Análisis, comentarios y calificaciones de Workaway - page 28

A big thank you to Antonio and Chloe for all their hard work! You brought great energy, kindness, and commitment to our hostel. We really appreciated your help and positive attitude every day. It was a pleasure having you with us!

I would have liked to have had Alfred and Lucas longer and I'm hoping they will come back but of course they need to keep moving to see as much as they can. I would strongly recommend them as they were exactly as their profile said "hard working and reliable" they could have added "can learn and adapt quickly". They are both heading for the 2 metre in height so I immediately started thinking of all the high jobs but they ended up doing a wide variety from ground to ladders and very undaunted by anything once they grasped the concept and got used to working in the bush. They were very good company, non complainers, and we got some great history lessons. You will be lucky if you have them, they are well organised and do their research thoroughly. A triumph of the Swedish Education system.

Pasé poco más de una semana con Guillermo y su encantadora familia. El lugar era encantador y tranquilo, rodeado de majestuosas montañas, a 40 minutos del centro de Cusco. Trabajé 3 horas al día, 5 días a la semana, a cambio de desayuno y una habitación con baño propio. El trabajo era fácil y consistía principalmente en ordenar, limpiar y organizar el lugar. Guillermo, su familia y sus empleados fueron muy acogedores y cordiales. Se nota que disfrutan compartiendo su cultura y su día a día. Guillermo se tomaba cada mañana un tiempo para ayudarme a mejorar mi español, y le estoy muy agradecido por ello! No puedo más que recomendar este lugar! English: I spent just over a week with Guillermo and his lovely family. The place was charming and peaceful, surrounded by majestic mountains, 40 minutes from the centre of Cusco. I worked 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, in exchange for breakfast and a room with its own bathroom. The work was easy and mainly consisted of tidying, cleaning and organising the place. Guillermo, his family and his employees were very welcoming and friendly. You can tell that they enjoy sharing their culture and their daily lives. Guillermo took time every morning to help me improve my Spanish, and I am very grateful to him for that! I cannot recommend this place highly enough.

We had Tara as our first work away experience, We were very impressed with her, she was very forward-thinking and would jump in wherever and lend a helping hand. She didn’t need much direction, which we really appreciated. She was so great with my girls they were really sad to see her go. The kids loved spending time with her and Tara fit in well with our family. Also she is great in the kitchen and a good baker too! We’d happily host her again and definitely recommend her to other hosts.

Participating in this conservation project was life-changing. I spent just over a month living in the rain forest with an amazing group of people. We spent many hours in a hide observing and collecting data, as well as filming and taking photos. We also took care of the house and helped clear the trails. It was a wonderful experience that gave me so much. It teaches you to connect with nature with great respect and patience. The opportunity to live this way brings you peace and allows you to live at nature's pace. Even though I was on the other side of the world in a completely different environment, the people I met here were amazing and made me feel right at home. My life changed for the better. If you are searching for a place to connect with nature, gain a deeper understanding of how we are all connected, and want to do something good for the planet, this is the perfect place for you.

This was our first Workaway and we couldn’t have asked for better hosts or experience. We ended up extending our stay to a little over 5 weeks with David and Jacqui and sincerely hope to come back again in the future! Workwise, we found the tasks to be varied, ranging from yard work, a bit of pool maintenance, and pet sitting at the Campo house, to helping with renovation/restoration work on the village house in Comares. David set clear expectations of what needed to be done, never micromanaged, and allowed us the freedom to tackle the tasks in the order/manner we reckoned most suitable. He was very fair with regard to the work hours, had no problem with us taking breaks as needed, and worked with us on developing a mutually beneficial work/days-off schedule, thereby enabling us to really maximize our time in Spain. David and Jacqui are wonderful people with a beautiful family. David is an awesome person to be around and has a great sense of humor! Jacqui was lovely and so kind throughout our stay. They both made us feel truly welcomed from the moment we arrived. The accommodation David & Jacqui provide is really just perfect. The little studio by the pool has everything one needs to be comfortable and content. The shower is nice with good hot water and plenty of pressure, the mattress and bedding are comfy, the kitchen has everything you need to prepare your meals, and most importantly, each day begins with breathtaking sunrises over the mountains. David kindly took us once a week to get groceries in the larger town of Benamargosa, which was greatly appreciated, but it is entirely possible to obtain all the groceries you need from the nearby village of Comares. Thank you David and Jacqui for hosting, sharing your home, and for giving us such an amazing experience we will forever cherish. Any time we hear the words "bits and bobs" we will always think kindly of you both!

