WORKAWAY - Not So Ethical?

Since I have recommended Workaway many times in the past to an unknown number of people, I feel it appropriate to follow up. Knowing what I now know about the organization, I recant my recommendations and provide disclosure of disappointing practices.

A reminder to my ever faithful family and my new readers – as I know I am welcoming a few here…..I did not join workaway due to wanderlust or a passion for travel. It was to assist me on my quest to finding my place as you can read, or refresh your memory, in Baring My Soul and Planting A Dream.

Initially discovering this travel trade website in 2014, I was so excited and promptly shelled out the money for my membership. What I learned along the way is:

·        Hosts pay no membership….just the volunteers.

·        A greater percentage of hosts I personally contacted don’t respond.

·        Less than stellar feedback (by paying volunteers) is removed – basically false advertising. Obviously this site is geared toward accommodating hosts so workaway will have a product, albeit not always honestly portrayed, to sell to volunteers.

·       Workaway implies situations have, for the most part, 5 hours work, 5 days per week in exchange for food and accommodations. That scenario is actually pretty rare at least with the hundreds of profiles I looked into (unless you also include a space to set up your own tent or paying extra for meals or having a space to prepare your meals).

·        Workaway monitors private messages too in spite of their denial….I have correspondence to back that up but don’t wish to spend any more energy there.

Here is the feedback that I gave for the first place, and ONLY place via workaway, I experienced.

(See: If I'd Have Known & Really......the Desert?!) Through the grapevine I heard that even the owner agreed it was truthful. This feedback was subsequently removed by workaway. It makes reference to the description of the place that was posted at the time and what I actually encountered. Note: I was being kind.

[09/02/2015]

I spent almost a month here. Just a heads up that it isn’t quite a Hotel/Resort and Restaurant in the usual sense. It is more of a backpacker’s hostel. There is a dining hall and kitchen to prepare your own food but not a restaurant that has food and you can get meals prepared for you. A group of young people live there and like to chill. They are great about cutting down coconuts, when available. Nothing like drinking fresh coconut water right out of the coconut! So if you are looking for something more laid back, this might be the place for you. You need to be prepared for all situations like often no water much less hot. You also must like the company of a pack of untrained dogs following you wherever you go….yes, that includes the kitchen. There is much that needs to be done around so you will have no trouble finding ways to help out and can probably choose the jobs you prefer. The facility sits on a beautiful beach backed by desert-like terrain. The beach is constantly littered with trash so Mother Nature would love it if you assisted in the trash collection helping uplift the Planet. It is about an hour drive south of the city of Manta and about ½ hour north of Puerto Lopez. You can easily catch an inexpensive bus right on the road to either location and more if you’d like to do a little sightseeing or shopping.

I must add that I stayed in Nov 2014 and haven't had a chance to post this earlier so things appear to have changed. I know they changed their description after I left a review on another site back in Dec.

Left by Workawayer for host

(Neutral)

for Help a hotel 4 km north of town of the fishing village of Puerto Cayo, Ecuador.

Knowing everything happens for a positive reason, I thankfully see many gifts resulting from being involved with workaway. If I hadn’t joined, I wouldn’t have met a number of wonderful folks – many of whom have since become dear friends.

Mary was one of the first that I made a magical connection with…..no surprise….on the beach! She shares an inspiring blog about her adventures and life as an expat in Ecuador. Mary, in turn, assisted me in making the synchronistic partnership with Hosteria Nantu including Andrea, Mauritz and what quickly became my Nantu Family.  At that time I assisted in getting Hosteria Nantu listed on workaway. Here are the reviews we posted for each other:

(Excellent)

for Volunteer at a Hosteria in Southern Manabi province, directly on the beach

[09/02/2015]

Words aren’t adequate to express my gratitude and happiness regarding my 2 month stay. Andrea and Mauritz were gracious hosts indeed. They and the staff quickly felt like family to me as we worked together….sometimes a little humorously due to my limited Spanish skills. It was an honor leading so many guests in daily morning yoga too. Between my hosts, the staff and a number of special guests, dozens more have been added to my heart for life. It was a real treat living and working right across from the beach. I got a chance to see all the different rooms in the hosteria. The reason this is significant as they are all artfully designed and decorated in their own unique manner. If you get a chance to volunteer here, between the hosts and the tranquil area, it will be an opportunity you remember fondly on for a long time to come!

