Benjamin

United States
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
Sailing, Wind Surfing, Scuba Diving, Historic Preservation and Sustainable Farming
My next destination:
Tampa, FL, United States - from Jan 2025 until Jan 2025
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Description
In 2016, I graduated from a university in New York City. But instead of diving into the office life right away, I felt a calling to explore the world, so I embarked on a full-time backpacking journey with Workaway. Six enriching years later, I realized it was time to reintegrate into work, but I chose a path that resonated with my deepest passions: sailing.

Since then, I've earned my license as a sailboat captain, windsurfing and sailing teacher, and scuba diving guide. Embracing the freedom of the open sea, I've decided to use the Workaway platform to connect with hosts in my sailing destinations, allowing me to continue pursuing my love for sailing and the sea while forging meaningful connections around the globe.

Beyond the waves, I immerse myself in other passions, whether it's playing the cello, preserving historic homes, or nurturing my 1973 Fiat 126, which I love to care for and take on adventures.
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Self development
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Sustainability
Technology
Sailing / Boating
Plant care
Performing arts
Outdoor activities
Nature
Music
Mountain
Languages
LGBTQ
Hiking
Gardening
Fitness
Fashion or beauty
Dancing
DIY & crafts
Cycling
Culture
Charity work
Cooking & food
Camping
Beach
Architecture
Art & design
Adventure sports
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Arabic: Beginner
German: Beginner
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner
Dutch: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Animal Care
Charity Work
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Art Projects
Able to teach about:
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Languages
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
More details about your skills
⛵️Sailing Experience:

🔹 Trimaran Delivery (Dragonfly 1200) (co-skipper) Ibiza-Lanzarote, Fall 2024 - 1100 nm
🔹Day/Week long Charter Skipper Sardinia Summer 2024 - 500 nm
🔹 Dingy/Keelboat Sailing Instructor (Beneteau First/RS Quest/Hobie Cat 15) Sardinia Summer 2024
🔹 FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit (MP) Completed 2024 (SRC)
🔹Day Charter Captain Sicily, Summer 2023 - 2000 nm
🔹Completed ASA IPC (ICC) License #2022187927 California, 2022
🔹Completed ASA Catamaran Certification Catalina Island, 2022
🔹 Served as Crew Member Sicily, Summer 2017
🔹Served as Crew Member on a Caribbean Catamaran for a 2-week charter, Martinique - St. Vincent, Winter 2017
🔹Served as Crew Member for Day Charters, Solent, UK, Fall 2016

🤿 Scuba Diving:

🔹SSI Dive Master/Guide License Pro #104469

🛟 Safety:

🔸CPR/First Aid American Red Cross ID: 01C5P4O 2023
🔸Diver Stress and Rescue SSI 2022

🌊 Other Skills:

🔹Teaching experience in Windsurfing - Sardinia ,Summer 2024
🔹Teaching experience in Violin and Cello for over 4 years, working with children aged 12-18.
🔹Hospitality experience includes being a 5-star Airbnb Host for 2 years and Hotel Management roles in the UK, Jordan, and Sicily.
Age
31
What else ...
I thrive on connecting with people and am deeply committed to leadership, particularly in teaching and enhancing others' lives.

Above all, I am diligent and always ready to embrace new knowledge. I've excelled in every role I've taken on, and I enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to tackle new challenges. Don't hesitate to reach out for information about my references. You can find me on Instagram as @o.capitano.mio.capitano or follow my classic car project @Angela_the_Fiat126.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  no
- Special dietary requirements
  no

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2 Dec 2024

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Water sport instructors to ...)

Spending time with this amazing team in Sardinia was hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had. I arrived in the preseason, when things were just starting to come together, and from day one, I could tell this wasn’t your average windsurfing school. The vibe here is dynamic and ever-evolving—more like a collaborative project than a business… read more

(Excellent )

28 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Gardening and community life ...)

My stay with Helene and Dino in Siracusa, Sicily was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms into their home, where warmth and hospitality abound.

Dino's passion for preserving Siracusa's rich history is truly remarkable. As a master craftsman and historian, his dedication to safeguarding the… read more

(Excellent )

10 Jul 2021

Left by host (Enjoy living the raw life ...) for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Ben è un angelo!
Non dimenticherò mai il suo contributo, in un momento iniziale e molto caotico dell mio progetto. Mi ha aiutata in tantissime cosema soprattutto mi ha supportata emotivamente ad affrontare le difficoltà, ad avere forza e coraggio, ad andare avanti. E' stato sempre pronto e disponibile a sostenermi emotivamente e lavorativamente,… read more

(Excellent )

9 Apr 2021

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Enjoy living the raw life ...)

