Travel To Nourish Your Mind And Soul

Have you experienced approaching something you had no idea about, then it turned out the best thing you had ever done? This is how I would describe my experiences with Workaway in a nutshell. I’m going to focus on my experience in Hurghada as it’s still as fresh as a daisy and it was full of lessons.


When I traveled to Hurghada to start a new Workaway experience a few months ago, I took only a small backpack with me. I didn’t know how long I was going to stay there. My host, Angela, said she was going to try me for two weeks or so. I ended up staying there for almost 100 days.
100 days full of exploration, living new experiences and learning new skills and many lessons. 100 days of diving deep into my inner self, learning to be kind to myself and taking my time to learn from the lessons that left scars on my soul. With Angela, I was exposed to a totally different life which enriched my experience and broadened my knowledge.

Before coming to Hurghada, I remember I used to say that I preferred doing dishes for many hours daily to cooking for one hour. It’s true that I find doing dishes relaxing. However, on the other hand, it wasn’t correct that I hated cooking. What I came to realize was that I just didn’t like the environment where I used to make meals which was neither encouraging nor motivating. With the help and encouragement of Angela, I got a chance to develop my cooking skills and to try making new recipes.

Upon my arrival to Hurghada, I was feeling lost with a lot of unresolved anger. I had my personal issues that made me look at life through a very narrow and pessimistic lens. I still have these issues but at least, I was taught how to use my energy positively and how to push myself ahead with the consistent effort of Angela. I learned how to forgive myself and not to overthink the future. Angela talked to me a lot about how to work on my emotions and get them under control. Thanks to her, I gradually felt better.

Angela could read me easily from the beginning which helped both of us a lot to get along smoothly and quickly. Day by day, I did well and gained her trust. She let me look after her house and dogs when she traveled to her country for a month and a half. I was alone in the company of Jessy and Layka, her dogs for 20 days. I used to prepare food and feed them twice per day. I also took Jessy for walks early every morning. This was one of the most challenging experiences I had. I wasn't so good at controlling her especially, she often went crazy whenever she saw a cat on the streets. Luckily, everything went smoothly most of the time.

During the second part of this period, a German guest arrived as Angela used to rent some rooms on Airbnb. This was another wonderful experience where I had multiple roles, the same as a responsible in a hostel, a mix of a chef, a housekeeper, a financial manager. I prepared dinners almost every day. I also cleaned the guest’s room along with the house, and I did the clothes washing on a regular basis. I checked and recharged the electricity every now and then. I went shopping. I regularly watered the plants. I found out that I’m not as bad as I thought at doing different tasks really well. I can take up responsibility, and I can live up to others’ expectations. I just lack self-confidence which is something I need to work on.

I also learned an important lesson that not all people are the same. Not all people will take what I say in good faith. Some might use my sincerity or “naivety” against me. Others might get the wrong end of the stick and as a result, they get upset at me. So it’s always better to find out more about people before deciding what, when and how to talk to them.

I got the opportunity to assist my host during two of her smoked meat products events. It was where I came in contact with different non-Egyptian people who live in Egypt.
All in all, I’ve really had a great experience despite the unhappy ending. I was able to live a lot of first-time experiences starting from learning from Angela's expertise in the kitchen as a Swiss chef, trying new European meals every day, getting to know German people closely, going to top-notch beaches and restaurants. All of this wouldn’t have crossed my mind even in my dreams.

I didn’t want this enriching, dreamy experience to come to an end. If there was another chance to repeat it all, I would do it over and over again without regret with all its good and bad sides.

Before concluding, I’d like to encourage everyone to travel and to volunteer. Travel to see how people can get along easily despite all the differences between them. Also travel to see that some people will still hold to these differences, creating two distinct worlds; us and them, superior and inferior.

Travel to know you shouldn’t give up your dreams yet. Travel if you feel as if you’re buried alive. Don’t wait for someone to help you out. Some people might inspire you but, in the end, you’re the only one who should help yourself to get back on track. Travel because life is too short. You should live it the way you want, not the way your family, your boss or your partner wants. Travel to learn that it’s not important how expensive your clothes are or what brand your shoes are or if you either eat with a fork and a knife or you just eat with hands. What’s more important is that you enjoy what you have and do as much as possible.

Travel to pay attention to the small details that try to tell you there’s something wrong going on, wake up and smell the coffee. Travel to get to know people who would smile at your face and be good as long as you’re doing things the way they want but when you don’t go their way anymore, they would badmouth you behind your back. Travel to live happy moments and to laugh from the bottom of your heart. Travel locally if your passport, the same as mine, won’t allow you many options to travel abroad. Make the most of your limited options and don’t allow anyone to look down on your achievements, no matter how tiny or normal they are to them.