Daily life and cultural exchange in Koh Samui, Thailand

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  Help us care for our home, animals & growing rescue mission 🏡🐾❤️
  
  We live in peaceful Maenam on Koh Samui with our 2 dogs and 3 cats, and we’re also building a new animal rescue organization here on the island.
  
  Things have become a little more involved as our rescue work has grown. Our home is still relaxed and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the island, but more duties may arise as things change, so we need people who are flexible, open to helping, and able to take things as they come.
  
  We’re looking for people who genuinely love animals and want to become part of our household and community, rather than treating Workaway as a vacation first and volunteering second. You’ll absolutely have time to explore Koh Samui, but we also need people who are responsible, mature, and willing to pitch in when needed.
  
  And a little reality check: animal rescue isn’t always glamorous. Recently, for example, we rescued four adorable kittens who also happened to have very un-adorable worms. That meant lots of kitten poop, gloves, disinfectant and cleaning — mixed in with the equally important moments of kittens purring, playing and sleeping in ridiculously cute little piles. 😂
  
  If you’re afraid of dogs, uncomfortable touching stray or unfamiliar animals, or have a problem with the possibility of caring for young, sick, or injured animals, this may not be the right placement for you. These things won’t necessarily be part of your everyday experience, but they can happen, and we need people who understand that loving animals means being there for the messy and difficult parts too.
  
  Animal rescue is full of wonderful things and very hard things. Such is life — as I once wrote in my book of poetry and illustrations:
  
  “I can see the world for what it really is.
  Terrible tragedies mixed in with heartfelt, soul-built, melting melodies.
  Stars and fairy dust, death and mosquito bites…”
  
  That’s animal rescue, too. The heartbreak and the hope. The beautiful and the messy. Fleas and worms alongside tiny meows, warm little bodies curled up in your lap, and purrs that somehow fill your heart and soul to the brim. ❤️
  
  I’m also doing my best to keep up with messages and update availability as things change, while still, you know, living my life haha 😂 So as the Thai say: sabai sabai — take it easy and be patient with me! Please note that applicants with animal/vet experience, social media or other useful skills, and those looking for longer stays (1–2 months) will generally receive priority. We look forward to your application and/or wish you the best of luck in your travels!
  
  🌴 Our move to Thailand
  
  We moved from Germany to Thailand in April 2026, so we are no longer accepting Workaway applications for our home in Germany. Most of our current reviews are from our time hosting there, but we are now continuing our Workaway experience from our new home in Koh Samui.
  
  Workawayers have a private bedroom, access to a shared bathroom, and use of our saltwater pool, garden, and roof-top space. We are around a 30-minute walk to the main road with 7/11 / restaurants / massage or beauty shops / the beach. Please note that we currently do not have a car, so you’ll need to make your own arrangements for getting around.
  
  We can offer general advice about living in Thailand, but we cannot assist with obtaining a visa. Please make sure you research the entry and visa requirements that apply to your nationality before traveling. We strongly recommend getting an international driving permit if you plan to drive and having appropriate travel health insurance.
  
  Finally, please be respectful of Thailand, its environment, and its animals while you are here. ❤️ We do not support unethical animal sanctuaries or zoos, so please do not participate in activities such as elephant riding, tiger photo opportunities, or similar attractions while staying with us. This is very important to us!
  
  Now a little about us:
  
  I, Juniper (she/her), am a 34-year-old bi-lingual German and American who has five pets. Since 2022 we have been hosting Workawayers and it has been a really positive experience for us. We mostly need help with daily housekeeping, cooking / meal prep, animal care (dog walks, feeding, brushing), small errands, and sometimes gardening or small DIY / creative projects. The workload is usually well under 20 hours per week, but we appreciate people who are reliable, careful, and pay attention to detail (especially where cleaning is concerned). Food is included.
  
  Next, let me introduce you to your would-be housemates / my mini "zoo":
  🐶 Milo Thatch Mars (Milo) is my 5-year-old Australian Shepherd. He was meant to be my service dog, but these days he’s more of a “trained when he feels like it” kind of guy haha but that is ok - he still helps a lot but we don't take him out with us everywhere anymore. It is a longer story but all in all, he’s a playful, very vocal, and incredibly sweet boy but I certainly would not describe him as a super calm or timid dog. He weighs 30 kg and you should be comfortable with big dogs. He’s had some recent reactivity on walks (barking/pulling at random things), likely protective behavior from being a pandemic puppy, but it’s inconsistent and improving. Despite that, he’s a total sweetheart and a huge part of our family 💙
  
  🐶 Mojito B. Franz (Mojito / Hito) is our 4-year-old black pug, adopted in 2023. He’s shy at first but super loving once he warms up (and very food obsessed 😄). He can bark at noises in the house, dogs on the TV, geckos on the wall, or at anything on walks, but he’s gentle, cuddly, and gets along well with Milo—equal parts best friend and annoying little brother. He's also actually the best boy when we go out in public - totally quite and the opposite of how it is at the house haha
  
  🐱 The “spice cats” — Cinnamon, Pumpkin, and Nutmeg — are three rescued Persian cats from a hoarding situation. They’re still shy, especially the girls, but very sweet once they trust you. They stay indoors (with a future catio planned), and I may occasionally need help with grooming.
  