I first arrived at Elena’s beautiful mountain “cultural center” at the warm recommendation of other Workaway hosts, as it so happens that when you know one great Workaway host in Sicily, you know all the best by association. Elena shares the same love and passion for her island as the rest, but in just five weeks I learned many new things about… read more myself, Sicilian food, farming, and community.

Of course, traveling and working now during a pandemic is a challenge, and to protect others it’s important to adapt our habits. But Elena is not the kind of person to let this period of new rules stop her from being a happy, productive, and positive person, whose primary objective is to contribute to her local community. For all the many projects finished and started the past five weeks, Elena showed me how to always be positive, and when a problem is presented, to rely on her proven concept of the “Circle of Help.”

I’ll never forget our day together collecting free fertilizer from a neighbor’s farm, who only asked that we bag some for him to later sell. This fertilizer also had to be transported by another farmer’s tractor, who only asked that he receive some as well. For Elena and the other farms in this area, money is not in great supply, but everyone lending a hand to accomplish mutual goals is what Elena calls the “Circle of Help” and it’s what moves this community forwards. As someone who’s been traveling with Workaway for many years, participating in this simple but effective system outside of the usual monetary economy was a real joy, even though my clothes still smell a little bit like that fertilizer. :D

When we worked (for me some gardening, building a chicken house, and restoring a vintage camper) Elena would always prepare coffee, tea, and snacks and when we weren’t working Elena cooked the most flavorful meals using all the local ingredients offered by surrounding farms. I and my fellow Workawayer were always taken care of and had our needs met. At times we felt less like Workawayers and more like guests, staying either in her beautifully maintained 1970’s camper, or when we had work to do on the camper: her friend’s holiday house adjacent to her property. I can’t thank Elena enough for taking such good care of us during our stay. Grazie mille Elena for showing me an intimate view of your “slow and raw” life in Sicily and teaching me how to participate in a caring community. I can’t wait to see how your cultural center and new chicken family continue to grow.

(Excellent )

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2 Dec 2024

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Water sport instructors to ...)

(Excellent)

28 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Gardening and community life ...)

(Excellent)

10 Jul 2021

Left by host (Enjoy living the raw life ...) for Workawayer (Benjamin)

(Excellent)

9 Apr 2021

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Enjoy living the raw life ...)

(Excellent)

30 Jan 2021

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Help us with our animals and ...)

I cannot thank Julia and Giuseppe enough for allowing me the opportunity to care for their home and animals over this past month. When I signed up for this Workaway placement/house sitting job back in the fall, I expected an easygoing month of peace and solitude over Christmas and New Years'- a much-needed break from the monotony of a year in… read more

(Excellent)

29 Jan 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Ben stayed more than one month at home. 6 days with us and one month doing home and pet sitting. We couldn't choose better than him to do this duty. Thank's to Ben, I was able to visit my family in Switzerland in peace because I know that I had a really responsible and trustful person at home to take care of all our animals and our house. This has… read more

(Excellent)

20 Jun 2019

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Looking for a big brother or ...)

Living with the family was not my first time in Italy, nor was it the first time I spent working primarily for a young person. What brought me to initially stay with them was the promise to live once again in Sicily, but this time through immersion and lessons, to really focus on improving my spoken and written Italian. But the wonderful… read more experience I had living with them was of far greater value than the amount of Italian I was able to learn in my six months there. My job was, as written above, to care for Edoardo as a “big brother” and to continue his English education. But what started as a job in exchange for knowledge, turned in a deep companionship that changed how I think about myself and my place in the world.

‘Edo,’ nearly ten-year-old son is a mature young man just on the cusp of adulthood. Always walking along the line that separates child from adult, there is no coastline or ancient architecture in Sicily that is more remarkable than watching his transformation take place. Edo is a person who shows no fear in commanding language. Whether he nearly perfectly spoke Italian, English, or Sicilian dialect, I always felt like he was more the one taking care of me. More importantly, Edo is incredibly intellectual and curious, always wanting to dissect complex ideas and absorb new information. It is not hard to imagine that he will live his life always learning and seeking adventure and new experiences- a quality I wish to find more of in myself. I feel incredibly lucky to have played a small part in his growth and cannot wait to see how he continues to grow.

Of course, young people like Edo are in most ways mirrors of their parents, and what fantastic role models his parents, Stefania and Antonio, are for both him and myself. Stefania gave me a very intimate window into Sicilian home life, taking care of me not as a passing guest but more as if I was her own son. Through her connections, Stefania also found me a violoncello and a job teaching in the music department at Edo’s school- a treat that is usually difficult to find as a traveler without my instrument. Antonio who is a commercial pilot also offered me a window into his professional world, assisting in teaching certification courses at the flight school, a skill that has brought lots of value to my own professional life.

