You're probably wondering, what in the hell is a wwoofer? No, dad, it's not some sort of dog. I first heard about WWOOFing last summer when I was working on a ranch outside of Cody, WY and a girl there was participating in the program. Wwoofing has been around for almost 50 years and is a great opportunity for anyone and everyone who wants to travel. WWOOF stands for either a) World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or b) Willing Workers On Organic Farms. Around sixty countries in the world have a national WWOOF organization and host people from any country, once that person has obtained a WWOOF membership for where they'd like to travel. WWOOFers, the people volunteering to work on these farms, stay at their host site anywhere to several days or even a year. Work days can range anywhere from 4-6 hours and WWOOFers are compensated through housing and meals. WWOOFers also have plenty of opportunities to learn about agriculture, food processing, and a variety of other tasks.

So why, you may ask, would anyone want to work on a farm and do all this dirty work, for FREE? Personally, I became a WWOOFer so that I would have a chance to travel abroad while also immersing myself in the culture. Often times when I visit a new country, I feel like an outsider who is just constantly taking pictures of every little thing I see and find fascinating. I also love to work outside, so I thought it would be a great way to learn about gardening and farming in a country other than my own. I also knew that it would be a relatively inexpensive way to travel to Europe, because my only expenses would be getting there. I chose to WWOOF in Italy, and found the absolutely perfect spot in the southwest, a region called Calabria. I contacted Anna Brambilla of Agriturismo L'Arca and she responded with an enthusiastic yes when I asked to volunteer for her. So, on May 11th, I left Montana and came to beautiful Belvedere Marittimo.

So now you're thinking, well yeah this sounds great and all, but how did this change your life? Originally, I was going to come to Italy with a friend, but things didn't work out on their end, so I was left to travel alone. And that's where my journey of self discovery began.

I have never traveled abroad by myself, and while I didn't think it would be a big deal, I quickly found out that it can be terrifying, especially when you get somewhere where you don't understand the language. Many aspects of traveling were very difficult for me, like figuring out how to call a taxi, checking into a hotel, and taking the train. I had never really done these things alone, and definitely not in Italy, so the difficulty was amplified. Through traveling alone, I discovered that I am strong when challenged and the world isn't as scary and out to get you as everyone makes it seem.

When I arrived at the farm, I was exhausted and recovered from jet lag for the first several days. After that, however, I was able to interact with everyone around me a little more. I quickly became friends with the other two WWOOFers and one of them became a very dear and close friend. Through speaking with Arianna, I was able to reconnect with many of my core values and remind myself of things in life that actually matter. I was removed from usual friend, college, and life drama and it was amazing. We talked about cultural differences, politics, love, happiness, and I discovered that we humans aren't so different after all. Arianna's carefree and kind spirit helped me find my way back to self-love and I have finally been able to let go of many things I was holding onto.

I would say that the climax of all this self discovery and life changing came when I stumbled upon the book "Naufraghi o naviganti?" which is a book that my boss Anna wrote and translates to "Shipwrecked or Seafarer?". Anna wrote this book to teach others how to re-establish the course of their lives. She included twelve different chapters about human characteristics like love, emotions, communication, needs, etc. This book's main point is to remind readers that they are in control of their lives and they determine their happiness. Having this reminder and experienceing the daily gratitude of Italians really touched me. It was when Dario, in response to my question asking how he was replied, "bene, sempre bene," (good, always good), I realized how blessed I really am.

The Italian way of life is simple, generous, and beautiful. I was able to work 6 hours in the morning and have the afternoons to myself. I laid by the pool, walked to the nearby village, and journaled a lot for self reflection. In America, I get so hung up on being focused, productive, and busy that I forget to live. I forget to apprectiate the butterflies and the sun and drinking a cold glass of water after a long day in the heat. Being in Italy made me realize the importance of relaxation and being more realistic with your limits. Becoming a WWOOFer changed my life because I was able to overcome some of my depression, let go of the things that I can't control, and refocus my attention on what I really want from my life. So grazie to Anna, Arianna, Dario, Salvatore, Pierro, and Marco. You have changed me for the better and I am eternally grateful.

If you ever want to travel abroad and maybe find yourself along the way (or at least find your own happy Italian family), I highly suggest looking into the WWOOF program in the countries you want to visit. Trust me, it can change your life.