Posts tagged with: "cultural exchange"

• Using Workaway
• Travelling Tips

• about 6 min
• 62 comments

It can be intimidating if you’re new to volunteering abroad (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.

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• Travelling Tips
• Workaway Foodie

• about 16 min
• 3 comments

Are you ready to embark on a gastronomic journey to discover some of the world’s most famous foods? With this guide you won’t just get to taste them, but learn how to grow them, cook them and share them just like a local. Let’s go food fans…

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• Travel Stories
• Workaway Foodie

• about 5 min
• 6 comments

With Workaway, you get to share many meals since you’re working and often living together and, even if you aren’t aware of it, you’re getting such a strong cultural exchange just from sharing a meal. I had many of these with my first Workaway experience when I was helping with landscaping and maintenance at a property with massive sculptures in central France, and I think the meals we shared together were some of the best moments of my adventure.

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• Travelling Tips
• Using Workaway

• about 8 min
• 12 comments

No matter your travel style, we all want our money to last as long as possible when we’re on the road! So here are 8 ways you can use Workaway to save money - not just for the free digs! While free accommodation is always a bonus, Workaway can help you learn a new language, find the best hidden gems and even find a new job…all for free.

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• Travelling Tips

• about 10 min
• 3 comments

If you would like to travel a bit differently in Thailand, this volunteer guide's got you covered with our top spots to visit and ways to give back in each destination... from staying with a local family in the bustling city of Bangkok, to taking care of elephants in rural Chiang Mai and enjoying the paradise beaches in between your island-hopping adventures!

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• Travelling Tips

• about 13 min
• 5 comments

Riding waves is the ultimate thrill for any surfer. But what if you could combine that rush with an adventure in a new place? Workaway is your ticket to the ultimate adventure!

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• Using Workaway
• Inspiration

• about 12 min
• 6 comments

We only live once, so lets choose to do the most meaningful things in the most phenomenal places in the world! We’ve highlighted a few items on our loooong bucket list of the most wonderful experiences around the world. Are any of these on your list too?

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• Travelling Tips

• about 6 min
• 94 comments

So you want to volunteer abroad? Good on you! We love that you are looking to give back. But you’ve gone online and you’ve seen some organisations CHARGE ridiculous agency fees for your kindness. How crazy is that? In fact what we are here to do is show you how you can volunteer around the world without paying a cent…

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• Using Workaway
• Inspiration

• about 3 min
• 34 comments

Kids are the best teachers of life and to teach kids is both a challenge and an adventure. We have homeschooled our children for six years. During that time we travelled a lot, exposing them to varied cultures and lifestyles, yet it was only when we started hosting Workawayers that the dynamics of our homeschooling experience has changed so much for the better.

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• Travelling Tips

• about 6 min
• 15 comments

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?

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• Travel Photos

• about min
• 0 comments

Discover your next Workaway destination to add to your bucket list! While you're at it, you can also spread the wanderlust by entering our monthly photo competition (and get a chance to win our cash prize)!

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• Workaway Ambassador

• about 3 min
• 35 comments

Ambassadors are Workawayers like you and me, they are helping to build the community by showing that responsible and ethical travel has the ability to genuinely make a difference to the communities they visit through..Let these world travellers show you how travelling whilst volunteering through cultural exchange is not impossible, but in fact has the potential to define your life!

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• Travel Photos

• about min
• 0 comments

There's so many ways to explore the world - start through the lens of our Workawayers & hosts for a peek into the possibilities! Here are some of our favourite travel photos for the December 2019 photo competition of workaway.info to get you inspired.

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 7 min
• 3 comments

Chester from Singapore started out from going on short hiking trips while working for an ad agency, to creating a life between traveling, writing and hiking full time! We got to hear more about his journey so far around the world, the connections he had made through Workaway, and the new lifestyle he has found for himself.

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• Host of the Month

• about 7 min
• 2 comments

This month we talk to host Heather from the Skopelos and share a slice of magical Greek island. Come uncover the beautiful well-trodden paths of the past, while enjoying the spectacular natural backdrop of Mamma Mia’s romantic island!

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• Using Workaway

• about 9 min
• 2 comments

We all know how great it is to have an extra pair of hands around, and as hosts we often think we have a clear idea of what we’d like our volunteers to help us with. BUT, having been a Workaway host for over 15 years, there have been many unexpected benefits which I could never have envisaged!

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• Using Workaway

• about 4 min
• 2 comments

Let’s face it, these days it seems like we’re filling out online profiles for everything. From dating apps to career networks, it can be a bit overwhelming to find one more way to describe yourself. However, your Workaway profile can be different and we’re here to help! Follow our best tips for how to create a unique profile that will unlock countless opportunities. Adventure awaits!

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• Workaway News

• about 3 min
• 1 Comment

Whether you are craving some companionship after a solo soul-searching journey, or you prefer to explore the world alongside somebody else…this is the perfect tool for you. Perhaps you want to find a buddy to visit hosts together with, or just to explore the local area during your days off? Either way, we hope you can find wonderful friendships through Workaway that will go beyond Workaway!