At their home, I found a refuge in Sicily that will always feel like home, and I am very grateful for all they did for me in the past six months. I not only accomplished my goals of diving deep into the Italian language but more importantly, I made dear friends who I love as if they were my own family. In many ways, they have become my family. As a third generation Sicilian myself, I’ve only really understood Sicily as an outsider. From a distance, Sicily would conjure up beautiful images of nature, art, and food. But when I saw Sicily from a human point of view, and in my case the point of view of them, I found treasures greater than places or things. I found that the greatest treasure in Sicily is in the kind hearts of the people who I one day aspire to become: a Sicilian.

(Excellent)

9 Sep 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Having Benjamin in the household this summer was a great experience and I would recommend him for any kind of Workaway, whether households or big projects.

Ben is someone who combines common sense and emotional intelligence with a real enthusiasm for life and learning. He seemed always full of energy, ideas and fun, whether doing gymnastics and… read more

(Excellent)

20 Aug 2018

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Come and help us to practice ...)

Chris and Ilona took me into their home for just a short time, as my schedule unfortunately only allowed me to be in Berlin for three weeks. For me, three weeks is a difficult amount of time to properly get to know the people I’m living with. However, with Chris and Ilona, I felt as if I was living with dear friends by only the first evening. Not… read more ten minutes had passed after meeting Chris’s nine-year-old daughter Ilona, and we were already creating an entirely new, and in my opinion, much better, choreography for Swan Lake. Every minute I spent in Berlin with Ilona and Chris was filled with excitement, spectacular homemade food and a warm feeling of home that exemplifies why Workaway is such a great platform for travelers.

In my past experiences with Workaway, I’ve only had a few opportunities to work for young people. Working for Ilona reminded me why these types of Workaway placements are the most rewarding. Ilona is an incredible kid, possessing a never-ending source of energy and humor. I accompanied Ilona, or rather, Ilona accompanied me on many trips to the nearby Olympic stadium for mornings at the pool, testing our swimming and breath-holding abilities as well as our bravery in the high jump. It was also during these trips out that Ilona demonstrated her remarkable ability to lead, showing off her skills in speaking German (not to forget Finnish) and keen ability to recruit others into piggyback rides.

Though as exemplary of a kid Ilona is, it’s simple to see just why, when getting to know her mother Chris. There are many hosts on the Workaway platform who have been volunteers themselves in the past, but what I’d never encountered before was a host/volunteer who has also Workawayed with their child. Chris is a very active and very busy director, with international work placements stationing her all over, though when she’s not working her and her daughter continue blazing new horizons, offering Ilona a rare experience of the world in her young age that most only wish they had. Of course, Chris’s experience as a volunteer makes her a great host, knowledgeable on how it feels to be on the other end of the host/volunteer relationship. But what sets her apart from other hosts is that the same energy she spends showing her daughter a broader vision of the world, she also shares with all those lucky enough to call Chris and Ilona their temporary family.

I could not have had such a lovely time in Berlin without their care. While I was happy to help around the home, offering some light renovation to the garden and looking after Ilona when necessary, I felt like Chris and Ilona returned everything I did for them many times over and I cannot thank them enough. It is with all my heart that I recommend anyone looking for a loving home in Berlin, or wherever they may live in the future, to reach out and let Chris and Ilona show you the world from their perspective.

(Excellent)

16 Jun 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin)

I think that almost an year went by since Benjamin was with us. I apologise with him for not having left a feedback earlier but he really doesn't need... HE IS A SUPER GREAT MATE!!!
He is always Positive, always Happy to cooperate, always able to give the right consulting and went he takes over one of your task he always complete it better than… read more

(Excellent)

1 May 2017

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Help a family with a cultural ...)

There is a give and take with Workaway. I have found that the best Workaway experience is achieved when both the host and the volunteer are always striving to give more than they have received. Granted, when I choose a host, I’m typically seeking out small family run businesses creating something new and exciting for their local communities, so it… read more is has been difficult to find someone not of this standard. Of course, Barbara and Francesco were no exception.

During my two and a half weeks working with Barbara and Francesco, it was often difficult to tell who was volunteering for whom. When I arrived in my new private apartment, I discovered Francesco furiously working to clean my room. When he’s not working long days making sure Barbara’s local restaurant is the best it can be or spending every possible free minute with his two children, Francesco works as a flight attendant for an Italian airline. The more I got to know Francesco, the more I realized how much of himself he freely gives to others. He will always put the needs and comfort of others over his own, whether it’s making sure you’ve had enough gelato for the day or that you feel you are doing only the jobs that “are more fun.”

