Jana

Germany
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Travel information
I am currently
At home
Description
I’m Jana, and I’m excited to start traveling again. After five years working in communications, supporting clients on various projects, it’s time to say goodbye to my laptop for a while and explore the world again.

I’m a positive, easy-going, and reliable team player who loves being outdoors. I’m very active – I enjoy running, high-intensity training, and snowboarding in winter. I also love spending time with friends, going on day trips for hiking, trying out new restaurants, or just relaxing in the park.

Coming from a big family, I really enjoy working with people and kids. Horses have also been a huge part of my life: I started riding when I was six and continued through my studies. Every school holiday I worked at a pony farm, being in charge of the kids camps, organizing games, giving lessons, and leading treks, beach rides, and even bareback rides. Later, I spent three months in New South Wales, Australia, at a dressage stable, where I cared for horses, groomed, exercised them, and even traveled with the team to competitions. After years of office work and city life, I’d love to be around horses again.

I’m open-minded, love to travel, meet new people, and try things for the first time. I want to discover the world, have inspiring and honest conversations, and contribute to cultural exchange. Looking forward to the next adventure!
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Events & social
Movies & TV
Music
Hiking
Nature
Beach
Sailing / Boating
Mountain
Sustainability
Van life
Farming
Charity work
Cooking & food
Art & design
DIY & crafts
Gardening
Drawing & painting
Architecture
Animals
Water sports
Winter sports
Outdoor activities
Adventure sports
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Art Projects
Charity Work
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
Animal Care
Able to teach about:
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
More details about your skills
Although my recent work was office-based, I’m quick to adapt and love hands-on tasks. I’m fit and active, have some experience with farm work, and don’t mind long days or getting my hands dirty.

I studied Sports and Event Management in Germany, spent a semester abroad in Sydney, and worked in communication and marketing as a strategist and project manager for the past five years.

I’ve also done several Workaway projects after finishing high school (2016): a whole summer on a guest ranch in Washington State, childcare on Vancouver Island, and volunteering at an eco farm on a remote island in Malaysia.

I would love to get to know new places, cultures, and people. Working with animals, especially horses, or with children would be a big plus.
Age
29
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  no
- Special dietary requirements
  vegetarian

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5 Feb 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help welcome on our stunning ...)

I stayed with Victoria and her family for six weeks, and overall my experience was quite mixed. This was my fourth Workaway, so I feel it’s important to share an honest review to help future volunteers understand what to expect and decide whether this placement is the right fit for them.

On the positive side, there are many lovely animals on the… read more property, chickens, dogs, ponies, horses and cattle, all well-natured and enjoyable to be around. The property itself is beautiful, especially when riding out, with plenty to explore and enjoy. Volunteers stay in a small cottage, usually shared with one or two others, which offers a good level of privacy and comfort.

On the more challenging side, the cultural exchange is quite limited. Most tasks are expected to be completed independently, with little hands-on explanation or guidance. At times it feels more like working for the family rather than with them, which was very different from my previous Workaway experiences. There is little sense of teamwork or “doing things together”, and the balance between what volunteers give and what they receive can sometimes feel off.

Communication happens largely via Messenger, and throughout the day new tasks or additional side jobs may be added. Guidance is often minimal, with instructions such as “you’ll figure it out” or “just Google it”. While this may work in some situations, it doesn’t really fir the workaway description with „lots to show and to learn“ and can make the experience feel more like an unpaid job rather than a volunteer exchange. Priorities also change frequently, which can make it difficult to understand how decisions are made. Additionally, the workload is clearly higher than the advertised 25 hours per week.

A significant part of the work involves cleaning, including the chicken coop, the family home and a small Air-bnb. There are no regular shared meals or outings, which makes it harder to gain insight into Australian farm or family life. Transport is also very limited, and without your own car you are largely confined to the farm. Instead of meals, a food allowance of 60 AUD per week is provided; this often does not fully cover weekly groceries and needs to be actively followed up to ensure it is paid.

In summary, the six weeks were interesting, and I met some truly lovely fellow volunteers. With them, I made some great memories and was able to travel a bit during my stay. However, this placement requires a high level of independence and resilience. Volunteers often need to be proactive and explicitly ask to join more enjoyable activities, and only then do opportunities arise to get to know the family better. While everyone is generally friendly and kind, volunteers should be aware that they remain quite separate from family life and are not treated as part of the household, which limits the cultural exchange, something I personally valued highly in my previous Workaway experiences.

I would recommend this place to volunteers who are comfortable working independently and living in a remote setting. Having your own car, or arriving with a friend or partner, is probably a better option. Those seeking strong cultural exchange or a family-style experience may find this placement challenging and may be better suited elsewhere.

(Good)