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• Travel Photos

• about min
• 0 comments

See the world through Workawayer & host’s eyes – discover our favourite travel photography showcasing the wonderful Workaway adventure moments around the world, and share yours for a chance to win the €100 cash prize!

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 9 min
• 5 comments

Brendon and Karson are a young travelling couple from the heart of the United States who both grew up in small towns with families who never dreamed of traveling anywhere beyond the U.S. So how did their families react when they decided to quit their jobs and adventure around the world for an entire year? They share their perspective on defying expectations and having experiences that last a lifetime.

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• Workaway News

• about 4 min
• 5 comments

If a photo can speak a thousand words, then a video can do more! So give a bit of personality by uploading a personal video to your workaway profile, and show off all your achievements on the site with our new badges too.

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 13 min
• 3 comments

Miguel and Mariana had been living together for 6-7 years when they suddenly decided to leave their beloved homeland behind to find a home away from home everywhere they went. Read about the epic story of how they make the transition from quitting their 9-5 jobs lives to become full-time Workawaying nomads!

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• Workaway Foodie

• about 6 min
• 5 comments

Workawayers Anna and Marcin reinvent the meaning of Greek cuisine and learn the secrets behind its magic – olive oil and herbs fresh from the doorstep! Share a taste of their adventures with this simple recipe of some wonderfully comforting Gigantes Plaki.

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• Host of the Month

• about 9 min
• 6 comments

This big ol’ plantation-sized slice of paradise in Sri Lanka is not just a coconut estate! This month, host Tilak tells us how he created a haven of natural beauty and wildlife, while giving back to the local community and welcoming travellers to enjoy the village sustainably.

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• Inspiration

• about 5 min
• 2 comments

Have you ever come back home after travelling to realize you just don’t think the way you used to? Or noticed people giving you the crazy eye after sharing one of your travel stories? You’re not alone! Call it experience, perspective, or a case of incurable wanderlust…there are just a few ways travellers perceive the world differently.

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• Travel Photos

• about min
• 0 comments

The February 2018’s travel photography taken by Workawayers and hosts, featuring this heartwarming image for this month’s winner! Is there a better way to explore the world while giving back to local communities?

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• Host of the Month

• about 6 min
• 4 comments

We had the pleasure of getting to know a lovely family living in the UK. Drawing on their experiences as journalists and travellers, they told us how they’re creating a new project that moves beyond recycling toward something even better. Get out some scissors and glue and tap into your inner child for this special interview!

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• Workaway Foodie
• Travelling Tips

• about 7 min
• 3 comments

Travelling is all about reinventing and change of routine and lifestyle, so yes, travelling is going to be a bit more challenging when you have certain dietary restrictions, food allergies OR when you are simply a picky eater, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t visit countries where people have eating habits vastly different from yours. In fact what you may lose in choice you could gain in quality of experience.

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• Travelling Tips

• about 5 min
• 22 comments

Throughout my travel adventures, I learned a lot. But I always credit my first solo trip for giving me the courage to follow my dreams. I want to pass some of that courage on to you, too. Here’s what I’ve learned and advice I wish somebody told me before my first solo trip.

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• Travelling Tips

• about 4 min
• 8 comments

Let’s face it- there’s something romantic and almost nostalgic about being poor. Think about all of the crazy adventures that begin by trying to save a little cash. Penny pinching may not sound glamorous, but the memories made while travelling on a shoestring budget will definitely be worth retelling. If you’re not convinced, here are 8 ways travelling on a budget can improve your trip and definitely earn you some backpacker badges of honour.

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 5 min
• 13 comments

After ten months workawaying Aude is on a non-stop mission to leave a trail of inspirational murals behind her as she travels around the globe on a one way ticket. Some of her friends call her “an artwork machine“, because when she starts painting she is in the zone and there is no stopping her…!

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• Inspiration

• about 5 min
• 6 comments

I was in my mid twenties, living in a hip part of the city in a comfortable, one bedroom apartment with a backyard and a front porch. I had a respectable job – one that paid well and helped others. I was right on track, doing everything I was supposed to be doing. Yet, I had a growing sense of emptiness, an unshakable anxiety that told me there was more to life than this.

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• Host of the Month

• about 6 min
• 1 Comment

This month, we caught up with Hester who lives on a sheep farm in South Africa with his family. His vivid description of the beautiful landscape and the history of the region are out of this world. After just a glimpse of seeing the farm through his eyes, we know you’ll be dreaming of visiting soon!

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• Inspiration

• about 4 min
• 1 Comment

A while ago we introduced you to Workawayers of the month, Shahnaz & Francois, a husband-and-wife duo who volunteered their way around the globe. Adventures like theirs aren’t just gonna become memories that will last a lifetime, but are also the best way to learn. And luckily for us, Shahnaz is willing to pass on some of the wisdom she has accumulated on her travels.