I spent most of my working time with Francesco getting the restaurant ready for the looming busy season in Ortigia. We were able to reach an agreement deviating from the traditional Workaway model, compressing a week's work into just a few days, as time was of the essence. This worked out splendidly as it allowed for almost an overwhelming amount of free time, which I was able to productively spend learning some Italian from a local language professor Barbara recommended. When the restaurant was up and running, I was also offered all my meals there for free. Their vegan concept is a wonderful surprise in Sicily and I was able to quickly find my favorite dishes.

When I wasn’t eating at the restaurant, Barbara and Francesco welcomed me into their home to spend family dinners and watch a few films together with their two adorable children and their nonna. Spending time with a growing family is not always a luxury found on Workaway but when the opportunity does arise, it always feels so comforting to be grounded again with people like Barbara and Francesco who take you in and treat you like one of their own. With such a large family, and a third baby on the way, Barbara is one of the most loving, and motherly people you will ever meet. Like Francesco, she will always make sure you are comfortable, well fed, and achieving your goals. Barbara was not only so kind as to connect me with a local Italian language professor but also help connect me with potential future hosts looking for help with their own businesses.

Barbara and Francesco are also ambassadors to the kindness and generosity overflowing from the people of Siracusa. Their staff at the restaurant are always excited to share their new desserts and cocktails, teach you new Italian phrases, or even offer their personal recommendations for things to do around this area they love so much. As this unique creative space invites so much interesting conversation with guests, musicians, and the staff alike, each night it felt impossible to stay away from the restaurant, and even after leaving, impossible not to come back.

(Excellent)

17 Mar 2018

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Live on a houseboat while ...)

In volunteering at this Workaway opportunity my goal was to continue building upon working experience aboard seafaring vessels and existing skills as an interior craftsman. The one month I had initially planned to live with Ronne and his family before continuing on to my next placement very easily turned into three, and I couldn’t have made a… read more better decision to do so.

Compared to my previous Workaway placements, Ronne has carefully designed his to be a bit different. Instead of the typical five days for five hours a week time schedule, Ronne opts for a more intensive three full days, resulting in the same amount of working time but with more days off. This allows for a much greater freedom in traveling around the Netherlands as well as the possibility to find extra paid work opportunities— a fairly rare situation on the Workaway platform. Though I was free to spend most days of the week as I pleased, it was in accompanying Ronne on trips outside the city for his other projects where I made my favorite memories with him, the most memorable being our day to a village south of Amsterdam to rescue another one of his houseboats from a surprisingly brutal wind storm.

On the houseboat itself, Ronne employees a small energetic team of capable builders to work on this project. I’m comfortable saying that throughout my entire life, I’ve never worked with a man as calm and collected as Ronne. Ronne surprised me in everything that we did together, particularly his meticulous attention to detail. He’s building this boat to live on with his family for the next few decades, so it’s really sweet to see him put his heart into everything he does. Though I never felt overwhelmed. Ronne is gracious to honest mistakes and is an excellent teacher. As I have an average level of building experience, I never did anything without having a clear idea of what I needed to do. Above all, Ronne cares deeply about your safety, making sure you always have goggles, gloves, and ear protection if necessary.

Another logistical difference of this Workaway opportunity is Ronne’s approach to shared meals. Other Workaways I have visited have included all meals, for a more 24/7 cultural experience. Though as Ronne has two children and a very busy family life, it’s understandable to see him keep this slight degree of separation between his volunteers and private family time. Despite it being a small increase in my usual travel costs, I greatly enjoyed cooking for myself, and because Ronne typically keeps more than one Workaway volunteer on the boat at a time, it is much easier cooking meals and sharing food costs with your shipmates. That said, Ronne and his lovely family shared several fabulous dinners (and desserts) with us. All our workdays did also include a wonderful lunch of classic dutch ingredients like hagelslag with pindakaas, dutch kaas, and my new favorite lunch topping— appelstroop. As previous reviews have also mentioned, Ronne’s workdays are infamous for their coffee breaks over the sharing of stories of our home lives and travel.

Ronne and his family are some of the kindest and most interesting people I’ve had the pleasure to work with during my time as a Workaway volunteer. This was my first time visiting the Netherlands and the city that Ronne has shown to me is a place I would feel comfortable calling my home in the future. The freedom and space Ronne offers his volunteers allowed me to make many other lifetime friends in the Netherlands as well as enjoy a rich cultural experience. Everything that I was able to accomplish working on the houseboat filled me with a new sense of fulfillment and pride and I am excited to pursue future building projects because of it. I can't wait to keep up with the progress of their home and hear about their many future adventures. Hartelijk bedankt Ronne!