Erika nos ayudó mucho tanto en la limpieza de la tienda como de la casa. Montó unas estanterías y ordenó todo el almacén de la tienda. Ayudó con la cocina, las compras.. trabajo mucho!! Una persona de confianza y muy trabajadora. Tanto trabajo tenía que tener una recompensa!! Fuimos a comer la mejor hamburguesa del mundo, ojo cuidado!! Jajaja

Joseph was extremely helpful and willing to pitch in at a time when the work was extremely difficult. He communicates well with others and would be lucky to have him work for you. Good luck on all your journeys.

I was here last month for two weeks, it was an improvised visit and it became the most amazing experience I could ask for in Gambia! Musa lives in Switzerland and comes several times a year, and I had the luck to be there wile he was also, otherwise you'll have Nina in charge (the most powerful woman in Africa!) Work is not heavy and they always make sure you don't overload and you have everything you need, Nina is an EXCELENT manager, she organises everything and is really good at giving indications, and you can always ask her if you need help or clarification. I spent most of my time cutting grass with a mower (or fixing the mower, you will surely learn mechanics in Africa ;) ), watering, harvesting oranges and lemons or helping to cook, work schedule and working hours are flexible, it goes with the day, I always felt useful and that my work was appreciated . Living there is comfortable and you will feel welcomed from the first moment. They took me to the beach and to visit some places to see how locals live. In a nutshell, a great experience, I feel like workaway was created for exchanges like this, I truly left friends back there!

Wonderful workers, diligent and friendly. They applied themselves to all tasks, even the most boring ones. Easy going, and very accepting of our simple life! Good luck to you guys. Hoping the rest of NZ treats you well!

Lena and Jonas helped us by caring the pets while we were out and they did very good. 😀 Thanks guys

This was my first Workaway but I left after 5 days - together with 3 other Workawayers. I was really looking forward to experiencing farm life in Sardinia in December. I was motivated to help out as quickly as possible and to learn how to work with the animals to support the 3 other Workawayers who were already there. I expected hard physical work, cold weather and basic accommodation. But I didn’t expect such difficult conditions- none of us had. I think it’s a really nice place to work during the warmer month- you don’t need much food and your accommodation for breaks and sleeping is warm. However, there's still a lot of room for improvement and adjustments for the cold winter months. The host should provide electric heating for everyone and keep the accommodations warm. Otherwise it's irresponsible to invite Workawayer in winter if we couldn’t warm up during breaks or while sleeping. (One of us slept wearing a hat!) It was also very difficult to dry our wet clothes. We 4 Workawayer slowly started to feel sick. We were frozen, soaked, hungry, exhausted, tired and angry. We all left the farm much earlier than planned and in the end I got sick. The food: Not publicity announced on the hosts page- just communicated privately before arrival. You don’t get cooked meals- just a box with toast, pasta, rice, red beans, marshmallows, cracker. The very old and rancid-looking oil, salt and sugar- I didn’t touch. We knew in advance that only this food would be provided (for cooking yourself) but we hadn’t anticipated how exhausted our bodies would be under the wet and cold conditions and that this basic food is not enough! So we all had to spend money to buy more and healthy food. Fruits and vegetables should really be provided by the host! When we exceptional got pasta and something vegetarian baked for Christmas, we pounced on it like hungry wolves… I'm new to Workaway- but all other hosts seem to offer 2 hot meals a day (which seems fair if you work for the hosts). One day we unexpectedly received a bag with fruits and vegetables. Please read Magdalenas post- she was one of us and she described our situation very well. She told me, she had never received vegetables and fruits before. @Magdalena.. It was one head of lettuce for the four of us- not three! The issue of food was difficult and caused great dissatisfaction. I will come back to the hosts response to Magdalenas feedback later. The water: Used empty water bottles were collected, filled with filtered water by the host and made available. These bottles were constantly circulating, which had been used by different Workawayers for weeks (or even months?!) One of our Workawayer told us later, he always drank directly from the bottle…. Welcome to circulating bacteria and diseases.. My cabin: Built from thin chipboards, tiny (about 3m²), no place to hang up the wet and dirty cloth, 2 gas stoves, no sink for washing hands or dishes after cooking. The others were in 2 caravans (with a sink and more space). We all shared a single public outdoor toilet, which was also used by the farm’s guests. The outdoor solar shower was too cold to use in December, so we were able to use the hosts shower. I read that they’ve now built a new shower for Workawayers? The work: Most of the communication took place via Whatsapp. Before our arrival, we received videos showing us how to clean the animal cages etc. Later all tasks and questions were discussed via a Whatsapp group. My work mainly consisted of cutting dead branches, weeding in front of the hosts house, moving old wood to the compost, tying vegetables together, cleaning the restaurant, the toilet and pool area… Host:„We are too many people and there is other work to do (besides working with the animals).“ I understand her point of view, but I also had time to take care of the animals and help the other Workawayers with opening/feeding/closing. The host feared chaos among the workers/tasks, so every morning she wrote a long list of tasks we had to stick to. I would have liked to work a little more independently, but thats not how things worked here... Hosts response to Magdalenas feedback: We were shocked and angry when we read that. "We weren’t a good help?“ We all (!) worked hard – more than five hours a day, without long breaks. We invested our time, strength, sweat, and energy to complete all tasks in cold, sometimes rainy weather. Every morning Alicia gave us a long list of tasks and at the end of the day, we were supposed to report what we had accomplished. Alicia was always grateful for our help, smiling and happy- but now she claims we didn’t provide good help? Unbelievable. The 2 stars rating for Magdalena is also incomprehensible. She was very hardworking with a lot of responsibility as she had been there the longest. She deserves more than 5 stars! "We only demanded things instead of actually helping?" We asked for: Water, new kitchen paper, more bread, some fruits and peppermint tea (because of illness), a new towel, time to take a shower, work gloves…. BASICS! "We left the places dirty?" We all cleaned the places we ate, cleaned our accommodations before leaving, and tried to keep all places clean as possible. I cleaned the toilet on the morning of our departure. If someone leaves the toilet unclean afterwards- that's not our fault. Finally, I'd like to mention nice things, too. The farm is beautiful and like a little paradise, a wonderful place to release your stress. All the animals are absolutely adorable and funny in their own way, even the annoying turkeys and pigs that were always following you around. I miss them all. Alfred and Jerry, the two alpacas—so cute! The goats had such funny faces that I always had to grin. But I will miss the big white goat the most. He (or she?) always came over when I was there and wanted to be cuddled ;) What's the goat's name? Communication with Alicia was always very quick, and she and her boyfriend Giuseppe were always friendly and helpful whenever we had questions. It's a shame it had to end this way. I would have loved to stay as long as possible to break out of my daily routine and my comfort zone and experience something new. But given the circumstances, we all had to leave to protect our health. I hope the situation improves in the future and I wish them all the best.

