For those of you who don't know, this is what I'm doing as far as I know.
Ben and I have this friend, Steph, who has lived in Sydney for several years now and comes back to Oregon to visit during the holidays. We saw her at the end of December and she casually asked us if we were interested in working on her boyfriend's family farm. I personally happened to be in a place where I wanted a big change in lifestyle because I knew there was something better available! AND I've always wanted to travel so this opportunity offered that with cash walking AWAY from it! I think if I had still been at my old job there would have been no way I would have left (things did come up while I was working there which I declined) so I was in a great place in my life to open my arms and say YES! Ben was a little hesitant but eventually he decided he wanted to go too. At that point I had a million things to figure out! Like buy a visa, not to mention a passport! And a plane ticket. What to do with all my stuff!? What do I need for a year ~ and more importantly, What will fit in my backpack? (I'm amazed and kind of scared (though it was carefully planned) at how few clothes I have.) How will I stay in touch with the people I love? A blog? Oh, okay! ;)
...
Here's what I know. I'm going to Sydney to stay with our friend Steph and get acclimated to an entirely new world! Initially we were just gunna be with her for a few days before heading out to the farm but the harvest kept getting pushed *back* because of the rainy season. So now we're gunna do some traveling beforehand with whatever cash we can round up (thank you yard sale and tax return!) and then head out to the farm. This is Steph's boyfriend's family farm and she spent last year on the farm during the harvest season and said it was amazing. Jon, the guy in charge, asked Steph if she knew anyone who'd want to come stay on the farm with his family and work for 4-6 weeks during the cotton harvesting season. He's found it easiest and most comfortable for his family to keep it friends of friends. From what I've gathered these people have also done some traveling and seem super friendly and helpful in wanting us to be comfortable and feel safe as well as enjoy ourselves! When we Skyped with Jono (as Steph calls him, I guess there's a lot of O's added to names down there) I really liked him and he was super helpful and very down to earth.
It sounds like Ben and I will either be staying at their farm house or with Jon's parents who also live on the farm. They are a vegetarian family and it sounded like they were great cooks! :) Steph has warned me however that the serving size in Australia is much smaller than in America. I'm not surprised really but I do love me some food! We'll see...
Jon sent us a power point with pictures of the farm and some of the machines we'll be using for the harvest. Ben and I also looked up some videos on YouTube of the harvesting process using "module builders" and it's quite simple. Steph's selling line for me when she initially asked me was regarding the quiet and solitude of the work during beautiful sunny days. (We can't work when it's wet because the heavy machinery will get stuck in the mud.) We'll be out on the fields from 10-8 every day until the harvest is through (unless it rains) leaving mornings and evenings to reLaX. I'm looking forward to not having 500 things to do every day and to be more grounded in one thing, and more connected with the people around me, and more in tune with myself. At least that's the idea.
Afterwards Ben is coming back home to Southern Oregon for a good friend's wedding and back to life as he knows it. He was super lucky to find a renter and subletter for his place so he can keep the cute little home he's put so much work and heart into. I'm really happy he did.
Me, I have no clue. At the end of the harvest, if I haven't found something already I'll probably do some couch surfing and traveling until I find a place to hang out and make some money. Maybe that'll be another farm, maybe I'll be waiting tables (I hope not), maybe it'll be stacking produce, I really don't know. What I do know is something will come my way. I'd love to work for some kind of outdoor program giving tours or something. I do want to travel though and the more I think about it the more a year doesn't seem like long enough! I also want to go to New Zealand and as long as I'm traveling I feel like I should just go for it (if I can support myself) and trek around the globe! I know I for sure have a place in Tokyo and in Italy and in England. It probably wouldn't be that hard to find a place in Buenos Aires with my tango background. And I'd also love to travel in Africa~ I have a friend with family in south Africa, I'll have to get in touch with him. The world is so incredible and provides so many opportunities when you let it! I don't know how this adventure will unfold but I know it's going to be incredible.
I plan to take it one step at a time and see where I'm standing when I stop!
Ps. Spending my days with Maren has been so incredible. I am so impressed with how smart she is and how quickly she picks things up! I've been singing her a song (well, for everything but~ specifically) when I change her diaper and she's caught on already, doing the signs and singing along!! Her language and communication skills are absolutely amazing to me and I feel so lucky to be such a special person in her life. I have to say when I see her come right to me and warm up right away after not seeing me for 4 months even though she can be shy and fussy with other people I feel so so warm and fuzzy inside <3
Pps. I LOVE that tango is such a passionate and spectacular language that I can tune into wherever I am! It helps me meet great people, keeps my body happy and my mind dancin! ;)
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