(Excellent)

17 Mar 2018

Left by host (Live on a houseboat while ...) for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Benjamin has Workawaying down to an art; you couldn't wish for a more friendly, reliable, motivated, responsible, helpful and so on and so on guest. Ben has been a great help in carpentry, paintwork and whatever work popped us. We all had a great time with Ben. Highly recommended! Thanks again Ben!

(Excellent)

10 Jan 2018

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Feel at home and be part of ...)

One of the first things Ian told me about Scotland was that it is a “marketer’s paradise.” He certainly wasn’t wrong. With its grand open skies, seemingly untouched swaths of land steeped in history and legend, diverse wildlife, and the spectacular variety of food, it is not difficult to imagine why. But it is none of these things that make… read more Scotland one of my personal wonders of the world. Across all of Scotland, the warmth and hospitality of its people is unmissable. While you could spend a lifetime traveling through Scotland experiencing the love and kindness of Scottish people, I’m happy to have devoted almost all of my time living with Ian, Jess, and their children- the royal family of Scotland’s only independent island kingdom of Islonia.

Ian and Jess function as the sort-of-tongue-and-cheek king and queen of their private island, even to go so far as issuing passports and a set of local laws to all who visit. As someone lucky enough have been granted the rare Workaway visa, I had the opportunity to devote my time working with Ian on all projects related to his shellfishing business as well as upkeep of the island from managing paths and inter-island transportation. Though the one job I hadn’t expected to enjoy far more than all the others was caring for their incredible and unique children.

Ranging in age from two to twelve, with a few birthdays in between, Isla, Iona, and little Finlay taught me a great deal about the joys and complexities of working for young people. All three of Ian and Jess’s children live in an environment where learning never seems to stop, whether they are hiking mountains in inclement weather, winning 1st place at a local quiz night, fiddle busking at a local market, practicing Scottish Gaelic, or just enjoying classic films. It was particularly remarkable watching and helping them develop their interpersonal skills, as we all tried to find new ways to better share our feelings and respect the needs of each other.

Ian once very well summed up his role as a father when he said that, “Islonia and everything on it belongs to my children, I am but the caretaker of their estate.” Ian and Jess live the busy lives of being fishermen, carrying on the rich tradition of Ian’s family and their island. But they never have too little time to spend alongside their children, most notably during their incredible adventures that, during these past few months, took them up north to the Outer Hebrides for a week and very much down south for a three week trip to South America. By the first month of my stay, Ian and Jess had decided to leave me as the sole caretaker of their island while away on this three week holiday, a task that at first seemed daunting. But it was during this period that I became well acquainted with the great community they live in as I was always lent a helping hand when something needed to be fixed that was outside of my expertise.

Of course with or without Ian and Jess’s family around, I was never without their lion-hearted dog Dubh, who very quickly became my closest companion. One who knows no leash, Dubh is the kind of dog that creates and transcribes new landscapes as he led me through long fall walks along the Wester Ross countryside and great ocean cliffs of Opinan. For being such a vast expanse of land, much of which appearing to be untouched by human civilization, I was surprised by just how surrounded I felt by a loving community of people. From my perspective, Ian and Jess are not only the king and queen of their sacred island, but the best people to represent their country. Their children of course being the prince and princesses of their land, are some of the toughest and bravest kids I’ve ever met. I cannot wait until the day I am able to once again wash up on their shores and see how their kingdom has grown. They are the writers of their own Scottish legends. They are what make Scotland, for me, a “marketer’s paradise.”

(Excellent)

17 Dec 2017

Left by host (Feel at home and be part of ...) for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Dear Ben,
Where do I start, wonderful young man a credit to hisnfamily and country ( I'll say Italy) everything he did was of the highest quality, I would highly recommend him to anyone that needs a clever proactive interesting and practical person on a more personal level we all miss and look forward to the day when he washes back on our shores (… read more

(Excellent)

1 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Farm help in a beautiful ...)

I was afforded the opportunity to volunteer with Mirjam for just a short while at the recommendation of a nearby Workaway host. What an incredible experience I had! Mirjam operates a beautiful, traditional farm producing the many products that come to mind when you imagine Switzerland. Cheeses, potatoes, wholesome milk, and meats are all created… read more

(Excellent)

4 Jun 2017

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Work in touristic projects in ...)

What an incredible opportunity for growth I had spending a month volunteering for Emilio and Angela’s thriving businesses. Emilio and Angela are veterans of their industry and have so much to offer. I learned many new things from boat upkeep to running a multifaceted, experience driven tourism agency. But more importantly, I gained a unique… read more perspective of what it means to be a strong contributor to your community while at the same time openly inviting the hearts and minds of others around the world to share in your love for family and home.

