Workaway #2

Galicia –> Santiago De Compostela –> Vigo –> Lisbon –> Valencia

It had been an eventful week, to say the least. Arriving at the train station in rural Valencia around 21:00, I was met by two fellow volunteers who were waiting to pick me up. Still buzzing from my recent travels, the exhilaration of driving through the outskirts of a new European town with complete strangers was surreal. We finally reached Hogar El Chaparral, where the faint glow of a phone light guided us. The sounds of horses surrounded us as we made our way to the side door, which led to my home for the next month and a half—a small bunk room equipped with a half kitchen and shared with up to three other volunteers. Before I knew it, the lights were off, and it was time to rest by 22:00.

The following morning, at around 7:00, I woke up to the sounds of the other volunteers preparing for the day ahead. Eager to join them, I stepped out of my bunk and was greeted by a breathtaking sight. The sun was shining, illuminating the beautiful landscape of mountains, palm trees, and horses just outside my door. What struck me even more was how interactive the horses were with the volunteers. It was evident that this sanctuary provided exceptional care for its animals, and I knew deep down that I was going to fall in love with this place.

The first few days passed quickly as I worked alongside other volunteers, following a routine of feeding the horses, tending to copious amounts of caca, caring for the chickens, cleaning the cat enclosure, ensuring fresh water for all the animals, and maintaining other chicken and goat areas. On pleasant days, we would accompany the horses to the mountains for their pasture time, while on other days, we engaged in small projects to assist Carmen and Rafa, the sanctuary owners. We had several hours of rest between the morning and afternoon shifts, allowing for personal time. In the afternoons, we would tend to the horses again before feeding the wild colony of cats on the far side of the property. I found the work to be therapeutic, surrounded by animals, listening to music or podcasts, and embraced by miles of orange trees. It was a manifestation of the exact ‘job’ I had hoped for over a year, and I was immensely grateful to see it come to fruition.

After the initial days welcomed me with warm sunshine, Valencia decided to unleash its heaviest rainfalls since the 1980s, casting a gloomy spell for two and a half weeks. Nonetheless, my gratitude for the work I was doing remained fufilling. These animals allowed me to form deep connections and build trust with them, despite their pasts of abuse. The sanctuary exuded a strong, positive energy, and the animals knew they had found a safe, forever home.

One of the most rewarding aspects of traveling with Workaway is the diverse array of people I meet. During my stay at El Chaparral, I shared my room with an Italian couple, a Romanian boy, a Finnish girl, and another boy from Madrid. The beauty of these experiences lies in the unpredictable nature of the individuals you meet. Each person unknowingly imparts valuable lessons, making every encounter unique. Some of them turn into lasting relationships in which I know we will keep in touch and nothing makes me happier.

One of my favorite memories was taking the train to Valencia for the night to see Las Fallas. It was one of the coolest festivals I had ever seen with non-stop fireworks lighting up the streets and very unique parade floats. We watched the fireworks until the sun rise then went to the town center to watch the finale. It was an experience I will never forget.

As the weeks went by, I found myself gradually running out of ways to fill my free time, there was even a stretch of a few weeks where I was the only volunteer. The lack of social interaction and privacy in my room began to take its toll, leading me from a state of calmness and spirituality to a state of near-constant irritation. This experience taught me a very valuable lesson: to appreciate and be grateful for everything I have in the present moment. Like many people, I am used to wishing things would be the way they were before, taking things for granted in the past that I wish I had in the present. At the end of the day, I can’t change anything about my past so why not just take care of my current and future self by appreciating everything I have at this exact moment. Ultimately, I realized the importance of focusing on the abundance in my life rather than dwelling on what I lack.

My time at Hogar el Chaparral was nothing short of transformative. It was an experience I would never have had if I had remained within my comfort zone, adhering to societal expectations.

Over the past year, life has unfolded in its own ways. During my time at home, I admit that I temporarily veered off my path, succumbing to the common distractions of everyday life. However, it didn’t take long for me to rediscover my purpose and find my way back to Earth Angel. Short on money, I quickly found a sanctuary near my hometown, and I can honestly say that I am overjoyed to be back on track, making remarkable progress with The Earth Angel Sanctuaries Project.

Stay connected by subscribing to our updates, as we have exciting things in store. Be sure to look out for our upcoming blog on another wonderful sanctuary experience, as well as an account of our first big donations! Love you earth angels 💚