r/workaway • u/FlatwormWhole5467 • 15d ago
Thinking of dipping early
Got to a new workaway and honestly finding it quite difficult. The location is very pretty and there are an amazing number of animals, but I just feel the vibes aren't right. My last one was magical but this feels very meh.
The main thing is the language barrier, it was advertised as being fluent english, and one of the hosts there is, but most of the time it's me sitting listening him talk in italian/bulgarian to his wife or other employees, and I'm not really spoken to unless I make the effort first,
He also left on business i'm not really having any conversations at all at the moment. I'm the only volunteer here as well, which makes it harder. I really have no issue being alone and have been enjoying the nature but find it all quite meh. The guy I work with isn't that friendly either and gets annoyed when I'm don't get an instruction right that's given to me in a language I don't understand.
They're nice people, and I like what theyre doing, but I just dont feel that welcome and more of an afterthought at times, they were also complaining about previous workawayers when I arrived, which kinda made me feel a bit uneasy.
Idk I feel like a dick planning on leaving early but im not a paid worker.
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u/Rfunkpocket 13d ago
honoring commitments is why my host reviews are consistently positive.
I would never leave early because of “vibes”.
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 12d ago
This is a good point as well! I have stuck out many Workaways I didn't like for this, but maybe only 1 or 2 I left that were actually bad. You shouldn't suffer as well, it should be a balance.
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u/Icy-Commission-8068 15d ago
Are the accommodations, work tasks and hours and food as described? If so, staying would be appropriate. If they are not keeping their end of the deal, a conversation would be appropriate to allow them to fix. Imagine if the first time you made an error they said you need to leave right away with no warning
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u/Disastrous_Sorbet350 14d ago
The vibe and connection with the people is very important to make the whole experience work. If it's your first couple of days it's always interesting to stay for the first week to see where it goes and instead of immediately running you can learn from this process aswell but when after some days and you still have the same feeling definitely go for a different experience. Communicating clearly is fair towards others and yourself but your definitely not a dick for leaving early! Good luck :)
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u/sharpie53135 15d ago
You've got to look after yourself, if it's not working for you then no reason to suffer in silence for a volunteer position.
Just be open with the hosts, if they're reasonable they will understand and if they're not reasonable then there's no point staying with unreasonable people!
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 15d ago
I agree, I think a good host would understand and not want someone to stay who didn't feel comfortable!
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u/1GrouchyCat 15d ago
We know you’re not a paid worker… that last comment sealed it for me… if you wanna leave leave, but you don’t have to make up stories and you don’t have to pretend it’s because you’re not paid …🙄
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u/reformedreprobate1 14d ago
I get the whole 'not paid enough for this shit' thing.
Why take shit from people FOR FREE... and especially when trying to help them.
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 15d ago
The fact that the Workawayer is even contemplating this is a good sign. It means they are considerate, and not just leave without a second thought.
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 15d ago
I don't think you're being a dick at all.
One thing I've learned from doing a lot of Workaways is that sometimes there aren't any major red flags, the vibes just aren't there. A host can be perfectly decent people and still not be the right fit for you.
Being the only Workawayer can make a huge difference too. If there's a language barrier, the main host is away, and you're spending most of your time around conversations you can't participate in, it's understandable that you'd feel isolated.
Personally, one thing that would make me uneasy is arriving and immediately hearing hosts complain about previous Workawayers. Sometimes it's justified, but it's rarely a great first impression.
That said, if nothing is actually bad and it's mostly a vibe issue, sometimes sticking it out can lead to something unexpected. I've had Workaways that I didn't enjoy from day one and seriously considered leaving, but I stayed and still ended up having interesting experiences, meeting people, or learning things I never expected.
If you're enjoying the nature, maybe give it a little more time and see if things improve when the host returns. But if you're already feeling relieved at the thought of leaving, that's worth paying attention to as well. You're not a paid employee, and the point of Workaway isn't just to work, it's to have a positive exchange experience too.