I first reached out to Emilio a year ago when I was just starting to travel with Workaway. They were full at the time, but I’m so glad to have waited until now because, after learning the fundamentals of sailing from my amazing Workaway hosts in the UK, I was only now equipped to really provide a useful set of skills to their sailing company and then build on those skills from there.

Being that Emilio owns his boats instead of leasing them, I not only was afforded the opportunity to live onboard but to really learn the inner mechanics and the kind of hard work keeping a boat in running order requires. From daily washing to restoring faded teak and even installing an autopilot system, I know that I could step on any sailing yacht and have a greater sense as to its inner workings.

But my time with Emilio, Angela, as well as their other marvelous Workawayers, skippers, guides, and staff went far beyond my time at sea. During downtime at the boat I was able to do some marketing work for both the sailing company and the Etna excursions, an opportunity that allowed me to take several incredible tours up Mt. Etna, an incredible active volcano that offers a stunning view not only from the sea but from its peaks.

The most important work I did off the boat was not actually for the business but for Emilio personally, as he invited me to be a photographer for his beautiful baby son Leonardo’s Battesimo. A true Italian baptism is a celebration that rivals the kind of weddings I was used to back home, and being invited to be a part of his family’s very special day meant the world to me and it was absolutely the highlight of my month in Catania.

I could not possibly thank Emilio and Angela enough for the kindness and opportunity for growth they so generously provided for me. I wholeheartedly recommend them to other Workaway volunteers as a place to develop lifelong skills and share in an incredible project with people who are passionate in all that they do.

(Excellent)

18 Apr 2017

Left by host (Come and help transform my ...) for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Dear Benjamin,
Thank you with all my heart for the wonderful, crazy 40 days you spent here. Thank you especially for the precious, competent aid with my website, the wonderfully renovated kitchen, your cello lessons and the concert we played together in Bern. So many unforgetable moments we shared: Benjamin trying to go on skies or cuttingwood… read more

(Excellent)

15 Mar 2017

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Come and help transform my ...)

In just a month living with Mirjam at her mountainside spiritual retreat, I had the opportunity to experience Switzerland in a way most do not.

Mirjam herself will assure you that her way of life is not intrinsically Swiss. Indeed, Shamanic healing, Vision Quest, and Sweat Lodge Therapy is not something your typical swiss farmer engages with.… read more Mirjam is first and foremost an artist. The work she has been creating for decades now is by definition "high art," and while her humble attitude might have you believe otherwise, she has dedicated her life contributing something new to Swiss culture. After spending a month living with Mirjam, I believe that this ethos is the heart of everything she accomplishes.

Today, Mirjam offers a very interesting Workaway experience. On several occasions, I found myself fairly exhausted not because of physical work but because of the many adventures Mirjam asked me to be a part of. Typically during a Workaway experience, I don't spend too much of my resources traveling as a tourist. As a Workawayer, I'm more interested learning about the person I'm volunteering with, and peering into their unique way of life. I would come to find that living with Mirjam provided both an insight into her life, but also a dynamic view of Switzerland.

Mirjam is always on the move, visiting with friends and contacts in her industry, transporting art, and growing her collection of exotic instruments, among other things. Time spent with Mirjam is never dull and offers surprises around every corner. Mirjam is also a life coach, and driving around Switzerland with her provided for many insightful conversations as we both reflected on our unique experiences and world views. Mirjam is a pathological encourager, and from your first to last interaction with her, you will feel her warm energy uplifting you to your highest potential.

Granted my experience was only during the winter, but during this period there was much to do keeping the house warm with the natural wood burning stove, hiking around the mountain to local farmers to retrieve fresh milk and eggs, and planning for meals. Mirjam has an excellent network of friends as well with varied work needing to be done when there is less to do at home. I spent one day on a rustic dairy farm near Thun tending to the animals needs as well as a week in Zurich helping to repaint an apartment. Staying for a week in Zurich also allowed me to briefly attend the University of Art.

I really can't thank Mirjam, as well as Miriam of Thun, and Miriam or Zurich enough for the endless warmth and inspiration they so graciously offered to me during my first, but certainly not my last stay in Switzerland. Living with Mirjam is a "never ending story" as she and her home are always growing, and to be a part of that evolution is a once in a lifetime experience. I hope that many more people choose to see the wild side of Switzerland with Mirjam as they find themselves repeating her mantra, "No risk, no fun!"

(Excellent)

6 Apr 2017

Left by host (Help with gardening by the ...) for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Benjamin was my first workawayer and he definitely made me want to renew the experience!

