r/Worldpackers

First time using Workaway — looking for advice on moving to a French-speaking country

Hey everyone!

I'm new to Reddit, so I'm still figuring out how everything works. I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thanks in advance!

I'm considering going to France or the French-speaking part of Switzerland to learn French and hopefully find a job there in the future.

I don't currently have any connections in France, Switzerland, or Belgium, so my idea is to use Workaway as a way to get started. I'd like to stay for a longer period, learn the basics of French through immersion, meet local people, and hopefully build connections that could eventually help me find a local job.

Ideally, I'd love to spend several months or even up to a year in a French-speaking country. However, I've never used Workaway before, so I'm not really sure what to expect.

I'd love to hear from people with experience using the platform:

- Is it difficult to find a host when you're completely new to Workaway and don't have any reviews yet?

- How much do hosts care about your previous Workaway experience and reviews?

- Does being a man affect your chances of finding a host? I'm asking because I imagine some hosts might have a preference depending on the type of help they need.

- Is Workaway a good way to meet local people and potentially find job opportunities for the future, or is that an unrealistic expectation?

I'd be grateful for any advice, personal experiences, or suggestions on how to approach this plan.

Thanks again for your help!

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Hi, I’d like to hear about the experiences of latinos going to volunteer in Europe, specifically in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. I really want to go to these places, but I’m afraid to be discriminated. (I clearly have latin features). So I’m worried about how the situation might be, especially knowing the issues that have come up with immigration and tourists. Also, this would be my very first volunteering experience.

Thanks in advanced!

Hey Asheville,

A couple of years ago I was in a bad spot. I’d lost my job in Philadelphia, I was on a work visa with a clock running out, and I didn’t have much money left. I ended up doing a work trade at a hostel on Haywood Road, cleaning floors and making beds in exchange for a place to stay.

It was my first time in Asheville. I didn’t know a single person there.

Somehow those turned out to be some of the better months I’ve had. The people at the hostel, the travelers passing through, the folks working there who had no idea what was going on in my life and just treated me normally. I walked a lot. I remember being shocked at Ingles prices. I found Chai Pani near there and could not believe there was an Indian restaurant in a mountain town in North Carolina.

If you asked me today where I’d live for the rest of my life, I’d say Asheville without thinking about it.

I ended up writing a novel about that whole period of my life, and a good chunk of it is set there. Not really a promo post, I just wanted to say thanks to a town that was good to me when things were rough. Chai Pani's team actually asked for a copy last week, which felt like things coming full circle.

Anyway. Miss it. Hoping to be back soon.