Why Workaway?
- Claire Ottaviano
- Apr 18, 2017
- 4 min read
Signing up for Workaway was a blessing and we had no idea how quickly it would yield rewarding results.
It took less than a week to go from trolling host profiles and choosing families we wanted to live with in Spain, to getting responses and even having a Skype interview. Our first Workaway was in Mallorca, post found here, and the second second in Cantabria, click here for post.
Really I can’t believe how simple the whole process was and so far it’s been the cheapest and most culturally rewarding way we’ve travelled. Just FYI I don't make money off this blog and am no way paid by Workaway for this post.
WHAT IS WORKAWAY (To us) & OUR EXPERIENCES. An exchange.
You exchange a small amount of your time for food and accommodation.
More than that you exchange your time for EXPERIENCES. We wanted to learn another language and also experience how others lived. At our first Workaway we exchanged our time at an out of school holiday English program for a room and meals at the family’s home.
We typically put in around five hours during the weekdays at the school. That being said the school was only open for two of the three and a half weeks we stayed with the family so we tried to do ‘extra’ work but really we just became part of the family, helped clean dishes after meals and spending time with their children.
We went over Christmas and I can’t explain how generous the family was to include us in their Christmas activities. Experiencing a Spanish Christmas and being welcomed by a family, who were essentially strangers, was such a heart warming experience. Our host mum and dad also took the time to drive us all around Mallorca on family outings.
Our second experience was another winner. This time we were living in a 300-year-old home in a tiny pocket of Cantabria Spain to help the family with their two children (aged 6 and 11). Our ‘duties’ did not start until 4.20 when we picked the kids up from school. We helped with homework, cooked and eat dinner together and played games until bedtime. Really the children just wanted to have fun and they were a pleasure to look after. We also went on many excursions with the family. Although the family thought we would be bored in this tiny town we couldn’t have been happier with the isolation!
IS WORKAWAY RIGHT FOR YOU?
Workaway isn’t for everyone. A Workawayer from our experience needs to be a few things:
Flexible – This is not a 9-5 job, every placement is different and you don’t sign any contracts indicating your hours. You should have a skype meeting with your host before you leave to discuss the work and how appropriate it is for you as well as getting to know your host, it’s really important that everyone’s on the same page about your ‘job’ or ‘hours’ and if that changes on arrival you need to be open and confident enough to discuss this with your host.
Reliable – Do what you say you’re going to do! This is not a free-ride. If you’re going to clean hostels then you commit to cleaning the toilets, changing bedsheets and whatever else is required. If you’re an au pair you need to put your children first and be on time with their schedule. If you’re going to instruct in something, surfing, teaching English, turn up on time, act like a professional like you were getting paid.
A people person – This might seem obvious but if you have a hard time liking people who aren’t like you or don’t do things the ways you’re used to doing them you’re going to have troubles. Engaging with people is the best part of Workaway, and you will get the most out of the experience by spending time with people. Meet their families, if you’re invited to go out with their friends then go. Sitting in the house or your accommodation outside of your ‘working’ hours all day and all night just leads to unsatisfying experiences.
Have a positive attitude – Really this is just a good travel tip in general. Things don’t always go as planned, look on the bright side and try to fix you’re problem on your own.
HOW TO DO IT
Go to www.workaway.info.
Click sign up. Yes it costs money but it’s worth it, the little amount that you pay helps moderate the hosts and the Workawayers to provide stability in the system. Sign up as an individual or with a friend or partner. Because we signed up as a couple we saved a bit of money.
Create your profile!
Sell yourself. You want people to want you to come live with them. This is a two-way street, you might be frightened about going to live with a stranger but they’re also wary of having a stranger in their home!
If it’s your first time and you don’t have any reviews yet you should use a previous similar experience or reference in your profile to let people know you are who you say you are. Be detailed, post pictures and BOAST.
Just make sure you live up to your profile when you arrive.
After two excellent reviews you also get a professional reference from Airbnb. At first I didn't think it was worth much but now I think it's a great initiative by Workaway, at least I have hard copy evidence now of my time and recognition of my loyalty and dedication to the program.
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