Children of the World, Run Away!!

And here´s how to do it: There are several associations that, in exchange for 5-6 hours work of various types and difficulty, you receive room & board in great locations, meeting locals, experiencing real life in the real countryside where you are working.


For $30, I joined WWOOF (world wide organic opportunities in farming) before I left the US. I spent several hours contacting a total of about 30 farmers, restauranteurs, and smallholders via short descriptive emails telling them my prospective dates I would be available, work skills, other talents (I am a trained massage therapist and that usually is quite welcome by everyone), and any other pertinent information.

I always ask about the scope of work (one man lived on a very remote farm in the backwoods of Mallorca and was looking for someone to climb olive trees located on a steep hillside and bring home the fruit in a sack -- no thanks), the accomodations (room in a house, caravan, or only a tent?), type of food served (there are some raw foodist fundamenatalists out there!), bathroom facilities (yes, no, maybe?), how far from the nearest village, can you pick me up at the bus station.

Once all these issues have been resolved by both parties, you are on your way to living and working in the country of your choice. For those without deep pockets, this is a fine way to extend your travelling almost indefinitely. And there may be side benefits -- one place in the south of Spain, in the beautiful white hillside village of Vejer de la Frontera near Cadiz, wrote back saying they had a wwoofer but could offer me a bunk in a 4 bed room for 50 euros a week, complete with kitchen privileges, pool, 3 km to village, 5 km to gorgeous beach.

You can´t beat that!!

So here are the three agencies I have heard about and of course there may be others but these 3 have decent reputations:

www.wwoof.org
www.helpx.net
www.workaway.info

Start packing!!