Working abroad for board and lodging: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?
What is working abroad for board and lodging?
- Working for board and lodging means doing work in exchange for a place to stay and meals instead of money.
- The board part is the food provided, and the lodging part is the accommodation you receive.
- In general, the board and lodging is provided at your workplace or at your host family
- Sometimes you will additionally receive some salary or pocket money
What do you need if you want to do work abroad against board and lodging?
- Flexibility: you will have to adjust to the house rhythm and their eating habits
- Initiative: many board and lodging options are not listed on websites, but require a proactive approach
- Ability to communicate: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
- Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need a certain form of independence, and this will increase your self-confidence.
- Being aware of your surroundings: an important element for your stay abroad.
- Collaboration: also abroad, it is important that you learn, or are able to, collaborate when you work with others. When you live at the same place as your colleagues or boss, this is even more important.
- Empathy: your hosts are not staff, sometimes the standard of living can be very basic
Where is the best place to work abroad for board and lodging?
- This kind of arrangement is most common in hostels, on farms, and households that need an au pair or private tutor
- In agriculture: Australia, New Zealand and Canada
- In fruit picking or grape picking: France, Spain, Greece or Chile
- As au pair: France, Germany, USA, Australia
- In hostels: backpackers hotspots like Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Morocco
What are Spotlight organizations for working abroad for board and lodging?
Most board and lodging vacancies and opportunities are listed on online platforms like:
- WWOOF: organic agriculture)
- HelpX: a.o. teachers, tutors, farm work and hostels
- WorkAway: in agriculture, hostels and more
- Au Pair World: au pair work in many countries
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