He's a great worker, with plenty of ideas, a kind of strong commitment to his tasks I wouldn't have expected, that makes him act with "professionalism" in everything he does.

But as it's also about sharing life, I must say he's more than all a great person:… read more

(Excellent)

2 Apr 2017

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Help with gardening by the ...)

Thomas took me in as a last minute guest during a week-long period of time between two other Workaway experiences. Typically I prefer to stay with hosts for at least a month as it allows more time to get to know them and their environment, but I'm happy to have found a dear friend in Thomas in my short time shared with him.

As it would turn out,… read more

(Excellent)

7 Jan 2017

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Help us at our 400 year old ...)

Many first-time Workawayers gravitate towards Matthew and David’s volunteer opportunity because of its already glowing reputation on the platform. “Generous”, “kind”, and “quintessentially English,” are the types of adjectives other reviewers have used when describing them, and they are all spot on.

When I applied to volunteer with Matthew and… read more David, I was drawn to the sailing, although my work in B&B’s in other countries is what gave me the qualification to be the most help to them in their recently opened historic Grade II Listed Hotel in one of the most beautiful coastal areas of the UK. It was made very clear to me that work with them sailing would be very limited as it was nearing the end of the season sailing day charters in the Solent.

I spent the first few weeks helping them in the adjacent Tea Room, which they run out of the hotel during the day. The hired staff at the hotel are all locals to Brockenhurst and are fabulous people. While Matthew and David themselves are extraordinarily British, always excited to share their culture with others, it’s in the relationships I formed with the local staff and the other international Workawayers that I learned so much more about the people of England, and a few countries I have yet to visit.

After those first few weeks, I established enough trust with Matthew and David to be offered a job working with the paid yacht staff for a day sail when they were short on crew. That particular sail was categorically terrible. The rain was heavy and the wind was strong and freezing. But despite the elements, I loved every minute of it, and I think my love for the water was apparent to them, as they continued to ask me to go sailing until the end of the season, after which they invited me to work in the Caribbean during the winter season, where I’m writing this review now.

When the sailing in the Solent ended I decided to extend my stay at the hotel, as they were opening up a unique Gin tasting bar to run alongside the tea room and hotel and were looking for personable people to help. I learned just about as much as I did sailing as I did about the complexities of a Gin and Tonic. Working as a “mixologist” with them was uniquely rewarding, as I was able to share the wealth of new information passed down to me from David to the guests.

I lived in two places at this Workaway. For the first 2 months I stayed in Matthew and David’s remarkable seaside flat, where they cook the most incredible dinners, and if you’re lucky there’s even a darling lady who comes around to iron your shirts. Around the busy Christmas season, commuting from the flat didn’t make much sense, so I relocated to the hotel full time. The majority of Workawayers live at the hotel, which is its own unique experience. While their schedules don’t allow Matthew and David to host staff dinners every night, they are very generous in giving the staff the freedom to come up with a meal plan suited to their tastes and prepare their dinners making use of the hotel’s professional grade kitchen.

In Matthew and David, I found not only great mentors but also dear friends. Living and working with them, I’ve been given to have an intimate window into their lives. Their successes and failures became my successes and failures. As it’s been with much of Workaway, I’ve learned more about community leadership and entrepreneurship from working with Matthew and David than I ever did in a classroom. If you are a seasoned Workawayer like myself, or just beginning to explore all that the incredible Workaway network has to offer, you can’t go wrong with these guys. Remember that, as it is with anyone on this website, a volunteer opportunity is only what you make of it. Put in the most that you can, and Matthew and David will return your hard work with their gratitude and generosity many times over.

(Excellent)

6 Jan 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Ben spent an amazing 4 months with us and we will miss him! He threw himself into every task with a huge amount of enthusiasm and brought his many skills to helping in our hotel, bar, home and on our yachts in the UK and in the Caribbean. It is impossible to list the many tasks with which he got involved and everything that he achieved every… read more

(Excellent)

17 Sep 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin)

From the beginning, Ben felt like a member of the family. He helped me advertise and reply to requests for the tours in Wadi Rum. At the same time, he was helpful and easy to deal with, and not complicated. He even worked with his hands in the camp to help me set up tents. He stayed with me for 20 days. During his stay, we had a lot of fun and… read more

(Excellent)

3 Sep 2016

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Help to run a camp in Wadi ...)

I came to Wadi Rum at the worst time of the year. The summer was at its hottest, and the tourist season was low. But that didn’t stop Mohammed from giving me a remarkable first experience of Jordan, and the middle east as a whole.

Mohammed lives in Wadi Rum village with his wife, and two precious children. The village itself is actually one… read more family with many brothers and cousins. I felt welcomed into Wadi Rum not only as Mohammed’s guest but as a brother to the whole village.

