After reading Monika’s review, I feel it’s important to share my perspective. This is the first time I’ve ever written a public response. I also contacted the Workaway support team due to the seriousness of the situation - something I had never done before.
I stayed at Monika’s place for five weeks while she was away, looking after her house and
… read more animals. Before she left, she provided a handwritten list of tasks, which I followed carefully - especially the daily care of the animals. In our communication, she mentioned I should “do a bit of gardening if the weather allows.” This sounded optional to me, and when we spoke in person, she added: “Do this if you have time.”
Tasks like cutting branches or repairing tools (e.g., a broken axe) were not discussed beforehand. I told her I wasn’t able to repair an axe, and she replied: “Then you don´t have to do it.”
I cared for the animals every single day, without a break - feeding two dogs, five cats, eight chickens and four peafowls. I also watered the plants and checked the greenhouse. The dogs had a varied diet: frozen meat, dry food, and fish (which was already available). During colder nights, I even let them sleep in my room to keep them warm. I walked them regularly and played with them daily.
During her time away, I sent Monika regular photos of the animals, and she never expressed concern about their condition. I even ordered meat once, which was delivered by her friend, who told me the animals were “healthy and lively.”
I was surprised to later read accusations that I underfed the animals. I did my best to keep them happy and healthy and received no warning or concern from Monika until her return.
She also claimed I didn’t clean the guesthouse. Before leaving, I swept the floor, emptied bins, and tidied up. I strongly disagree with claims that I left it in a terrible condition. After five weeks of daily tasks - largely alone - I believe I left the place in a reasonable state.
I left early in the morning to avoid confrontation, as I had experienced a lot of micromanagement and strong emotional reactions during my stay. On the day before my departure, I was accused of “losing a chicken” that later turned out to be completely fine - a good example of how small situations were often dramatized.
Regarding expenses: Monika kindly gave me money to cover groceries - about €140 for five weeks, which I appreciated. However, she insisted I provide a receipt for every item, which made me feel mistrusted. I kept most receipts, but one (about €30) was missing, which caused a disproportionate reaction from her. This added to the overall sense of strong control and lack of flexibility.
In general, I tried to do my best every day and take care of the place with commitment and responsibility. I was hoping for appreciation, but instead received criticism and accusations that I feel are unfair and untrue.
I share this not to argue, but to give future volunteers a fuller picture. Workaway is based on trust, clarity and mutual respect - sadly, that balance was missing in this case.