  🏡 About the home & help needed
  
  I’m disabled and have limited daily energy, being in Samui helps a lot but still, I’m mainly looking for help with household tasks, the yard, and animal care—nothing medical or personal. My mom will visit and later move in full-time (in ~6 months). Think house hold chores.
  
  🌈 Values & environment
  This is a safe, inclusive home. LGBTQ+ friendly, pro human rights, and respectful of all backgrounds. The only thing not tolerated is intolerance. Open, kind, and direct communication is important here 💛
  
  📋 House basics
  
  Be kind to people & animals (no negative reinforcement)
  No parties (small gatherings okay if discussed in advance)
  No drugs, and moderate alcohol only
  Smoking only outside & responsibly (clean up after yourself and don't do this around the animals).
  Clean, respectful, chill home vibe
  
  🌿 Lifestyle
  We keep things relaxed— there are AM chores and PM chores due to certain logistics but there isn't a super strict schedule - more like shared family life. Evenings often mean movies or shows 🍿
  
  I enjoy reading, writing, games, fantasy, swimming, and nature. I’ve lived in multiple countries and love sharing stories. I can't wait to hear yours! Open to Thai language exchange and can help you with English or practicing German.
  
  My mom is kind, welcoming, and a lot of fun to be around when she is here.
  
  🌱 Bonus
  We’d love to learn more about gardening, foraging, and cooking (especially veggie/anti-inflammatory). We’re still exploring Koh Samui, but there’s so much here—markets, beaches, temples, and amazing food.
  
  We eat mostly vegetarian + poultry/fish (no pork or beef).
  
  🚶‍♀️ Safety note
  The neighborhood is generally safe, but like many areas in Thailand there can occasionally be stray dogs or wildlife. We recommend being mindful on walks and going in pairs at night when you can - just to be safe.

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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Trabalho beneficente

  Projetos artísticos

  Prática de idiomas

  Jardinagem geral

  Projetos DIY criativos

  Cuidar de animais

  Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras

  Ajuda a cuidar da casa

  Manutenção geral

  Ajuda com computadores/internet

  Cuidar de casas e pets
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  Interesses

  

  Montanhas

  

  Velejar/navegar

  

  Caminhada

  

  História

  

  Fazenda

  

  Sustentabilidade

  

  Vida na estrada

  

  Esportes aquáticos

  

  Mascotes

  

  Filmes e TV

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Cultura

  

  Trabalho beneficente

  

  Música

  

  Artes performáticas

  

  Fotografia

  

  Escrever

  

  Desenho e pintura

  

  Faça você mesmo

  

  Culinária e comida

  

  Livros

  

  Astronomia

  

  Arte e design

  

  Animais

  

  Naturaleza

  

  Camping

  

  Praia
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  Objetivos de sustentabilidade da ONU que este anfitrião quer atingir

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  O que é isso?
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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  As mentioned above, I speak English and German and have dabbled in a few other languages. I’m a TEFL teacher, author, and archaeology researcher, and I love cultural exchange, travel stories, and learning about different ways of life.
  
  I’ve lived in the United States, Scotland, and Germany, and have traveled through much of Europe and beyond. I’m now based in Koh Samui, Thailand, which is my first time living in Asia—so it’s still a big adventure, and I’m really enjoying getting to know the island and its culture.
  
  I’m always happy to explore the area together—whether that’s beaches, markets, cafés, or nature spots—cook meals, share travel experiences, or just have a relaxed evening talking about life, books, and future plans. I’d love to keep learning more about Thai culture and make the most of island life 🌴
  
  For me, Workaway is not just about help around the house—it’s about creating a warm, welcoming environment where everyone feels at home. I like my house to feel like a sanctuary: peaceful, cozy, and open. Late-night chats, swims, little adventures, and movie nights are all part of that vibe ✨

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  Ajuda

  Below is an example of our *current* daily schedule (at the moment we have one foster dog and 4 foster kittens - so this will obviously change as the rescue grows/shrinks/develops), but before we get into that I want to clarify, I absolutely don't expect you to work 8 hours a day or to do everything listed above every day. This is the overall household routine, and some of these tasks will be done by me or another Workawayer as well. This is just to get an idea of how things can look here.
  