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 11 min
• 32 comments

We recently came across the story of workawayers Anna and Marcin, a Polish couple who are pretty much living the dream. They quit their jobs for a life of slow travel, cycled from their home country all the way to Greece – AND brought their dog along on their adventures! We just need to find out more about their awesome journey.

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• Workaway Foodie

• about 4 min
• 2 comments

Let’s be real, one of the most enjoyable things about travelling (and life!) is all the new food you get to try. But what’s even better is to learn how to make traditional dishes from locals, so you can relive those amazing travel memories bite by bite once home. In our new ‘Workaway Foodie’ blog series, food-loving Workawayers will share how they have learnt about foreign cultures and communities through their food.

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• Host of the Month

• about 5 min
• 1 Comment

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!

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 8 min
• 11 comments

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.

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• Travelling Tips

• about 3 min
• 6 comments

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.

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• Host of the Month

• about 5 min
• 1 Comment

“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.

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• Using Workaway
• Inspiration

• about 3 min
• 11 comments

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?

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• Host of the Month

• about 6 min
• 3 comments

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!

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 7 min
• 16 comments

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…

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• Travel Photos

• about min
• 0 comments

See the latest amazing travel photos taken by workawayers and hosts; everything from the Northern Lights to natural thermal pools and a sunset on a desert! Enter our photo competition that runs every month for a chance to win the €100 cash prize.

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• Host of the Month

• about 6 min
• 12 comments

It’s been a whole year since we started interviewing our hosts, and what amazing people we have spoken to! This month is no exception with Geneviève and Erick from France, at their beautiful organic farm community.

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• Travel Stories

• about 3 min
• 5 comments

I stand out. Like a sore thumb. Like a neon glow stick against a moonless midnight sky. Will I ever truly belong? Can I ever truly belong? I have been a foreigner many times. Yet, this is the first time being a foreigner has been so obvious to me and everyone else, too. It’s the first time I’ve felt an unshakeable sense of vulnerability and loss of anonymity.

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• Using Workaway
• Inspiration

• about 6 min
• 13 comments

Am I too old to host on workaway? Or too young? Who would want to come to my area? What if I don’t speak English that well? Too much of this, not enough of that? Here’s a short list of potential self-doubts or preconceptions a new host might have with solutions to overcome them.

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• Inspiration

• about 4 min
• 3 comments

With the rapid growth of the travel industry, there is an app or guidebook for everything. Information is literally at our fingertips. For someone who’s dipping their toe into the sharing economy, taking an Uber to get around town might be enough of a first time experience. For more seasoned or adventurous folks, carpooling through a site like Bla Bla Car, or using Hitchwiki to help you navigate your travels might be more fun.

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• Workawayer of the Month

• about 7 min
• 2 comments

As a solo female traveller and workawayer, you’re entirely thrown out of your comfort zone, and are a little awkward and vulnerable. Everything’s all on you and you alone to figure out; but that’s what stretches you and makes you grow.

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• Host of the Month

• about 4 min
• 0 comments

This month may be one of our favourite interviews so far. We sent 2 of our team members Shirley and James to Vietnam to discover hosts away from their laptops. Little did they expect to meet such an amazing 12-year old girl and our youngest ever host– ok, her family are the one that are actually hosting, but she loves Workaway so much we just had to interview her!

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• Using Workaway

• about 7 min
• 29 comments

Before even embarking on the experience, a host needs to be prepared mentally and practically for a visitor – it’s not always easy sharing your space or adapting to someone else’s. Here we’ve got a 10 point step-by-step guide to help you get the most of out of your experience as a host…

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• Using Workaway

• about 5 min
• 30 comments

We’ve heard it all before – ‘I quit my job to travel the world’, but what is it really like when you are actually doing it? When you stop earning a guaranteed salary and start travelling without a wage? We decided to ask someone that knows all too well on how to really live off pennies, and the rewards that come with doing Workaway exchange.

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• Host of the Month

• about 9 min
• 2 comments

Family owned for almost 600 years, the farm was traditional up to the 70s. Neglected after a community finished around 2000, it now has love provided by Devi & Ezra the youngest generation of their family : With the volunteers we found a sustainable way to keep our project going.

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• Host of the Month

• about 7 min
• 4 comments

Read all about an alternative Spanish language school in Medellin, Colombia, where the goal is to teach Spanish by connecting students with the locals, which for them is one of the most important aspects of meaningful travel.

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• Host of the Month

• about 5 min
• 3 comments

Finding out more about a Workaway host on Skiathos where volunteers help with a children’s play lounge and bring the world to their door!

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• Using Workaway

• about 4 min
• 35 comments

Be a good guest by following some of the advice here to make your Workaway stay an enjoyable and productive one where both hosts and volunteers benefit.

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• Travel Photos

• about min
• 0 comments

Take a look at the wanderlust-inducing travel photos from this month's competition taken by our workawayers and hosts; there’s nothing like a good photo that captures the happiness of travelling and meeting new friends all over the world!

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