One of the most special and first things about Sohaily is her incredible sense of initiative. She never waited to be told what to do at our villa farmhouse. She would gently step in, complete all the tasks on hand; and somehow also take care of a few more things along the way. That kind of thoughtfulness and genuine care is truly rare, and it meant the world to us as hosts. Throughout her stay — and even beyond — she remained helpful, dependable, and wonderfully kind. She didn’t just support the villa; she added heart to it. Another very important element was the kindness toward the villa staff. To understand and adjust to new surroundings and people isn’t easy; but Sohaily made it look easy. She adjusted, accommodated, and genuinely blend into the system and team seamlessly. Imagine how incredible that is!!! We are deeply grateful for her presence and her light. She wasn’t just a volunteer — she was truly a gift, and she will always have a very special place with us. Sohaily, thank you. Can’t wait to see the seeds that you sowed at our farm flourish and blossom. (Literally and figuratively). And I’ll continue using your many, manyyyy tips and techniques you’ve shared - tech-wise and life-wise…

Hello Everyone , We spent an absolutely incredible month with this community and we are truly grateful for the experience. From the very beginning, we were welcomed with warmth and genuine kindness — you don’t feel to be just a volunteer here, but like a real part of the community. The place itself is beautiful, surrounded by nature, and the project is truly inspiring. The tasks are varied and well explained, with a real respect for working hours. We learned a lot, shared meaningful moments with volunteers from all over the world, and even had the chance to take part in special events that made the stay even more memorable, with this dancing community we received for a week. We could enjoy the sauna, the bonfire outside, playing guitar, going to the lake and more…. What we appreciated the most was the human atmosphere, Torsten and Raisa were truly authentic, fun and kind person, there is a strong sense of community at HubFee, of course there is not only them managing this huge place and our words are also meant to every other “owners” of the project. We would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a rich, human, and welcoming experience. Thank you for this unforgettable month, we arrived separately and left together, this place literally changed our lives. Thank you !