  The routine is spread throughout the day because the animals have specific feeding, play and care times. I also have some fixed commitments that we need to work around. My school schedule, where I need someone to be home with the dogs, is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30–3:30 PM and can't be changed.
  
  In practice, I find that I appreciate help the most during the 9–10 AM and 11 AM–1 PM periods, and again in the 6–10 PM period. Those are generally the times when there are the most things happening and where having another person around is genuinely useful.
  
  Ideally, I would also like to keep Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings and evenings as my personal time if we can make that work, but I'm happy to work together to find a schedule that works well for everyone (where you also have personal time off, of course).
  
  Early mornings - Free Time
  
  🌅 9:00–10:00 AM — Kitten morning routine — 1 Hour
  
  * Feed the kittens breakfast
  * Set them up in the shower for supervised playtime
  * Clean their kennel so it is ready for them to go back into
  * Clean up any kitten mess/trash
  * Start a load of laundry
  * Wash any dishes from the night before/breakfast
  
  **Important: During this time, Milo, Neo and the other animals are still sleeping, and I would like them left undisturbed. Please don't wake or engage with them during this hour, as they get excited and then start waking earlier. This is also important for maintaining my own morning routine and quiet time.
  
  ☀️ 10:00–11:30 AM — Free time / optional outings
  
  Once the kittens are settled, this is generally free time. This would be a good opportunity for you to go out, get breakfast, run an errand, or just relax, etc.
  
  ---
  
  🌅 11:30 AM–2:00 PM — Main daytime work period — 2.5 Hours
  
  This is when the rest of the household and animal routine starts:
  
  * Refresh all dog and cat water bowls
  * Check that cat food bowls are clean and full
  * Let the dogs outside
  * Dogs eat breakfast around 11:00–11:30
  * Cats get their morning treats
  * Hang early morning laundry to dry (2-hour wash)
  * Kittens go back in the kennel at 12 and the shower gets cleaned, including kitten dishes
  * Dishes / load or unload dishwasher
  * Clean kitchen surfaces
  * General kitchen and living-room tidying
  * Supervise and entertain Neo / training games
  * Water games with Milo
  * General household tidying
  * Gardening / checking plants as needed
  * Miscellaneous errands when needed
  
  ☀️ 2:00–3:00 PM — Free time (except Mondays and Wednesdays)
  
  🐱 3:00–4:00 PM — Kitten snack & play — 1 Hour
  
  Kitten snack
  Kitten playtime
  Kennel clean
  Shower clean-up / kitten dishes
  General kitten attention and socialization
  
  🌴 4:00–6:00 PM — Quiet/free time
  
  Neo usually naps around 4–6 PM, so this is generally another quiet period where we all rest / relax.
  
  🌙 6:30–10:00 PM — Evening routine — 3.5 Hours
  
  Around 6:30 PM
  
  Dogs' dinner
  Human dinner
  Dishes / dishwasher
  Clean kitchen surfaces
  General kitchen/living-room tidy
  
  7:00–9/10:00 PM
  
  Kittens' dinner
  Kitten playtime
  General animal care and attention
  Supervise Neo
  Cat litter
  Wash/refill pet food and water bowls as needed
  Take all trash out
  Final kitchen/shared-area tidy
  
  🐕 Dog walks
  
  The evening dog walk at around 9:30 PM is a must for their final potty break.
  
  Daytime walks are optional and depend on the weather and whether neighborhood dogs are out. If the weather is bad or there are loose dogs around, we simply don't do the daytime walk.
  
  🧹 Additional Tasks to Fit In
  
  These can generally be done during one of the work periods depending on what needs doing:
  
  General household tidying
  Gardening / plant care
  Dry Swiffer followed by wet Swiffer once a day
  Dusting / spot cleaning
  Spot-cleaning windows, glass, etc.
  Changing/washing couch blankets as needed
  Washing/changing bedding as needed
  Miscellaneous errands
  Pet sitting when I have an appointment, school, or errand
  Properly mop floors once a week or as needed
  Deep-clean bathrooms periodically
  Clean windows and railings as needed / once a week
  Pick up dog poo every few days
  Deep clean oven/microwave as needed
  Any occasional deeper cleaning or household projects
  Check plants / garden / water as needed, particularly during dry periods
  
  🌱 Future / Optional Help
  
  As the rescue develops, there may also be opportunities for help with social media management, animal rescue projects, adoption work, or other rescue-related tasks on Koh Samui. These would be discussed separately and would not necessarily be part of the normal daily household routine. Spontaneously making videos or posts for me is a big help! Especially if you use your social media to promote the rescues!
  
