Normally, on workaway, when someone leaves a less than perfect feedback, the other person counters with a retaliation. I’m not going to do that. Instead I’m going to start with the wonderful positives that were a part of my experience in Voditsa.
1. Rhonda is a fun, energetic, dynamic person. It’s clear she has traveled a lot. And she truly cares
… read more about the state of the world and the environment. She will go to extents to make a person feel comfortable, and conversation flows with her, because she has a lot to share.
2. It was a dream for me to paint the spaces of her home. I loved seeing her reaction to my work. I love little villages and old houses and my intention, that I had shared with her in the beginning, was for her to find a better space within the walls of her home and without. With this in mind I painted Bulgarian flowers on an old wooden cupboard inside, a stork on the kitchen door, and the gesture of goodwill to the village by offering a piece of art to the village school. Not to mention a piece of art on her gate so the villagers would have something to look at.
3. Her friends are wonderful and are ever so gentle and appreciative. Some of my best moments were the moments I spent with her friends. I especially adored how her friends made space for me in conversation.
4. Yes, to live in her home is like camping but I love that. Very little water is wasted when one has to brush their teeth outside. You end up being more conscious about your act and the environment. Yes showers weren’t the easiest but it was a part of the adventure, isn’t travel all about seeing how other people live and being a part of it!
Now for the part that wasn’t easy.
1. Yes, Rhonda was going through a difficult week. And I will never criticize her for it. We can’t schedule life’s blows. They come when they come and we ride its waves. But as the days passed her sensitivities got bigger. I found it was the hardest whenever I spoke. She wouldn’t be able to conceal her irritation and she would often cut me off mid sentence. She would criticize my use of words like ‘should’. And it particularly shocked me when a simple sentence that I would say, like for instance « I’m going to have a shower when I get home and sit down to paint » would lead to her getting irritated saying that it was too much information for her and that I wasn’t respecting her boundaries when I said such things. I found at the end that I honestly didn’t have the space to speak freely.
2. The constant making of stories for Instagram were difficult for me. I prefer authentic and real face to face interactions. Not ones that happen behind the screen of a phone. And yes I highly value my privacy and wouldn’t want to be filmed for Instagram stories. But this is a big part of who Rhonda is, and that’s totally fine. I respect that people are different. But it would be a good idea that future workaway-ers be informed of this, so that they be prepared.
That’s my only negative point from the week. And it only got hard on the last two days. So all in all I enjoyed painting in Voditsa and the simple Bulgarian village life.
I would like to reply to her remarks about me.
1. Painting is a messy affair. I was often in a tiny corner of the room with ten pots of paint about me, not to mention paintbrushes and palettes and reference drawings. And once we wrap up for the evening, i would place them in a corner as they would have to be reused again the next day. I assume these are what Rhonda calls ‘messes’. If I knew that it bothered her I wouldn’t leave them in a corner to be reused the next day, I would clear them up completely. I would have appreciated if she could have said something about this.
2. Yes absolutely, I appreciate and need minimal conversation and silence while working because painting intricately sometimes requires me to go within and concentrate. Rhonda would however during those times talk at great length and I was happy to let her. I knew she was having a hard time and I was hoping that speaking aloud would help her and leave her feeling lighter.
3. I sense that me being quiet and introverted was an issue for her. I mention that I am so in my profile. Next time reading a workawayer’s profile completely would help give her an idea of whom she’s welcoming into her space.
4. She said that I’m a bit high maintenance. I had a little laugh when I read this. I have been called many things but ‘high maintenance’ had never been one of them.
I lived some wonderful moments in Voditsa, painting of course, morning walks with some beautiful people there and singing with the choir group. I will not let a little difficulties in interactions with her ruin what was a few days in a country that I’m growing to love!
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