Giulia

Australia
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hi! My name is Giulia and I’m from Italy. I’m currently in Melbourne and over the past 7 months I’ve been travelling and exploring different parts of Australia.

Now I’m planning to move to Asia to continue travelling and discovering new cultures. I’m travelling solo and I would love to have a meaningful experience and a real cultural exchange.

I truly love animals and would be very happy to help with animal care or any nature-related project. I also enjoy spending time with children.

Before coming to Australia I worked in Italy as a personal trainer, Pilates reformer instructor and physical education teacher at school. I have a Master’s degree in Sport Science and I’ve always had a strong passion for sport, movement and wellbeing.

I’m an active, positive and reliable person who enjoys nature, outdoor life and meeting people from different cultures. I’m always happy to help and learn new things.
Interests
Pets
Culture
Charity work
Sustainability
Self development
Photography
Music
History
Gardening
Cooking & food
Animals
Dancing
Camping
Cycling
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Fitness
Beach
Adventure sports
Languages spoken
Italian: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Charity Work
Some knowledge of:
Animal Care
Able to teach about:
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Teaching
House & pet sitting
More details about your skills
• Experience working with people and children as a physical education teacher
• Certified personal trainer and Pilates reformer instructor
• Passionate about health, wellbeing, and active lifestyles
• Comfortable with physical and outdoor work, including manual and active tasks
• Confident and happy to help with cooking and meal preparation
• Animal lover and experienced in caring for pets and animals
• Friendly, responsible, and easy to adapt to new environments
• Strong team player, but also independent and self-motivated
• Experienced in guest interaction and working with people from different cultural backgrounds
• Open-minded, curious, and eager to learn new skills while traveling
Age
28
What else ...
I enjoy learning new things, especially when it comes to cooking — and of course, tasting new food from different cultures. I really like being in the kitchen and improving my skills step by step.

I also enjoy hands-on and creative activities, especially tasks that require attention to detail and manual skills.

In my free time, I love watching movies and discovering new music. I’m also interested in sharing relaxed moments with others, like board games, conversations, or simple group activities.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

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27 May 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Teach English and experience ...)

I’m leaving this review after spending 10 days in Sumatra.

Originally I planned to stay with Putra for two weeks as a volunteer, but I decided to leave after only one week.

Unfortunately, several things did not go as expected. The main issue for me was the lack of transparency regarding what this volunteering project actually offers.

When I… read more arrived, I met the volunteer who stayed before me, and she told me that in 10 days she had never seen the children. This immediately surprised me because the main focus of the Workaway page is helping local children with English.

I arrived on a Wednesday and immediately asked when we would go to the school. I was told: “Maybe the children will come here next week, one day per week.” However, the Workaway page states that volunteers teach at the local school three times per week.

During my first three days, I basically had nothing to do. There was no real schedule, no structure, no clear working hours or free days. I would wake up every morning without knowing what the plan was.

One morning I planted trees with Putra and a tourist, which lasted about 1.5 hours. Apart from that, every time I asked what I could do, I was mostly offered paid tourist activities such as visiting the Rafflesia flower or jungle trekking.

The jungle trekking itself (I did the 2-day/1-night trek) was honestly beautiful and one of the highlights of my stay, but it is also quite expensive. In general, if I wanted to fill my days, I had to spend more money or simply stay alone doing nothing.

The accommodation is located about 30 minutes walking from Bukit Lawang village, so there is not much to do nearby. I often walked alone to the village and back just to pass the time, even after asking several times if someone could accompany me. I also got lost more than once trying to return alone.

Finally, on Monday afternoon — my fifth day there — the children arrived for about two hours, and I taught the only English lesson I had during my entire stay together with another volunteer.

After two more days, we both decided to leave because the experience was very different from what was described.

To be clear: the trekking experience and the natural environment were beautiful, and the accommodation itself was simple but nice. However, this did not feel like a real volunteering experience to me. I personally needed more structure, meaningful activities, and human connection instead of spending most of the time alone.

I also want to mention one thing that disappointed me. Before arriving, I was offered a private driver from the airport to the accommodation for 40 euros, which I accepted trusting the information given to me. Only later did I discover that shared taxis were available for around 12 euros, but this option was never mentioned to me.

Overall, I would recommend this place more as a tourist destination than as a structured volunteering experience. If you are looking for meaningful daily involvement, organized activities, and a true volunteer exchange, this may not be the best fit. However, if you come as a tourist and budget accordingly for all activities and extra costs, you may still enjoy the jungle and the surrounding area very much.

(Neutral)