  And of course, a big part of the experience is getting to know the cats, dogs, rescues, spending time with the animals, enjoying the house, and enjoying your time on Koh Samui! ❤️

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas
  Alemão: Fluente
  Inglês: Fluente
  Thai: Iniciante

  Este anfitrião oferece intercâmbio de idiomas
  I speak English and German - I have a TEFL certification and have experience teaching English and tutoring spoken German (not German grammar). I am interested in learning Thai.
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  Acomodação

  Our Workaway room is a comfortable, private room with a queen bed. It includes a built-in desk, chair, and closet. The room is located next to a shared toilet. The toilet may be shared with my mother when she is here, or with other guests staying in the second room (private guests or other workawayers). It is lockable from both sides for privacy.
  
  If my calendar is red - I have no availability - if it is yellow, I may be able to host 1 single person, and if it is green, I may have either one or two rooms available. The house has three rooms in total - the first is mine, the second room is technically my mother's but she is not here at the moment, and the third is for work-away and guests. When my mom is in Germany, her room will be used for family and friends who want to visit, so they get priority access to it, however, if no one is visiting, then I may open it up to work-away folks.
  
  A work-away stay is not confirmed until I have expressly said so - there is naturally a talking phase where we get to know each other a bit before hand :) Please feel free to message me and tell me about your self.
  
  I do apologize if we can't host you for any reason and wish you well on your travels!

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  Algo mais...

  Things to do:
  
  beaches nearby (about 10–15 minutes by car depending on which one you go to)
  
  swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving
  
  island trips to places like Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, and Ang Thong Marine Park
  
  Thai cooking classes
  
  dance classes and dance nights
  
  Muay Thai gyms and fitness classes
  
  yoga, wellness, and massage places all over the island
  
  night markets, street food, cafes, and restaurants
  
  waterfalls and jungle walks
  
  boat tours and sunset cruises
  
  temples and cultural sites
  
  shopping areas and malls (Central Samui, Fisherman’s Village, etc.)
  
  ethical elephant sanctuaries - please do not visit any that allow RIDING (BIG NO), or swimming with elephants.
  
  scooter rides around the island (if you are comfortable driving)
  
  pool at the house for relaxing days
  
  just chilling, reading, swimming, and enjoying island life 🌴
  
  Samui is a great mix of nature, beach life, and town life — you can have very quiet days here, but there is always something to do if you want to explore.

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  Mais alguns detalhes

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    Acesso à internet

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    Acesso à internet limitado

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    Temos mascotes

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    Somos fumantes

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    Pode hospedar famílias

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  Pode hospedar nômades digitais

  Your room has a built in desk - we have very fast wireless internet: 240.7 Mbps download and 392.4 Mbps upload (I tested this with multiple tabs open, multiple devices connected and Netflix running). You can get an e-sim or a cheap sim for your phone to get 5G on the island too.

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  Espaço para estacionar campervans

  We've got a covered garage available - but no electrical hook ups or water hook ups.

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  2

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  Meus animais / animais de estimação

  

  The "Spice" Cats - Cinnamon, Pumpkin, and Nutmeg.

  The spice cats come from a hoarding situation - I adopted them in 2020 when they were approximately 3 (Nutmeg), 5 (Cinnamon) and 6 (Pumpkin) years old - they have come a long way but the girls can still be quite shy. Cinnamon is definitely the most adventurous of the bunch and you can certainly win him over with treats!

  

  Mojito B. Franz (4 anos)

  Mojito B. Franz is an old school pug (with a longer snout) who we unexpectedly (in late September 2023), ended up seeing and then adopting from a pug rescue here in Germany (Mops In Not).He is a healthy, rambunctious little guy (and a bit of a momma's boy), he's got his own little quirks (he barks too much at random noises >.<) but it has been wonderful having him around - him and Milo play a lot! He is totally "verfressen" - he loves food, I mean really loves it, and also acts like he is starving even if he just ate - which is a very normal thing for a pug haha (he also tries to steal food so we have to be vigilant).

  

  Milo Thatch Mars (6 anos)

  Milo Thatch Mars (aka Milo) is an Australian Shepherd and was meant to be my service dog, though he really just acts like a normal dog most of the time (one who has been trained to help me when needed - although lately hes been really stubborn - we are working on it lol). He's an energetic, sometimes crazy, smart, sweet, occasionally stubborn, loving doggo ❤️

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