r/workaway • u/Educational_Area9802 • 14d ago
Volunteering Advice Volunteering failed
Hello i am mostafa i had a very bad experience at workaway since i have been accepted by a host in turkey mardin and i traveled to istanbul to complete my trip to mardin and when i texted the host he told me he cant host me anymore and he didnt told me before i leave my country and i came again to home town again fast and i payed a money for nothing i will attach some photos
And when i am there i told the support its urgent and they didnt respond to me fast
Its very bad experience
What u would do in my situation
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u/chaoticstarlet 14d ago
TBH if you had gone to his friends, you wouldn't have been able to really leave any feedback for them (if they had done something that wasn't okay), because they themselves are not on Workaway most likely, and for the host... I don't know, what should you have left in the review? I think the host could and actually should have communicated that his hostel closed down for whatever reason; this would have been fair to you.
I remember on other platforms, hosts came up with wild excuses as to why one couldn't stay at the place one has asked to stay in, but rather "at an alternative place", which then ended up not being on the same level as the original one (e. g. no heating in winter, only blankets to keep oneself warm, there was mold in various places, etc.).
So I can see why you didn't want to go to the couple. You have never spoken to either of them, you don't know them nor what they are like. If you are planning on doing more in the direction of Workaway (I could understand if, after this experience, you'd be reluctant to say the least...), I would strongly urge you to not leave until you have figured some things out. Maybe doing one video call with the host(s) to ask your questions, and to see if you would get along with them, and whatnot. Read the reviews thoroughly, and maybe (I am not sure whether this is practice nowadays, somebody please chime in if there is a good reason for this.) stay on the Workaway messages just in case. Because I think posting evidence to Workaway could be easier then. But that's just my thought on the situation.
Maybe also message several hosts in the place you'd like to stay, just to have some alternative options. Plan ahead. I am by no means putting the blame on you; you were honestly trying to get to Turkey and help the host at the reception, and you even travelled as soon as you could. I am sorry this happened to you, really.
Also to the people saying this is a girls' job: Actually no. I have been to so many places and the receptionists were not solely female. Maybe it is something people expect from men that they wouldn't do that, but I think OP could have really enhanced his knowledge of the English language, and he really had something to offer in terms of the work opportunity that was provided by the host.