Exploring the World through Workaway

Hey, curious soul! I've got news for you — one is fantastic, and the other... well, it's not so bad after all. Let's start with the good:

The adventure has officially begun! I'm writing these lines from the comfortably over-air-conditioned Kuwait Airport (KWI). Now for the "bad" news: I haven't quite reached my first stop, so no wild stories to share just yet. But don't worry, let's make the most of this time and dive into a question I often get asked:

What do you actually do all day on a world trip?

It all started, as many great stories do, with a friend returning from his travels, brimming with photos and thrilling tales. He had worked in far-off places, learned new skills, and met fascinating people. While I was initially captivated, I quickly wondered: how is this all possible? My German instincts kicked in — what about contracts, insurance, rent? But when I shared my concerns, my friend just shook his head and said:

"It works like this: Imagine we forget all these super important documents for a moment and practise a little simplicity. What is the focus on? Sure, on the experience, the learning, the memory and of course the people." And the magic that makes all this possible has a name:

Workaway

A platform accessible to everyone on the internet with thousands of hosts and even more volunteers around the world. Designed to bring both sides together, both the host and the volunteer, also known as the Workawayer, have a profile with pictures, interests, skills and ratings. And how do you get together? It's simple - you just slide into the DMs, name a time frame you're aiming for and bang, you're working for a few days or weeks on the other side of the world (or in the neighbouring village). 

And what about the money?

Here’s the best part: it's usually not an issue. As a volunteer, you work about 5 days a week, 4-5 hours a day, in exchange for food and a place to stay — no paycheck, but no major costs either. And with no money changing hands, no contract is required. If things don’t work out, you can always pack your bag and move on, no strings attached. For someone like me, seeking freedom and flexibility, this was a game changer.

Why am I telling you all this?

Workaway or other comparable platforms have three unbeatable advantages for me:

1. You learn new things, but above all the local people and their culture. The direct contact with your host allows you to immerse yourself much more deeply in the customs, cuisine and people. The tour guide with umbrella is replaced by authentic, tangible culture
2. It's free! Unless you can call yourself a proud lottery winner, longer trips can be quite expensive. Accommodation and food are usually the biggest costs. However, if you stay for free and get three meals a day, the bill changes considerably. With the exception of transport (you often get bikes, for example) and other fixed costs, you live amongst a cost-neutral life.

👍🏻 Your travel budget likes that. 

3. You meet like-minded people. In addition to the obvious fact that all Workawayers are travelling, many are also on an inner journey. Is there a better basis for profound conversations about the meaning of life? 

Thanks for sticking with me this far! I hope my excitement for Workaway has come through — my experiences always have been positive. And trust me, there’s so much more to come. With my upcoming plans, I'll be spending a lot of time volunteering around the world — I'll share more stories in the next post. Until then, enjoy these screenshots, and remember, the adventure is only beginning.

See you around,
Michel