When WWOOFers go WWOOFing for the first time. There can be a bit of …an adjustment.
Of course there is. As many hosts know, more than sixty percent of WWOOFers come from abroad. For many of these French, German and Japanese WWOOFers, this is their first time travelling to another country – one where they will no doubt encounter unfamiliar languages, foods, and customs. For Canadians, hockey and maple syrup seem normal, but as anyone who has made their own international expeditions will know, the default is only the default for you.
However, I would make the argument that those cross-border differences are only the second most challenging type of culture shock that WWOOFers must overcome when going WWOOFing for the first time. The most challenging? The urban-rural divide.
Here’s a quick test. When was the last time that you picked up a shovel? If you have to think about that question for more than 30 seconds, you may experience some culture shock when going WWOOFing. I want to make clear, I am in no way saying that folks who grew up in urban centres are any less capable than their rural peers. Each lifestyle requires its own skills and knowledge. But a life in Toronto simply does not prepare you for a life in rural Alberta.
Any WWOOFer who has gone WWOOFing for the first time already knows this. But hosts may know this even better, as depending on how many years they’ve been hosting, they might have seen hundreds of WWOOFers acclimatize to life on their farm. From the physical days spent working outside, to the pressure of getting seedlings planted in the spring, to that late-night crisis of a cow struggling to birth its calf – farm life is unique and challenging.
This in no way means that, if you grew up in an urban centre, WWOOFing is not for you – it absolutely is. WWOOFing is for anyone who has the desire, the determination, and the openness to learn these new skills. WWOOFing is a crash course in getting your country-life credentials. Will there be some challenging moments? Undoubtedly. Will you have a WWOOF host there to help guide you? Absolutely.
So, yes, urban/rural cultural differences are very real – something I think we all would benefit from discussing more openly. Sharing our lived experiences, including where they overlap and where they differ, can help us summon greater patience and understanding when those differences conflict.
There is even an opportunity to take a step beyond understanding and find deep connection. We have heard countless stories of WWOOFers and hosts building lasting bonds (even those coming from extremely different walks of life). But this will come as no surprise to those who have been members for any length of time. After all, WWOOF is about cultural exchange, and that extends far beyond which country you’re from.