My four weeks in Kelaa were a wonderful experience. I was welcomed by Rachid, the school representative for volunteers. Rachid was a fabulous guide; he quickly became a friend and showed us all the secrets of the small town of Kelaa. The pros: - The school is great, the students are all very motivated and love to chat with us. I was even invited to eat at some of their homes and even returned to Morocco when Safae, one of the students, invited us to her sister's wedding, which was a fantastic experience that helped me understand Moroccan culture. - The volunteers: sharing this experience with like-minded people was great. We helped each other a lot with preparing the classes, and without them my experience would not have been the same. - The town, although small, is very pleasant. There isn't much to do, but you quickly get used to it, and the locals are very welcoming. - The house was pleasant and close to the school. Cons: (not much, but for an even better experience) - The shower in the house needs to be replaced. - I would have liked to have had more contact with Luke and Abdel during my stay. - Communication is not always optimal, especially for us Europeans. Don't see this as a sign of incompetence, but rather as a sign of a different culture. Here, everyone goes at their own pace, so it's very common for students to be late. In conclusion, my four weeks in Kelaa were a fantastic experience. PS: If you come during the summer, be prepared for extreme temperatures, up to 47 degrees in mid-August, and no air conditioning. The best place to beat the heat is the Borj el Kelaa swimming pool, where you can spend the whole day for just €5 and there are few people.

I stayed with Tim for a few weeks and overall, it was a really accurate experience compared to what he described in the listing. It truly felt like camping, which was exactly what I was looking for. The off-grid lifestyle was enjoyable and a great learning experience for me because I wanted to see how people live that way day-to-day. We did do a lot of work, more than the typical five or six hours a day that Workaway usually recommends. It was pretty non-stop, and even after the main tasks, we were often busy with household chores like cooking and cleaning. So it’s definitely a place for someone who’s ready to dive into that kind of full-on lifestyle. For me, that was a great fit, but I did notice that one of the other volunteers struggled a bit with the intensity. Just something to keep in mind if you’re considering this kind of stay. Tim and his dog Stella where very friendly and happy to share stories, knowledge, and experience with work awayers. very grateful for this opportunity.

Lucia approached me during my winter break. It was a last minute decision. Ari is a wonderful girl. I could not teach her properly because she was sick because of the flue and then I got sick. Lucia took good care of me when I was sick. It was a nice Sicilian exchange and I want to thank the family for their hospitality. I am glad the parents enjoyed lentil soup when they were sick. Thank you for everything.

Antonie stayed with me for two weeks and was an incredible help on our farm. He got along well with everyone and quickly made people feel very comfortable around him. He was very eager to learn new things and already had a wide range of experience. He knows how to solve problems and improve difficult situations. I was really surprised by how strong he is. Thank you for making our lives easier. I hope he takes good care of himself, meets many people who show him the respect he deserves, and spreads his positive spirit wherever he goes. Anyone who gets to spend time with him can consider themselves lucky. Looking forward to meeting again someday when we'll harvest the fruit from the saplings we planted together...

Veronika stayed less than a week, but it was truly a wonderful experience. We had great conversations and lots of fun together. Veronika is a very sensitive person, which allows her to grasp many nuances and be a good listener. She's very precise and flexible in the tasks assigned to her. I can highly recommend her to anyone who wants to host her... good luck, Veronika, and God bless you.

My time was very special to me, and I would like to thank you, Natasa, for that! It was my first Workaway experience, and I am so glad I chose your dog sanctuary. You‘re doing such an impressive job and you’re providing a safe and happy home for so many wonderful, unique dogs. There is always plenty to do, but I really enjoyed the work. When you are surrounded by dogs all the time, it doesn't feel like real work at all 😊 Of course, I had to get used to the work and the tasks at first, but thanks to you, Natasa, and the other volunteers, I found my way around more and felt more confident in my responsibilities. I really enjoyed working and living together with the lovely and helpful volunteers and Fab. I felt so comfortable in this great team 😚❤️ Working with the dogs is something truly special and I miss every single one of these sweet dogs – especially Pablo, something I never would have thought in the first few days 😅 Thank you, Natasa, for this wonderful time, from which I learned so much, and for your hard work. I‘m hoping to return to this amazing place again. Sending a big hug to the team and all the dogs – and an extra kiss to Alex, Lazlo, Johnny, Pablo, Charlotta, Amber, Piero, Samu, Phos, and Adam 🙃