Mohammed runs a fast growing tour company, consisting of Jeep, Climbing, and Camel tours, based out of two locations. The first is his guest house in the village, where there is fast internet, and even a few small family-run corner stores. The second is his recently finished camp in the middle of the Wadi Rum desert. While cellular reception in the camp is limited (as well as no internet), it has running water and electricity. As a volunteer, I stayed in both of these locations, and they were incredibly comfortable.

There are quite a few tour companies in the village, but are all run by the big Bedouin family, so Mohammed takes no issue with helping others in the village, many of which will be eager for your help translating an email, or re-wording their websites. There is lots to be done in Wadi Rum, but all of the work is varied and rewarding.

As an American, I was a little hesitant traveling in the Middle East, but the people of Jordan and specifically the Bedouins will immediately put you at ease, offering you tea and asking about your life back home. They truly want to make as much of a good impression on visitors as I did on them. Mohammed and I had very rewarding discussions about the difference between our cultures, and his positive outlook on the future of his country. Jordan right now is growing, and a lot of the growth is happening in the tourism industry. Being a part of this development, knowing that I was helping to improve the livelihoods of these people, left me feeling very fulfilled with my work here.

I had been warned before coming that the style of food would cause some digestive issues, but I actually felt better eating traditional Bedouin and Jordanian dishes. Mohammed’s wife is an excellent cook and makes a point of letting you taste the most important traditional dishes during your stay. As the Bedouins are so inclusive, I was invited to several family gatherings, parties, and even a wedding. Here I learned how to eat in the traditional style, danced like a Bedouin to traditional music, and had great conversations with the locals about their lives in Wadi Rum.

Staying with Mohammed in Wadi Rum was one of the most incredible and growing experiences of my life, and is one a westerner (or easterner) shouldn’t go without having. I can’t wait to volunteer again for Mohammed in the future, and continue to be a part of his growing business and family. Jazak Allah Khairan (جزاك اللهُ خيرًا) Mohammed!

(Excellent)

3 Aug 2016

Left by host (Help out in my garden and at ...) for Workawayer (Benjamin)

Benjamin Capitano: his arrive in my house was a dream transformed in real life!
I learn cello ( my dream in my last years) with him.
Benjamin is a wonderful american boy, always kind, he knows a lot of thinks, or, better... all thinks. So he helped me in many activities. Really, was a very interesting and feeling experience to have him in my… read more

(Excellent)

22 Jul 2016

Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host (Help out in my garden and at ...)

I'm at a loss for words on where to even begin describing my time at Francesca's beautiful home. I had previously spent a month in the much busier Catania before deciding that something with a slower pace and involving a higher interaction with nature was needed to continue my journey in Sicily.

By the second day, Francesca and I had already… read more formed a close bond that led me to being not only her gardener but also her new cello teacher. Francesca is an accomplished pianist and herself, a piano teacher. It says a great deal about a host who is so eager to learn from others. As a former school teacher, you will immediately notice Francesca has a passion for teaching. As someone who was trying to learn about Sicilian history/culture as well as the Italian language, Francesca was so helpful to me, and in only a month I feel so much more equipped to continue my travels around Italy. After my stay, leaving Francesca was very difficult, as it felt like leaving behind a mother.

Francesca's home seems to always be filled with artists. It runs less as a B&B and more like a world renowned artists' retreat, attracting fellow world travelers from all backgrounds, musicians, and even Yogis. I should note that her home is not only filled with artists but also art from her travles all over the world.

Besides the incredible guests and other workawayers I met, you will undoubtedly spend time with her son and daughter, Stefano and Helena. Both are beautiful musicians and beautiful people. As a musician, I was quickly welcomed into Stefanos group of friends, accompanying him on trips into Ortigia, learning the style of traditional Italian songs and Brazilian and classical inspired Jazz. Like their mother, both Stefano and Helena have a passion for travel and learning through new experiences. Both are also just super funny, and so welcoming to a traveler just beginning to learn their culture and language.

The perfect Workaway experience is completed with getting to know Francesca's sweet Sicilian mother, Nonna Nella. Nonna speaks about two words of English, but her love of her children and all who come onto her farm is apparent, from relentless commands to "mangi" to insisting on sewing your clothes when she notices tears or loose buttons.

Francesca is the great matriarch of a community as diverse and beatiful as the Sicilian landscape. I cannot recommend a better first stay in Sicily and a first Workaway experience. If you are open minded and love people and nature, with a servants heart ready and willing to contribute to the paradise she has created, you will find in the Garden, a place you will call home for the rest of your life.

(Excellent)

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