Left by Workawayer for host

(Excellent)

Michelle

[08/04/2015]

We still miss this lady. She changes our life and the way to see things around. We really appreciate all she did around our hosteria, we still have people coming to look for our yoga classes and massages, I highly recommend Michelle as a worker, friend and person. Thanks a lot for all you did for Us. Everyone here keep talking about how great you were. You will always be part of our family, doors will always be open for you Michelle.
Left by host for Workawayer

Tessa and Alie frequented my poolside yoga class. Thanks to fb and their blog Happy Goats, we are able to stay in touch. Manuela from Italy, another beautiful yoga regular, co-owned restaurant Paella Mar in Puerto Lopez with her partner Toni from Spain. Loved their crème brulee! One more of my yogini friends is sweet Nadia. She shared my gypsy spirit and was on her own quest. Her time to move on came before mine and she gifted me with a beautiful handbag that she lovingly made for me herself. It was perfect for my needs (ok wants) at the time. Of course, I must express immense gratitude for my experiences with my furry, feathered and water friends - dogs, seals, seabirds, turtles and seahorses! 

During my research I came across a significant number of others who had similar, unsatisfactory findings and less desirable encounters through workaway. Will not go into any more detail so as not to immerse in the negative. Just backing up my own findings to save others unpleasant situations in the future.

Bringing the focus back to the bright side…..I am still open to that magical tropical location being shown to me in my night dreams and day visions. In the meantime, I continue Putting It Out To The Universe.... Please share ANY and ALL leads that may come to you regarding where on earth this Paradise might be or ways that I may discover such! Perhaps YOU would like to Personally participate with me in finding this Tropical Retreat?! It would be a powerful way of being the change we wish to see in this world…….Just Sayin’ ;-)

Thank you all for being such Bright Lights in my life!

P.S. Here's my workaway profile in case you can refer me to potential hosts...or if you may be one yourself!

MONEY – NOT The ONLY Currency

While money definitely isn’t the root of all evil, it certainly doesn’t make the world go round.  Since internet presences began (Gee, how many eons ago was that?), I have had 5 or 6 people who were going to assist in monetizing my Universal Wellness website. There are so many stories about why, both the efforts that were implemented and the situations that came up keeping others from materializing, took place. Basically, over the now decades, none of my marketing efforts have been that effective in generating much money. While it could have been that some of the marketing was “faulty”, it surely wasn’t the case across the board. Instead, my marketing efforts attracted many situations in which I was able to support many folks and make an exceptional difference on this planet….just not make a lot of money doing so.

Although I was never rolling in dough, there was a period of time at least I had enough that most people would consider comfortable. From that place I never could have imagined how I’d be living since 2009…….living without money - or at least not much.

Countless Benefactors worldwide have been housing, feeding, clothing, entertaining and otherwise

providing for me. Deep gratitude goes out to them all daily! This was undeniably a unique calling I answered as I could have easily stayed in one place making “comfortable” money. Over the past 7 years, I have continued helping people in many ways I used to get paid for. Now, I just don’t get paid, for the most part, directly by the people I assist in that manner. At the same time, there is no way I could monetarily pay back all the kind people that have been taking care of me. It is a type of energetic exchange that goes around. Money is energy – just one of the myriad possibilities of an energetic exchange. I have traded goods and services many times with others which I prefer doing whenever possible rather than using money.

An example of which is my time in Ecuador that many of you are aware of from previous posts If I’d Have Known and Really….The Desert?!  There I taught yoga, did massage, assisted with hotel registration, cleaning, food service and other aspects of running a business in exchange for my housing, food, pool, laundry etc.

