Ryan

United States
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hi! My name is Caruso, I live in the states and I am a Nurse Anesthesiologist but I love to travel and I would love to travel for an extended amount of time. I am conversational in Spanish and would love to work closer to fluency. I've volunteered in the states with reading programs in college, water buffalo farms in Canada, and worked with the aboriginals in Australia. I love living stationary when I travel; I lived in Ecuador for a 2 1/2 months years ago and it was an incredible experience; learning Spanish and volunteering at an orphanage . With my current job, I work with kids (little joke since I work with anesthesia); mainly putting them to sleep but I love that population.

¡Hola! Mi nombre es Caruso, vivo en los Estados Unidos y soy Enfermera Anestesióloga pero me encanta viajar y me encantaría viajar por un período prolongado de tiempo. Soy conversacional en español y me encantaría trabajar más cerca de la fluidez. He sido voluntaria en los estados con programas de lectura en la universidad, granjas de búfalos de agua en Canadá, y trabajé con los aborígenes en Australia. Me encanta vivir estacionaria cuando viajo; viví en Ecuador hace 2 1/2 meses y fue una experiencia increíble y fue una experiencia increíble; aprender español y ser voluntario en un orfanato. Con mi trabajo actual, trabajo con niños (broma ya que trabajo con anestesia); principalmente poniéndolos a dormir pero amo esa población.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
I can teach english!I taught myself Spanish and then went to language school and now would say I am intermediate to advance intermediate. ¡Sí , puedo enseñar inglés! Aprendí español por mi cuenta y luego fui a la escuela de idiomas y ahora diría que soy de nivel intermedio a intermedio avanzado.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Languages
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Being an elderly companion
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Teaching
More details about your skills
Educated (Doctorate and two bachelors)
Teacher (work with students)
Handy (basic wood working, plumbing, etc)

Educado (Doctorado y dos licenciaturas)
Maestro (trabajo con estudiantes)
Manitas (carpintería básica, plomería, etc.)
Age
32
What else ...
Climbing
Paddle boarding
Camping
Traveling
Hand balance
Yoga

Escalada en roca
Paddle surf
Acampada
Viajar
Equilibrio de manos
Yoga
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegetatarian

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28 Mar 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Welcoming help with languages ...)

My experience in Tonalá had both highlights and disappointments. I’ll start with the positives before explaining why I ultimately rated it two stars.

The Positives:
If you want an authentic Mexican experience far from the tourist hotspots of CDMX or San Cristóbal, Tonalá or Mapastepec is the place to be. Tonalá is a charming city with vibrant… read more plazas, traditional street food, and an expansive market that has everything you need.

At the school, teachers have significant freedom in lesson planning. While resources vary, they are sufficient for the job. Most students were kind, eager to learn, and engaged in the classroom. There were no homework expectations, so all learning happened during class.

Jose and his girlfriend, Diana, were welcoming, invited me to family gatherings, outings, and even a hiking and camping trip. Their hospitality made me feel included in their lives. To add, the dance teacher was so much fun and always made me feel welcomed.

The Reality Behind the Scenes: 
Despite the warm welcome, my living conditions were unexpectedly unexpected. Initially, I stayed in a spacious house, but within days, we relocated to a much smaller home. My new room was tiny, unfurnished except for a bed, and had no proper ventilation or air conditioning. Temperatures reached the mid-30s°C during the day with the room not cooling down to under 30 until near day break, making it unbearable to sleep. I resorted to sleeping in a hammock on the terrace for two months.

I was not provided with basic necessities—no fan (I eventually found one on the terrace and just started using that), sheets, pillow, towel or laundry—while Jose had these amenities for himself. There was also little to no food support, despite an understanding that meals or groceries would be provided in exchange for work. In two months, I was invited to buy groceries only once, had sporadic meals covered from a breakfast here or a dinner there and otherwise had to fend for myself.

The Teaching Experience: 
I taught 19 hours per week without formal training or support. After a 30-minute observation, I was left to manage classes on my own, creating lesson plans from scratch. My students in any class ranged from complete beginners to those progressing toward a solid A2 understanding, with some absolute beginners joining mid-semester after we had already covered more complex ideas like past tense. The lack of structure made it challenging to provide a cohesive learning experience.

Feeling Exploited: 
I had expected a cultural exchange but instead felt like free labor. Previous Workawayers seemed to have had better conditions, but it appeared that expenses were now being cut. Originally, we discussed a small stipend, but that never materialized. I was even asked to purchase a U.S. flag for the school, which was never reimbursed. While money wasn’t truly an issue, the imbalance between what I contributed and what I received was disheartening.

The Final Straw – A Robbery: 
The turning point came when I was robbed under suspicious circumstances. While staying at the other school, my truck was parked behind high walls and locked doors. Exhausted, I left my wallet, AirPods, and passport inside. That night, someone broke in through the passenger door and stole only my belongings—Jose’s items in the truck, including his house keys, and everything else in the garage were left untouched.

The robbery’s circumstances were unsettling. Few people knew I was there, and the school’s guard dogs were let inside just before the theft occurred. Jose's account of events changed between telling me, the other Workawayer, and the police. My AirPods later pinged at a nearby house, but despite paying the police to investigate, nothing was done. Jose promised to retrieve security footage but never followed through. His efforts seemed more for show than genuine concern.

Would I Recommend It? 
It’s hard to say. I came for my love of Mexico, Latin America, and Spanish, but my experience was far from what I expected. The other Workawayer, despite facing similar conditions, seemed to enjoy his time. However, between the lack of basic provisions, the unfulfilled agreements, and the robbery, I eventually left for Oaxaca, where I had a much better experience.

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