm that needed restoring, so they were living in a yurt in the backyard while they worked on their dream.
After Belgium, they headed to Spain and did a total of 5 Workaway projects along the east coast. They kept moving south and eventually met up with some friends they’d met through volunteering in a dog shelter. Then, on a whim, they decided to spend a month in Morocco with another couple they met along the way. Though they are back home now, Edwin and Cécile want to go back out and explore the world again through Workaway! Starting with Vietnam from August, where they will be volunteering at a hostel. “We have been travelling like this for 8 months, and still want to travel more! We have decided to really leave the Netherlands,” says Cécile.
How to Choose the Best Workaway Hosts For You
Discovering a different way of life every weekend, learning different things and meeting different people certainly sounds like a dream… but how do they manage to find so many Workaway opportunities that suit them?
We really focus on the things that we still want to learn, or learn even more of, like woodworking, animal care, and permaculture. In Europe, that was more the focus, in the future, I think it’s going to be a little bit more on experiences. In Vietnam we are going to work at a hostel, and I’m really curious about that as it's completely different to what we’ve done in Europe. But I think we mainly focus on what work it is.
We make this huge list, with a lot of like 30/40 Workaways, and we always try to keep a backup as well, it’s kind of like a hit or miss. Sometimes we have a great Workaway, beyond our expectation, and sometimes we go to a Workaway with high expectations and we get there and we’re like…o….it looks better on paper. It happens all the time, that's why we always want to keep a backup so we save a few favourites, and send out tons of personalised messages, and just see what we get back and decide which ones we like best!
Crafting Visual Magic
When we saw Edwin and Cécile’s video on Instagram, their creative, educational and fun content stood out to us and had us giggling in front of our screens. I asked them where they get the inspiration for their awesome videos:
You can go to a Workaway and there are so many different things that you wouldn’t do normally…The inspiration for the videos kind of writes itself.
I’ve never seen Edwin make videos, so it’s really nice to see!
The videos posted on their Instagram have turned into a great way to look back and remember their adventures. Edwin explains, “I started to enjoy making them and now it's sort of like a photobooth or something. It’s really nice to look back on memories and you just reminisce like, ‘that was such an amazing place, that was such an amazing period.’”
The Goose Who Ruled the Roost
Amongst all their brilliant videos about their Workaway experience, Pili the Goose definitely stole the show with her main character energy. “We were workawaying at a dog shelter and one of the old volunteers introduced me to Pili. I was told to just push her away because she's aggressive,” explained Edwin. “No one really liked Pili," Cécile added.
Even though Pili had a tough exterior at first, she gradually started warming up to the volunteers...especially the guys, and Edwin in particular.
Pili was misunderstood and really aggressive as well, she was biting through the fence and you really had to push her away. I really liked that challenge, and at one point I noticed Pili started to get a little bit easier. I think the thing with Pili is you really need to be the dominating one and then she would come and give you hugs, but almost everyone was too scared.
It was really funny because sometimes they would let Pili loose and in the volunteer area, if everyone was there, she would just go straight to him!...and when Edwin would go somewhere she would follow him!
She was like a shadow!
Cécile continued, “when geese don’t like you they bite you, but when they start liking you they nibble softly. They’re like little kisses, so Pili would also nibble on Edwin.”
The video was already fantastic, but understanding the backstory of the video and Pili the Goose -from aggressive to a softie - makes it even better!
Embracing the Ups and Downs of Couple Travel
Travelling as a couple has its ups and downs. On the bright side, you get to share amazing experiences, create unforgettable memories, and have someone by your side through all the adventures. However, it can also be challenging as you navigate different preferences, deal with stressful situations, and spend so much time together.
We certainly notice that the environment you're in does a lot for your relationship. If the environment is not right, there can be some friction in your relationship as well. But sometimes when you're in this really nice, open place it all falls into place and it’s perfect.
Adjusting to a new environment as a couple can be tough, but overcoming these challenges together can bring you closer and strengthen your relationship!
“It's not always easy when you are constantly moving, you have to learn to be in your relationship in a completely new setting without a permanent base and a routine. What I say to my friends, is one thing I do realise is communication between us has been way better because of this and all the places, and Workaway! It is also the first time we have had to work together, you learn a lot about yourself and the other person too. I’m really happy with how well we communicate now. We are really happy that we can experience it together! It’s very cringey but very true,” concludes Cécile.
The couple’s journey has pushed them out of their comfort zones, fostering personal growth and deeper understanding. They've navigated through various challenges, learning to adapt and support each other in ways they hadn't anticipated.
We did so much more in half a year than we did the past 5 years!...now we’re more afraid to get back into the community in the Netherlands, rather than actually leaving it…Living from weekend to weekend when you are working and then Workawaying is so different.
Cécile and Edwin embody true creativity, roaming down diverse paths, discovering unexpected wonders along the way in their little car. Their journey isn't just about travel; it's about finding purpose, new passions, honing skills, and living life to the fullest. So, what's holding you back from doing the same? Take the plunge, hop into your own adventure, and see where the road leads you!
Stephanie was born on an island and raised in a British/Portuguese multicultural background. From a young age, she learned how to embrace different languages, traditions and cultures. This upbringing ... show more...instilled a profound appreciation for different ways of life which then led to an interest in travelling in 2017. After quitting her job in finance, Stephanie embarked on her first backpacking journey through SouthEast Asia where she fell in love with discovering hidden wonders of the world and embracing the beauty of diverse cultures. With an infectious zest for life and an unwavering spirit of adventure, she continues to step outside her comfort zone, completing an exchange semester in Chile, doing a ski season in Austria, volunteering at a surf hostel in Portugal and contributing to communities in developing countries like Kenya to make a positive impact. When she is not exploring the world, Stephanie can be found practicing new hobbies, such as rock climbing, roller skating and yoga.