Back to…. “You May Say I’m A Dreamer, but I’m not the only one!” There are many humans out there who believe and live similarly, in many ways, to me. You may enjoy reading about a few of my friends here and their alternative ways of dwelling on Planet Earth.
Nora Dunn – The Professional Hobo http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/
Colin Turner – Free World Charter http://www.freeworldcharter.org/en
Daniel Suelo https://sites.google.com/site/livingwithoutmoney/
David Morrison – Vagabond Film Maker https://www.youtube.com/user/VagabondFilmmaker

My Angel Daughter recently held a yard sale to assist me in my travels. Yes, there are still areas I need actual money. The airlines won’t let me trade my flight in exchange for me bringing drinks, meals and blankets to other passengers. Verizon is too big to see my smile to decide it wants to give me a special deal on my phone. You get the idea. In addition to Natasha’s kindness to me, I know thousands were touched by her generous actions. While we know there are plenty of people who have money that go to yard sales for the fun of the hunt and love finding a great deal, others are not in that position. Many who buy things at yard sales would not be able to have those things, be it clothing, children’s toys or kitchen items, were it not for tag sale prices. At $3 a stuffed bag, lots of folks will be sporting new condition Abercrombie and Fitch, UnderArmour, Victoria’s Secret, Roxy, Volcom and more. Numerous generous individuals were purchasing things for others who could not afford them as well. I can’t even tell you how many supporters contributed to the sale by donating abundant goods of all sorts. As the sale was winding down, my daughter invited charities to pick up things they needed. The dog shelter, autistic kids, and woman in crisis were all aided. Finally, Natasha declared a Very Merry Unbirthday to everyone….or something like that.

She posted the vast remaining items for free to anyone who wished to stop by and get presents. Besides the hundreds of people who physically stopped at the event, you can imagine how the ripple effect of my daughter’s thoughtful endeavor touched thousands or more. You notice, too, that some of it involved the currency we call money while much involved simply the currency of love and kindness.

Again, I am not saying money is in any way bad. The love of, or attachment to, money can get people in trouble but that’s a completely different topic. Money is beneficial in infinite ways and often a convenient method of exchange. I am just proposing the idea that there are many more currencies. Perhaps it could add to many peoples’ freedom to explore some of these alternate energy exchanges and systems. Perhaps you don’t need to stay in a job or career you don’t like just because it “pays well”. There are many resources on the internet to research what I’ve been sharing. If you’d like to explore these ideas with me, I invite you to investigate my service of Wellness Coaching by Phone.
This is one of those services I generally do in exchange for money. However, if you have access to something I could use like website services, travel or accommodations, I’m open to playing with the possibilities!

Really…..the Desert?!

At one point, while at Suenos del Mar in Puerto Cayo, it became very clear it was time for me to move on. My new God-sent friend Mary offered me an invitation. She asked if I’d like her to accompany me to nearby Puerto Lopez to investigate possibilities of a work exchange for me there. My immediate internal reaction was No, I did not want to stay in this desert Ecuador much longer at all!  Of course Ecuador

is not all desert (there is the Amazon, the Andes and more) but much of it along the beach is. For those who know me, the beach is a non-negotiable necessity for me. I’d already begun to research opportunities in other countries too. However, when I truly went within - beyond my human impulses, it felt as if taking her up on her generous, perhaps intuitive, offer was my perfect “next step”. It was a gorgeous day when we arrived at the small fishing village of Puerto Lopez. First we visited a friend of hers at Mandala Hosteria and asked for recommendations. Then, we spoke with people at three other places

where I also left my card. Mary asked if I wanted to check out any of the other dozens of places around town. Again my inner guidance was clear and it was a no. Later that evening, I followed up with the three places and only one representative responded back, Andrea of Nantu Hosteria. Mary was kind enough to again accompany me back to Puerto Lopez to meet with Andrea and Mauritz. After a warm chat, we decided to give it a go. Our agreement was for an indefinite time frame – one day at a time as long as it was happy for all parties involved.

Hostels are a kind of accommodation I’ve been aware of since my charming niece Alana educated me of such when she traveled around Europe. However, a hosteria was a new concept for me. And it is not a hostel. I learned the commonly accepted difference in the area between a "hotel" and a "hosteria" is that a "hosteria" has what are known as green areas. Hotels are blocks of rooms

surrounded by concrete. A hosteria has plants, trees and garden areas designed artistically throughout the property. Nantu is definitely designed artistically both inside and out which you can see for yourself if you’d like to visit their website. Each of the rooms has its own unique creative décor as well.

This place was almost the opposite of my last experience if things could be measured as such. I was very much appreciated there and felt what I was doing really made a significant positive difference. My daily morning yoga classes taught poolside saw many different faces as guests came and went. It took me a while to get used to being referred to as Professor de Yoga. I even had a local gal, Manuela, who frequented my classes brightening them with the

energy of her presence. She and her partner have a Spanish cuisine restaurant down the Malecon (main road along the beach) called Paella Mar. I would be seen there many an evening enjoying one of my favorite treats, Crème Brulee, concocted perfectly the authentic way. I was also able to help people through massage and even a bit of working with crystals. I participated in the day to day activities of a business that required attention and enjoyed my interaction with the staff. This exchange was often humorous as I still don’t know much more Spanish than when I arrived. At first I thought I would finally learn more as only Andrea and Mauritz are bi-lingual. Then, the same impediment showed up as so often before. I began to use some of the Spanish I previously picked up - somewhat proud that I could put a few words together. My pleasure quickly diminished as the Spanish spoken there was, yet again, very different than other Spanish speaking countries I’ve visited. If I planned on actually living in one place, I’d definitely learn the language of the area. Since I knew I’d be moving on, Spanish learning got put on hold, yet again, for me. These hilarious guys hit the nail on the head regarding my language experience in this short Youtube video. While you are playing on youtube, there is a fun promotional video of Ecuador in which Mauritz' red jeep played a prominent part. If you look carefully, you can see the round Nantu sticker on the side rear of the vehicle.

Days turned into weeks. I was still living one day at a time being conscious of the signs given to me. Conscious definitely does not mean always understanding. For example: Sarasota came up for me 3 times in one week….
1) My new angel friend Mary now living in Ecuador, originally from Texas, went to visit a relative a few years back when he lived on....Casey Key. She even collected sand and shells in a bag which is stored at a friend's house in TX. When that friend comes to visit, she will bring the suitcase with the Casey Key "beach" in it.
2) A couple from Vermont were guests here at Nantu and her dad lives in Sarasota.
3) A personal training friend in CA said he was getting his act together so he could move to Sarasota.
There was actually another guest who also brought up the area but I no longer remember the circumstance. One of the projects I was involved with at Nantu was helping refurbish a dry docked boat which they are transforming into an additional whimsical unit for the hosteria. This boat was acquired in Ecuador and supposedly came from Canada.

You can only imagine my complete surprise - ok, maybe not complete surprise - when I saw the sticker pictured here right near the steering wheel inside where the skipper stands..... All I can say is it sure adds to my puzzle!

Another interesting thing – it was almost uncanny how I have managed to shift time in a fantastic way during my whole stay in Ecuador. Two weeks felt like two months. When I’d muse about certain events that took place on a previous day, it was mind boggling to realize these things transpired only yesterday.

I still don’t know all the reasons I was guided to be in the desert, one of my least favorite environments. There was the obvious soul connection with Mary who, by the way, made a tribute to me in her recent blog post  for which I am deeply honored. There was the interaction with my gracious hosts Andrea and Mauritz and their warm staff. I was definitely gifted to see many ways I was able to assist others and feel appreciated for it. I also had numerous nature miracles for my enjoyment regularly. And, for sure, I am super grateful to have been comfortably warm the whole time as I saw pics of people all bundled up everywhere else including Florida. I loved being barefoot for 3 months- shorts and spaghetti straps constituting my daily uniform.

And so……the journey continues…. 

How is your life adventure going? Would you like some guidance in adding more joy and awakening within it? Might you be open to new ways of infusing wellness into your life? How about assistance incorporating change in your world? After not having phone communication for 3 months, it appears I will be connected that way for long enough time to do some Telephone Wellness Coaching. If you feel this may benefit you, please check out the details and contact me soon so we can get the full time necessary together. Technological connections in my future are still unknown :-) 

If I’d Have Known…..

If I would have known the outcome of my first marriage, I never would have married. If I knew what awaited me in Florida, I never would have moved there. If I knew what would happen throughout my second marriage, I certainly would not have married - again. If I knew where my move to Panama would lead, I would never have braved that fateful journey with my six suitcases in tow. If I knew the upcoming happenings in Costa Rica, I wouldn’t have traveled there either.

If I’d have known the region name, Manabi, meant desert, I definitely would not have come. Things would certainly have made more sense to me as I puzzled at the less than desirable dry surroundings when I landed in Manta, Ecuador and during the taxi drive to Puerto Cayo. That was just the beginning of the interesting surprises for me there. If I’d have known how things would develop, I never would have come.

Here in Ecuador unfolded another case of someone misrepresenting their situation. I flew off to assist at a “resort” with a “restaurant”. Upon my arrival, I found the place to be neither. “Little Me” wanted to turn around and run someplace else.

Regardless of those feelings, I still could have assisted. I could have helped change the tide. In spite of all my dedication and efforts, there were no apparent significant shifts. The owner simply wasn’t ready……or perhaps he was! Maybe he was perfectly ready to provide me with those exact circumstances for my growth. There is no victimhood for me and I realize, on some level, I create or co-create my circumstances. This scene in the play of my life fulfilled many purposes. One of these was to strengthen my conviction that I can, not only handle anything that comes my way, I can walk through it in peace and joy. My monkey mind screams, “Here we go again. What’s the matter with you? Don’t you get it yet?” Yet nothing is the matter. All is well. Maybe I don’t get “it” all yet but my connection to Source allows me to know I am still on the right path for me.

Los Suenos del Mar was exactly where I was supposed to be at the time even if it didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The “Dreams of the Sea” part was clearly one of the greatest gems of my experience there. My room backed directly onto the wide expanse of beach so the lullaby of the waves was a soothing constant. No matter what was going on, that one simple factor kept me in peace always. Throughout my stay, I had a no doubt knowing that it was where I was “supposed” to be. A number of details sparkled showing me some of the reasons for my presence/presents. Alyssa was another work exchange traveler, very briefly there, with whom I made a warm connection. Mary, originally from Texas, had Providence lead her to building her house in the development right next door….and meeting me on the beach. We brightened each other’s lives in more delightful ways than I can count. The Universe sometimes operates in mysterious ways. I had put out the desire to remember and reconnect with my power and previous wisdom regarding crystal energy. To my complete amazement, I discovered dozens upon dozens of quartz and quartz crystals on the beach.

Numerous varieties included amethyst, rose, amber and, of course, white. Quartz is often referred to as the Universal Crystal because of its many uses. It enhances energy by absorbing, storing, amplifying, balancing, focusing and transmitting. It channels universal energy. Quartz also enhances thoughts, as they are a form of energy. Because it directs and amplifies energy, it is extremely beneficial for manifesting, healing, meditation, protection, and channeling. From the magical crystal abundance on the beach, I joyfully collected many for unique gifts, personal use, and perhaps other reasons yet to be shown me. I’m not so sure of any impact I may have had on the people of Suenos del Mar. I worked my best to assist them but it was their choice to keep doing the same things that kept them in the same place. I believe this aspect was maybe more for me than for them. Many times in my past I have worked to help people shift and empower themselves only to have them keep going in their own circles. Perhaps it was for me to recognize the situation around certain peoples’ choices, know when I could do no more for them and move on…in peace. When I shared this with a friend, she complimented me on recognizing the pattern within weeks instead of years. Evidently I don’t need to keep “repeating” that one.

If I’d have known in advance….that’s just the thing. I had no idea and that is the blessing. I was meant to go all these places and have all these experiences for my highest good and that of all around me. For example, if I hadn’t married the first time, my beautiful daughter and son would not be here now…..and I know they certainly wished to play on Planet Earth!

While my human self would have made way different choices with a properly functioning crystal ball, the part of me that is divine sees how perfect every step of my journey has been and continues to be. Sometimes I’m privy to see the peoples’ lives I’ve touched in profound ways. Occasionally, I feel like I am in on the itinerary that I realize I myself created. And constantly, should I choose to stand in appreciation, I can see beauty and miracles along the way in every situation I have been in. Indeed I have been blessed with an exceptional holiday gift in my current location. But that's a story for another day!

 

Thank you for your constant accompaniment of this journey. It is my sincere hope that my experiences have edified and perhaps led to some brighter ways in your life as well. If it resonates with you, perhaps now is a good time to investigate ways to support you and your loved ones health Juice Plus and/or the Tower Garden. It would be a positive gift for yourself and the Planet; as well as assisting me in my travels. You will probably find all the info you need to decide via the links. If not, feel free to email me.

Wishing You the most Joyous Magical Holiday Season! Abundant Blessings of the Sea to You and Your Loved Ones!